Beyond the Shops

The heart of Viking Village is the commercial fishery, which your guide is pleased to point out.

According to theViking Village pamphlet, it is "...home port to 15 scallopers, several longliners, and about 12 gill net boats. Each boat is independently owned and utilizes Viking Village for their pack-out, marketing and sale of their catch....The scallopers bring in approximately two million pounds of scallops per year....The longliners bring in many types of fish including big-eye and yellow-fin tuna, tilefish, sharks and swordfish. At Viking Village, alone, they account for about one million pounds per year....The gill net boats are smaller type vessels used to catch blues, weakfish, monkfish, croakers and shad. Unlike the longliners and scallopers, they return to port after a day's catch."

The big-eye tuna, which can weigh up to 250 pounds, can get as much as $20/lb wholesale in the Japanese markets where it is considered a delicacy due to its high fat content. Most of the monkfish is shipped to South Korea. But we also get to enjoy fresh seafood right here in Barnegat Light. The scallops, my favorite, are delicious, and taste so-o-o much better than the frozen variety. There is a fresh fish market right at the docks and a take-out restaurant which serves up fresh seafood daily.

There is also a marina next to the commercial docks, home to charter and party boats which head out to the ridges and canyons daily. Some private pleasure boats are also birthed here - one of them belonging to my brother, Andy. The Kay III is in the background between the commercial boats, framed by the pilings. We'll have to get a better shot of her for a future posting.