Aloha Fish Tug

The Aloha in a sea of dune grass.

NPS credit

Quick Facts

Amenities

4 listed

Beach/Water Access, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Wheelchair Accessible

The seventy year-old fishing tug, Aloha, is a style of fishing boat used for gill net fishing. This style of boat, popular on the Great Lakes and St Lawrence River during the first half of the twentieth century, evolved from earlier open deck motorized fishing boats when diesel engines replaced sails permitting greater cargoes and less need for on-deck activity.

Fish tugs had closed decks and pilothouses amidships or near the stern were common.

Gill net fishing was one of the most popular forms of commercial fishing on the Great Lakes until concerns about declining fish populations led to increased regulations and more restrictive catch limits. Today, it has been almost entirely replaced by trap netting.

The tug Aloha was temporarily docked at Frankfort MI. While moored at Frankfort, the vessel split a seam and sank to the bottom of the harbor. Emergency NPS funds raised the boat and transported it by truck to Glen Haven.