Gotham Fish Tales, a new 70-minute documentary film by Robert Maass, weaves a hopeful, inspiring story of dogged fishermen who ply New York City waters, from Hell's Gate, to massive bridges, to the shadow of the Statue of Liberty.

It's an inspiring tale because it flies against the conventional wisdom of what coexists in the largest American city - a highly utilized marine ecosystem hard pressed against the density of the city which supports a vibrant and varied fishery , second to none by any angler's standard. Professional fishermen struggle to hang on while recreational anglers catch and eat fish of surprising abundance and variety. Genuine fish tales entertain and provoke, reflecting the city's buoyant character.

Gotham Fish Tales is not a film that assumes the viewer has any interest whatsoever in the sport of fishing. It isn't a fishing movie, per se. At it's core is a narrative about how people connect with their environment for recreation and spiritual peace as well as those who struggle to make a living from a hard pressed resource.