‘Wicked Tuna’: Interesting Facts About Dave Marciano

Dave Marciano on 'Wicked Tuna' - YouTube/National Geographic

Dave Marciano first appeared on National Geographic’s reality show Wicked Tuna in 2012. Since then, fans have gotten to know him better and see what a hard-working individual he is. However, a lot has changed in the 10 years he’s been on the show. Here are some interesting facts about Dave that viewers may not know.

Dave Marciano Has Devoted His Life To Fishing

As a child, Marciano knew what he wanted to pursue in a career. He started fishing at a young age and knew, without a doubt, that it was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

At the age of nine, he wound up serving as a crew mate after another person did not show up to do the work. From then on, it was clear to Dave what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

Dave Marciano on 'Wicked Tuna' - YouTube/National Geographic

Credit: YouTube/National Geographic

He told Points East that he was the “black sheep of the family.” Of his four siblings, he was the only one that did not go to college or get into the family’s insurance business. Instead, he started fishing on the Yankee Fleet doing charter trips during high school. Eventually, he moved his way to commercial fishing boats.

He Is Good Friends With Captain Dave Carraro

Marciano knew who Dave Carraro was before they started filming Wicked Tuna together. Carraro had a reputation for being a great fisherman and already had Marciano’s respect before they met.

After working together on Wicked Tuna, Marciano has revealed that he and Carraro have actually become very good friends. That friendship is set aside when they are competing at sea though.

Fame Doesn’t Interest Dave Marciano

While he has acknowledged how the show has benefited him in his personal life, he has admitted that he wishes he could go back to his life before television sometimes. That being said, he loves to meet with his fans.

According to Marciano, when he and the crew return after being at sea for days, there is usually a line waiting to see them come in. Even though he is exhausted, he’s happy to see fans and knows that the publicity is good for his community as well.

The Fisherman Has Lost Two Boats At Sea

Working as a fisherman can be a dangerous job. During his career, Marciano has seen two boats sink. The first boat he lost at sea was in 2004. He recalled the incident while talking with Points East.

Dave Marciano on 'Wicked Tuna' - YouTube/National Geographic

Credit: YouTube/National Geographic

He said, “Once I sent out the Mayday call and the boat was going down, I remember thinking, ‘I know I may lose the boat, but there is no way we (the crew) wouldn’t get out of it alive.'” Marciano and the crew safely made it out and the Coast Guard commended him for how well he handled the situation, despite the absolute shock of it happening.

His second boat met its end in 2012, just after they finished filming for Wicked Tuna. Around the same time, another boat in his area went down as well. The boat was recovered, but the crew was never found. For that, Marciano was counting his blessings. At the time he said, “Although I have my own little nightmare, in the big picture, my problems are minimal. Yeah, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me, but I’ll get through it.”

Fans can expect to continue to see Dave Marciano in future seasons of Wicked Tuna. While Season 12 has yet to be announced, viewers can still stream the show on Disney+ or catch reruns on Nat Geo.

Amanda Blankenship

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