Coastal System

 “The fishing boat «Norliner» (N-54-Ø), based in Øksnes municipality in Nordland in Norway, is a 10-meter vessel that has been operating with Mustad Autoline coastal system since 2012. For us, it is much more flexible and easier to use Autoline, and we will never go back to using traditional longlines. If it ever became an issue, I might as well quit fishing, says Sævar Gudjonsson. We handle most of the maintenance ourselves, which also makes our daily operations easier.
I got involved in the boat’s operation in 2014, and in 2016 we bought the Norliner.

Sævar Gudjonsson

“Æ har no drevet med linefiske heile livet, og etter at æ fikk installert Mustad Autoline HV-50 på båten for fem år sia, så blei alt bra mykkje likar,” sier Arnfinn Mikalsen. «Arbeidsstillinga om bord blei mykkje bedre, og det blei merkbart mindre støy»

“I installed the Mustad Autoline HV-50 hauling unit on my boat five years ago, and since then, everything has improved significantly,” says Arnfinn Mikalsen. The working conditions on board became much more comfortable, and the noise levels were noticeably reduced.

Arnfinn has enjoyed consistent support from Mustad over the years and has maintained a great dialogue with the company. He was even involved in the development and testing phases of the HV-50 hauler. He describes it as solid and user-friendly, although perhaps a bit long for the smallest coastal vessels—a suggestion for future development.

Arnfinn Jarl Mikalsen, Båtsfjord – Coastal fisherman 😊 Vessel: Dukat, 35 feet

We have the capacity to set and haul up to 7,000 hooks per day. Initially, we operate with a crew of two to three people, but as we refine our processes and incorporate best practices, we streamline operations to a two-person crew. The Coastal HandyMag storage system is specifically designed for smaller boats, typically around 30 feet (9–10 meters). Hooks and lines are stored in one-meter magazines and manually retrieved during setting and hauling. This system is both space-efficient and user-friendly, making it easy to operate even on compact vessels.

For short periods, we also fish for crab. The Autoline system is installed in a way that allows for quick and seamless reconfiguration, making it easy to switch between different fisheries, such as crab fishing.

Catch and season

Our catch includes haddock, halibut, catfish, and bream, in addition to cod. With our new equipment, we can now operate a longline fishery year-round.

“I’m optimistic about the future” says Morten Gressmyr, Vadsø.