For decades, Maryland has been synonymous with crabbing, but as the Chesapeake Bay’s “watermen” dwindle, a young, TikTok-famous fisherman is determined to keep the tradition alive.
At 5:00 AM, before the first light of dawn, Luke McFadden sets out from Bodkin Point, Maryland, aboard his boat, the FV Southern Girl. His destination: the vast Chesapeake Bay, a 200-mile-long estuary that has supported a thriving seafood industry for centuries. This bay, stretching from Maryland to Virginia, produces more than 500 million pounds of seafood annually and is especially famous for its blue crabs.
McFadden, one of the youngest watermen at just 28, is carrying on a 400-year-old tradition that has seen better days. Once a thriving industry with nearly 10,000 licensed watermen in the 1990s, the number has now dwindled to less than half, with the average age of these watermen hovering around 60. Yet, McFadden, who began crabbing full-time at 18, stands out not only for his age but also for his social media fame.
Despite having no family ties to the profession, McFadden has become a modern-day ambassador for crabbing, amassing 1.7 million followers on TikTok by sharing the daily realities of his life on the water. His authentic and lighthearted approach has won him fans nationwide, even as he faces skepticism from older watermen.
McFadden works tirelessly, often pulling 12-hour days, seven days a week, to keep his business afloat. Despite the physical toll and the industry’s uncertain future, he remains committed to preserving this vital part of Maryland’s heritage. Collaborating with photographers and museums, he aims to educate the public about the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem and the challenges watermen face.
In an era where the youth are leaving for big cities and watermen communities are giving way to luxury developments, McFadden’s story is a testament to resilience. He hopes that by sharing his journey, he can inspire future generations to carry on the tradition of crabbing, ensuring that Maryland’s rich maritime heritage is not lost to history.
