Learn How to Speak Wicked Tuna

An Interactive Audio Glossary With First-Mate Paulie

We’re all familiar with basic Bostonese—you know, “wicked ah-some” or "I'm pah-kin' the cah"—but for the fishermen of Wicked Tuna, they’ve developed a vernacular all their own. From "squeaker" (pronounced: "squeakah") to "googans" (pronounced with disdain), we figured you might need a glossary to get you through this show. So we recruited Tuna.com's First Mate Paul Hebert to help you learn the salty talk of a real New England fisherman.

wick·ed

adj [wi-kəd]

Definition: Of exceptional quality, very, super

Example: "Tuna fishing is wicked hard."

piss·er

adj [pi-sə]

Definition: Either very good or very bad

Example: "Did you see that? Wicked pisser!"

sleigh ride

noun [slā- rīd]

Definition: The event of being dragged by another boat after becoming entangled

Example: "That boat's about to go on the Nantucket sleigh ride."

snug·gle

transitive verb [snə-gəl]

Definition: To anchor one's boat in close proximity to another (successful) boat

Example: "Let's just snuggle up next to Dave."

chum

noun or verb [chəm]

Definition: Chopped fish thrown overboard to attract other fish

Example: "These fish are all up in the chum!"

sea rats

noun pl [sē-rats]

Definition: Sea birds

Example: "Goddamn sea rats are eating all our chum."

goo·gans

noun pl [güg-əns]

Definition: Fishermen who are not professional; aka weekend warriors; part-timers; tourists

Example: "Goddamn googans, they're all over the place this weekend."

num·bers

noun pl [nəm-bərz]

Definition: GPS coordinates where a fishing boat strategically anchors

Example: "That goddamn googan is sitting on my numbers!"

drag·ger

noun [dra-gər]

Definition: A fishing boat that uses a trawl or dragnet

Example: "What the hell is that dragger doing getting so close?"

keep·er

noun [kē-pər]

Definition: A fish that qualifies under the fishing quotas

Example: "If the fish is big enough, he's a keeper."

squeak·er

noun [skwē-kər]

Definition: A fish that just barely qualifies under the fishing quotas

Example: "Seventy-four inches? That's a squeaker!"

bleed·er

noun [blē-dər]

Definition: A fish that bleeds

Example: "We got a bleeder!"

sink·er

noun [sing-kər]

Definition: A weight used on the end of a fishing line

Example: "I need a 20-ounce sinker!"

cow

noun [kaü]

Definition: A really big fish

Example: "Holy s***, that's a cow!"

4 comments

Newest | Oldest

chuck cristina

tryin to learn new lingo . I am from La. and fish mostly out of Grand Isle, La. The words a lil different but the accent totally different. I usualy fish trout. cow is a sow or trophy . dragger is skimmer or thawla. googans are DA's

Michele Harrington

We are from Rhode Island now living in Florida so every time we watch we feel like we are at home! All New Englanders sound like the guys, there is no mistaking were we are from. We are addicted! Can't wait for tonight and the new episode!

Jeffrey R.

1 Like

Are they Australian?

Jay Micd

Yea bro. Theyre all ausyralian. Just came over here to fish for the summer... Its a boston accent lol. I dont think it sounds that aussie? Maybe it do to outsiders. <3 new england greatest. 5 and 1/2 states in the country