Born in Nazaré in 1942, he grew up in the midst of boats and fish boxes until he was five. He and his family then moved to Matosinhos, where he learned to swim and fish on the beach. At the age of seven they moved to Leça, with their paltry belongings loaded on a wheelbarrow. At the age of 12, he moved to Vila Chã, where he began his life at sea, fishing for pout and conger eel, with a handline and rods. He went cod fishing for the first time in 1960, at the age of 17.

Last updated: August 2021