With dramatically diverse terrain and spectacular scenery, the Cleveland and North Yorkshire area has long had a strong fishing industry, and marine employment and pastimes remain common in the locality.

Illustrated with 150 photographs, all of which were taken by the author, this informative and evocative book tells the story of fisherfolk, boats, and boatbuilders along the North Yorkshire and Cleveland coast between the rivers Tees and Esk in the mid- to late 20th century. Bordering on the North York Moors National Park, the coastline displays a remarkable diversity of character from wide sandy beaches at Redcar and Marske to precipitous high cliffs and deep ravines and the historic settlements of Skinningrove, Staithes, Runswick Bay, and Whitby. Many places have supported small-scale fisheries, with emphasis on catch quality rather than quantity, and boats have evolved to cope with a variety of fishing techniques and environmental conditions.