Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Golden Fisher
- Type: Wooden fishing tug
- Year Built: 1943
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Huron (offshore, precise coordinates not recorded)
- Original Owners: Not definitively recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Golden Fisher was most probably a wooden fishing tug, common on the Great Lakes in the 1940s, built to service commercial fisheries with gillnets and trap nets. These vessels were generally single-decked, with a strong deckhouse and low freeboard for easy net handling.
Description
The Golden Fisher was relatively new, launched in 1943, and had only a brief operational period before its loss. These wooden fish tugs were essential to the war-era Great Lakes fishing trade, supplying fresh fish to both civilian markets and military provisioning.
History
On 5 June 1943, the Golden Fisher caught fire offshore on Lake Huron under unknown circumstances. The blaze consumed the wooden hull, which then sank. No specific salvage is recorded, and there is no confirmation of a total loss of crew, suggesting they may have escaped but no detailed report is available.
Significant Incidents
- No formal diver or survey documentation has confirmed the wreck’s precise location, and its remains are presumed to be in deeper water off the Lake Huron shoreline.
Final Disposition
No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are active for this site, and no recognized hazard warnings apply.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Golden Fisher is an example of a World War II–era working fish tug lost to fire, a common risk for these wooden-hulled vessels with fuel and engine-room hazards. Its loss underscores the vulnerability of fish tugs even in relatively modern times.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”golden-fisher1943″ title=”References & Links”]
For those interested in maritime history, the Golden Fisher represents a significant loss during a pivotal time in the Great Lakes fishing industry.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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