San Diego Tuna Boats

It deeply saddens me to write this post. Tom Ruckle, legendary, and  long time Chief in the fleet has passed away. Tom was a Chief on a number of seiners, first working in the Eastern Pacific later in the Western Pacific (Samoa). But he will always be remembered for his time aboard the Antonina C. If you knew Tom you would know about the love of his life, Connie and 4 his boys, Tom, Bill, Mike and Ronnie. And I guess I can’t share my thoughts without talking about Connie. You see the women in the family were just as much of the fleet as the men were. So many men including Tom, found their way out to Sea for sometimes 10 to 11 months a year and the Ruckle family was no different with Connie running the family from home and Tom from the Sea. I personally went to bed last night sad about Tom’s passing , but when I woke up this morning I realized I was blessed to have gone from a little boy to young adult in the Ruckle house. So many memories I have of Tom and Connie , and I guess I think of a quote from a favorite movie growing up, ” Hero’s get remembered but legends never die ” Tom and Connie are together again…

I Just Received some pictures of The Apollo from Jeffery Dial with the Photos courtesy of  Harry Dial. Their Grandfather migrated from Sweden in 1890 and Founded Tacoma boat , he believes they sold it in the 30s. Great stuff Thank you Jeffery , please share your photos at [email protected]

Nice picture of the Top Wave pilot house, built in 1973 by Campbells shipyard. This seiner had some of the best  skippers in the fleet from time to time. [email protected]

Top wave rolling net aboard out to Sea . Im told photo was taken in 1983 with Skipper Augie Rodrigues and Navigator Greg Felante next to the controls.  Thank You to Bryan Swopes for the photo. Please share your memories with us at [email protected]

This photo of the Sea wolf in Puerto Rico was sent in by Mike Collette , Sea Wolf was originally launched the Frances Ann by San Diego Marine in 1971. [email protected]

Two Jet Ranger choppers belonging to the Top Wave and the Pan Pacific. This photo was taken at The Van Nuys Airport , thats where all maintenance was done on the choppers in between trips. Thanks again to Brian Swopes for doing the maintenance and for the photo . [email protected]

Captain Augie Rodrigues on the helideck of the Top Wave in March of 1983. Docked at B Street Pier the Chopper is a 206B-3 JetRanger . Chopper pilot Bryan Swopes and mechanic also in the photo.  Info and photo provided by Bryan Swopes . [email protected]

Seiner Top Wave docked at B street pier . I recently was sent a bunch of crew shots of the Top Wave,  Thanks to Bryan Swopes who flew the chopper for a short time aboard the seiner. [email protected]

Nice shot of the pilot house and chopper aboard the Sea Wolf. Launched Frances Ann in 1971 by San Diego Marine, Thanks to Mike Collette for sharing again. [email protected]

Mike Collette sends in this classic photo , standing along the shore in Kodiak Alaska in front of the Sea Legend, a processing seiner that worked in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea processing Salmon. This photo was taken in 1987. If you recognize the Sea Legend its because in its early days it was named The City of San Diego in its tuna Seiner days. Share your photos at [email protected]