As Waterdance’s only stern-trawler, the Sophie Jane of Ladram primarily fishes for squid and cuttlefish in the English Channel, landing her catch in Brixham, Devon. Unlike the Beam Trawlers, Sophie Jane of Ladram has trawls which are deployed and retrieved from the stern of the vessel as opposed to the sides. This helps the vessel to maintain a straight course while hauling and shooting and allows the vessel to head directly into the wind and sea whilst fishing. The trawl can also be deployed at a specified depths to target different species of fish depending on the zone of the trawl. Trawling is generally a method used by commercial fishermen but can also be used by research vessels to collect large samples to survey an area of the ocean.