Abstract: The invention is directed to a fishing vessel and a method of menhaden fishing. The fishing vessel comprises catamaran or multi-hulled type boat or ship used as a purse boat. The fishing vessel is outfitted with a jet propulsion drive system and also has various equipment necessary for handling the purse seine, such as with an articulated crane necessary to manipulate the seine or fishing net and partially lift it out of the water, a purse winch, and a tom winch. The fishing vessel can be transported by a steamer boat and once in the fishing area is launched or it can be navigated to the fishing grounds. Once the fish are caught, the fish are unloaded from the seine or fishing net using a vacuum transfer device and stored in a refrigerated storage area on the steamer.