What Happened to Mailman on Wicked Tuna’s Tuna.com?

Wicked Tuna is a popular reality TV show on the National Geographic Channel that follows commercial fishermen competing to catch bluefin tuna off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. One of the fan favorite boats during the early seasons was Tuna.com, led by Captain Dave Marciano and his first mate Mailman. However, in recent seasons Mailman has been noticeably absent from the show, leaving many fans wondering – what happened to Mailman on Tuna.com?

A Fan Favorite First Mate

During the first three seasons of Wicked Tuna, Mailman established himself as a lovable and hardworking first mate on the Tuna.com boat. With his scruffy beard, backwards hat, and jovial personality, Mailman was a joy to watch on the show. He had an infectious enthusiasm for fishing, and clearly had a great rapport with Captain Dave. Mailman quickly became a fan favorite crew member.

So when Season 4 rolled around and Mailman was suddenly missing from the Tuna.com crew, many viewers were left scratching their heads wondering why he disappeared. There was no explanation given on the show about his absence, leaving fans to speculate about what might have caused the change.

Rumors and Speculation From Fans

In online fan communities like forums and Facebook groups, speculation ran rampant about what led to Mailman’s disappearance from Wicked Tuna Some theories included

• He was fired by Captain Dave Some thought perhaps Mailman made one too many mistakes on the boat and Dave gave him the boot However, their camaraderie on the show made this seem unlikely.

• He quit fishing to pursue other opportunities Maybe the endless hours and grueling work took its toll, causing Mailman to leave the tuna game.

• There were issues between the Tuna.com crew: Rumors swirled about tensions or disagreements causing Mailman to leave or be pushed out.

• He was having health issues: Some fans thought perhaps an injury or illness sidelined Mailman, forcing him off the boat.

Without an official explanation from Mailman or anyone on Wicked Tuna, fans were left filling in the blanks themselves about why he disappeared from Tuna.com and the show.

Captain Dave Sets the Record Straight

Finally, after much speculation, Captain Dave Marciano himself provided some clarity about Mailman’s absence during several interviews. According to Dave, here’s what really happened:

• Mailman did not get fired from the Tuna.com crew. There were no issues between him and Dave that caused a falling out.

• He did not quit fishing to take another job. Mailman’s passion for tuna fishing still burned strong.

• There were no tensions or disagreements among the crew that forced Mailman off the boat.

• Mailman did not suffer any injuries or health issues that prevented him from fishing. Physically, he was fine.

So why did Mailman disappear from Wicked Tuna?

Mailman Stepped Away for Personal Reasons

According to Captain Dave, Mailman still wanted to keep fishing, but stepped away from Tuna.com for personal reasons. Dave did not specify exactly what those reasons were, wanting to respect Mailman’s privacy. But he made it clear that Mailman leaving was his own decision and not due to any animosity among the crew.

Captain Dave also revealed that he still speaks to Mailman regularly. Though no longer first mate on Tuna.com, they remain good friends. Mailman has also continued working as a commercial fisherman, just not on the TV show. It seems he simply wanted to step out of the limelight and focus on fishing without the cameras.

Mailman’s Spirit Lives On

While Mailman may no longer be on Wicked Tuna, his personality and fishing wisdom made a lasting mark during his tenure on Tuna.com. Old episodes with Mailman continue to be fan favorites, as his enthusiasm for catching giant bluefin was downright infectious.

Captain Dave has nothing but praise and respect for his former first mate. He recognizes that Mailman helped make Tuna.com such a successful boat during the show’s early seasons. Dave has made it clear the door is always open if Mailman ever wishes to return.

So while Mailman is no longer a regular character on Wicked Tuna, his spirit lives on. He’ll always be remembered by fans as the lovable, backwards hat wearing first mate who worked his butt off to catch monster bluefin. And that’s the real story behind what happened to Mailman.