Dave Marciano Wiki/Bio, Age, Net Worth, Legal Issues, Wife & Kids.

If you’ve ever tuned into Wicked Tuna, chances are you’ve rooted for Captain Dave Marciano. With his trademark shaved head, gravelly voice, and no-nonsense attitude aboard the Hard Merchandise, Dave became one of the show’s most recognizable and beloved figures. But long before the cameras rolled, Dave was just a kid hanging around the docks in Massachusetts, chasing a dream. What makes his story stand out isn’t just the fame that followed—it’s the decades of hard work, family-first values, and deep respect for the sea that got him there. His journey isn’t just about catching fish; it’s about staying grounded, giving back, and holding tight to what matters most.

Early Life: From Inland Roots to Saltwater Calling

Dave Marciano was born on December 5, 1965, in Ipswich, Massachusetts—not exactly into a fishing dynasty. His family was middle-class, and his father worked in insurance. While his siblings followed more traditional paths—college, careers outside the water—Dave always felt drawn to something different. The ocean was never far away, and it quietly shaped his future.

He first got a taste for fishing thanks to his Uncle Joe, the youngest of his father’s brothers. Uncle Joe would take young Dave down to the pond with a bobber and worm—simple memories that stuck. When Uncle Joe passed away from leukemia at just 27, it left a lasting impression. Years later, Dave would name his own son Joseph in his memory.

By age 11, Dave was already on deck. When a deckhand failed to show up for a charter trip, the captain gave Dave—who’d been hanging around the docks every weekend—a shot. That lucky break turned into a calling. He started working regularly with Yankee Fleet in Gloucester, one of the East Coast’s busiest party boat companies at the time.

From there, Dave’s connection to the water only deepened. He saved money from odd jobs just to spend more time on boats. After graduating from Gloucester High School, he skipped college and committed full-time to commercial fishing, even spending time in Key West before returning north.

Around age 20, Dave caught his first bluefin tuna aboard the Janie B with Captain William G. Brown. Back then, before rod-and-reel setups were affordable, many fishermen—including Dave—used handlines to haul in tuna. It was old-school, gritty, and all heart—much like the fishery itself. That moment sparked a lifelong passion for bluefin, and Dave never looked back.

Career Beginnings: From Deckhand to Captain

Dave Marciano’s journey into professional fishing wasn’t handed to him—it was something he earned through decades of hard, hands-on work. After getting his start with Yankee Fleet in Gloucester, where he worked party boats as a teenager, Dave gradually shifted into the commercial side of the industry. He learned every corner of the trade the old-fashioned way: gillnetting, longlining, dragging—spending well over 300 days a year out on the water.

He came up in a generation that helped bring bluefin tuna fishing back from the brink. In the 1980s, stocks had declined dramatically. But with careful management, strict quotas, and size limits, the fishery bounced back. Dave takes a lot of pride in being part of that turnaround and often describes bluefin as one of the most responsibly managed fisheries in the country.

In the mid-1990s, after years of saving and building experience, Dave took a leap—he earned his captain’s license and started running his own boat, the Angelica Joseph, named after his two oldest kids. He ran that boat until 2003, when it tragically sank at Jeffreys Ledge. Fortunately, Dave and his crew were rescued thanks to a calm, quick-thinking Mayday call. The boat was lost, but no lives were.

Not one to give up, Dave soon found his next vessel: a rugged 38-foot Daniels Head hull he would name Hard Merchandise. It was a fixer-upper, but Dave—ever the hands-on captain—rebuilt it himself. The name had a double meaning: a nod to the firm, high-quality tuna that brought top dollar at market, and an inside reference to a Star Wars novel series he and his daughter Angelica both loved.

TV Breakthrough: Wicked Tuna & Outer Banks

When Wicked Tuna premiered in 2012 on National Geographic, Dave joined the cast as one of its original captains. The show, which chronicled the competitive world of bluefin tuna fishing out of Gloucester, quickly became a hit. Viewers were drawn to Dave’s no-nonsense style, Massachusetts grit, and heartfelt connection to his crew.

Dave prioritized efficiency over luxury: while other boats on Wicked Tuna may have had new, sleek builds, Hard Merchandise was a lean, reliable workhorse. That mindset—earning more by spending less—helped him keep the boat profitable and family-supported.

Over the next 13 seasons, Dave became one of the most consistent and beloved figures on the show. In Season 4, he achieved a career highlight by winning the season with 18 fish and over $102,000 in earnings—a proud underdog moment that fans still talk about.

He also appeared on Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks, even handing off the Hard Merchandise to his son Joe while he captained the Falcon for two seasons. When the original series ended in 2024, Dave expressed gratitude for the journey. Reflecting on the show’s run during a podcast, he noted that if his 15 minutes of fame lasted 13 years, he had nothing to complain about.

Net Worth

Dave owns two fishing vessels Hard Merchandise and Falcon. He also runs Angelica Fisheries Inc, a company based in Beverley, MA. In addition to commercial fishing, Dave provides chartered fishing trips off the coast of Massachusetts. Dave’s significant earning comes from television appearances however the exact sum is not revealed. Considering the popularity of Wicked Tuna Dave makes somewhere between $7,000 to $20,000 per episode. He also invests a significant sum of money in his crew and the boat operation which is estimated to be around $70,000 yearly. As of 2025, Dave Marciano has an estimated net worth of $3 Million.

Personal Life

Wife and Children

Dave is married to his longtime wife, Nancy Marciano. The couple took their wedding vows in 1990 and have since been together. Nancy shares a similar passion for fishing. She used to fish with her father and elder brother during her early years and now being married to one of the finest fishermen, she joins him in the action from time to time. Nancy is not any ordinary fisherman as she holds a record for catching a striper in Massachusetts.

In 33 years of marriage, Dave and Nancy have given birth to three children: Angelica Elizabeth Marciano, Joseph aka Joe Marciano, and Eva Rose Marciano. The eldest two Angelica and Joseph are into fishing, and help their father in the family business. Angelica works as a deckhand on her father’s ship meanwhile, Joseph has captained Hard Merchandise.

Community Work: Friends of R and Kids at Sea

Dave and Nancy are passionate about giving back. Since 2014, they’ve been involved with Friends of R, an organization that takes underprivileged children out on fishing trips—kids who might otherwise never experience the ocean. Inspired by their own childhood fishing memories, Dave and Nancy now help bring those opportunities full circle.

The couple participates in annual fundraisers and fishing events through Friends of R, which has taken over 150,000 children fishing to date.

Legal Issue: 2015 Arrest

In 2015, while filming in Morehead City, North Carolina, Dave was arrested for allegedly pulling the ponytail of a hotel clerk. He was charged with assault on a female and later released on a written promise to appear in court.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Value
Full name	Dave Marciano
Date of birth	December 5, 1965
Age	60 years old
Place of birth	Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA
Zodiac sign	Sagittarius
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Occupation	Fisherman, reality TV star
Net worth	$3 Million
Height (approx)	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight (about)	176 lbs (80 kg)
Hair color	Dark Brown
Eye color	Brown
Marital status	Married
Spouse	Nancy Marciano
Children	Angelica Marciano, Joseph Marciano, Eva Rose Marciano
Siblings	Unknown
Parents	Unknown
Education	Gloucester High School (graduated)
Hobbies	Fishing, spending time with family
Favorite fish	Bluefin tuna
Favorite TV show	Wicked Tuna
Favorite boat	Hard Merchandise
Awards and achievements	None
Controversies and scandals	Arrested for assault on a female in 2015