Fernandes Family

John arrived in Fremantle on the 26 December 1962 after just turning 13. He didn’t speak English or have any friends. In his first four weeks in Australia before starting school at White Gum Valley Primary School, John had his first experience catching crayfish when his brother-in-law Joe Goncalves drove him up North to work out of the Fresh Water Point and Beagle Island aboard the Miss Portuguesa – owned and skippered by Jose Correia. During those times things were a lot harder with no modern luxuries on board like todays boats – no toilets or showers. Fishing life was difficult.

After primary school, John attended John Curtin High School. During the school holidays he would go crayfishing on the fishing vessel Vasco da Gama with his brother-in-law. At the age of 15, John completed his education at John Curtin High School and started full time work on the fishing vessel Vasco da Gama. A year later, he joined the fishing vessel Oriana, which fished the Fremantle, Hillary’s and Lancelin area with Steve Minuta (see Minuta Family story). He worked with Steve for 6 years. Steve introduced John to Aussie Rules Football and the East Fremantle Football Club. They were keen supporters of East, never missing a game in the late 60’s and 70’s.

At the age of 19, John bought his very first home on Amherst Street in White Gum Valley. Over the next 20 years, many craypots were made in the backyard for several Fremantle fishermen. They were made from tea trees and cane; making pots in this fashion was extremely hard work. John was known for being very skilled at this. He would make up to 1000 craypots in the off seasons. For one year, John joined John Correia on the fishing vessel S.B.S out of Greenhead and Fresh Water Point.

At the age of 21, John was successful at gaining his skipper's ticket. He was offered a job as a skipper of the fishing vessel Pacific Star; owned by Mario de Jesus. John fished from Freshwater Point and Dongara. In 1972, John married Constancia (Connie) at St Patrick’s Basilica in Fremantle. A year later in 1973, they had their 1st son, Joao Paulo. In 1974, John skippered the fishing vessel Marpete for Tony Vinci. He fished the waters around Dongara and the Abrolhos Islands, specifically around the Turtle Dove Shoal on the southern group of the Abrolhos islands.

In 1977, John and Connie had their second son Roberto. In 1978, John had enough of being away from his young family, so he decided to team up with his cousin Joe Fernandes and bought the fishing vessel Loray. They would start the season in Greenhead, then move to Lancelin and finished the season in the safe port of Hillary’s in the winter months.

John bought a little house in Lancelin in the Fremantle Fisherman’s Co-op camp. His family spent many summers there living in the camp with other fishing families. There was a great community spirit at the camps; his family enjoyed living the coastal life with many dear friends. In 1985, John and Connie had their 3rd son Eduardo. They also built the first Sea Hunter; a 48-ft aluminium fishing vessel.

In 1987, John and his cousin Joe were asked to join the Blessing of the Fleet Festival by Corrado Palmiotti. In the first year of joining, John and his cousin were lucky enough to be chosen to carry the Madonna Dei Martiri. They were the first non-Italian fishermen to have the honour of carrying the Madonna on their boat Sea Hunter in Fremantle.

In 1994, John and his sons bought out his partner and built on the fishing business. In 2003, they built the 60 ft aluminium new Sea Hunter fishing vessel which is still in operation today.

John semi-retired in 2019. His 3 sons took over the running of the Sea Hunter. John is still heavily involved today in the operations of the family business. He still enjoys organising and maintaining the gear repairs and comes out fishing when the boat is working around the reef areas of Hillary’s and occasionally in Lancelin. At the age of 73 and after 61 crayfishing seasons, he is still eager and determined to catch rock lobsters with his sons.

John and Connie are looking forward to seeing their grandchildren grow and go out on the boat. Over the summer holidays, their 3 sons, 3 daughter-in-law’s, 7 grandchildren and a dog spend their time in Lancelin, swimming at the beach, jetty fishing and going out on the dinghy to pull amateur pots.

After John’s hard work and many sacrifices to establish the family business, his grandchildren have the opportunity to carry on the family legacy he has built if they one day choose to do so. Every year John and Connie look forward to the Blessing of the Fleet Festival; they hope and pray that the Madonna can keep the Sea Hunter safe and have a successful season ahead.