05/20/2026
A young fisherman, three years into running his own boat, with a baby on the way and a whole lot more on his shoulders than most people ever get to see. He told me about starting out on scallop boats, how hard it was in the beginning to find the right person to work beside him, and how he eventually found someone he could count on. He talked about the reality of the job too - not only catching fish, but fixing the boat, sourcing parts, and carrying all the responsibility that comes with making it back out again.
His boat is named after his wife, Kayla Nicole, and hearing him talk about his life, his work, and what it has taken to build this chapter was one of the best parts of the trip.
Sometimes I catch myself thinking a moment would make great content. Then a day like this reminds me that some moments matter more because you lived them first.
And the more time I spend around fishermen, the more I realize the seafood itself is only part of the story. The people behind it carry generations of knowledge, sacrifice, and pride. I felt that with Dillon, and I felt it again when I learned more about John Puskas and his grandfather, Louis Puskas, who helped bring tilefish back to market and played a role in shaping the modern U.S. longline fishery.
I’m grateful Go Fish Co keeps leading me closer to the source, and even more grateful for the people willing to share a piece of their world along the way.
