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OUR COMMERICAL
FISHING COMMUNITY

Stonington is proud to be home of the last commercial fishing fleet in the state of Connecticut.  For generations, local families have made their living by dedicating their professional life to the sea.  Despite significant industry challenges, their brave efforts and dogged determination have resulted in a bounty of incredible fresh lobsters, scallops, fish and more.  The seafood makes it way to the menus of our many outstanding restaurants in the region, to local markets and to the dinner tables of families throughout southeastern CT and southern RI. 

 

The buoys shown at the bottom of this page pay homage to the fishing industry and depict some of the boats that operate out of the Stonington Town Docks.  We appreciate the fishermen sharing the property with us this winter so that we can present the lobster trap tree for the community.  Over $2,500 was spent by the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce to purchase these buoys and commission a Stonington Artist to paint them. These buoys will be gifted to the fishermen. 

 

To learn more about the fisherman and the businesses that operate out of the Stonington Town Docks, read this insightful article by Joe Wojtas of The Day.

https://www.theday.com/article/20210721/NWS01/210729856

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FISHERMEN PROFILES

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Empire Fisheries

 

Empire Fisheries is a commercial fishing business out of the port of Stonington, CT. Our fleet of scallop and squid boats represents the largest fishing fleet in the state. We are committed to using the most sustainable methods available, protecting our fishermen, and protecting the ocean environments we rely on. We are proud to carry on the Stonington tradition of bringing fresh, healthy seafood to communities around the world.

The Empire Fisheries family of companies have a long history in Stonington, CT. Started as Briarpatch Enterprises, Inc. in 1982, we have evolved through many different fisheries. The original Briarpatch company still exists as our aquaculture business, farming clam and oyster beds in Long Island Sound and Fishers Island Sound.

Today, Empire Fisheries operates four burgundy-hulled trawlers out of the port of Stonington. Regulus, Invictus, and Furious specialize in scallops. Starbrite specializes in squid and fish. They are all built to fish year-round in extreme weather.

Learn more at empirefisheries.com

Roderick Grimshaw
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Fisherman: Roderick Grimshaw

 

Operated by Roderick Grimshaw who comes from a proud family with multiple generations  working in the commercial fishing industry.   The Lady Lynn specializes in catching lobsters and when the crew returns to shore, the lobsters are sold fresh right from the dock. 

 

Phone: 860-608-2625

Email: roddygrim1@gmail.com
 

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Lobstah Kingz

 

Matt Maderia is a fourth generation lobsterman and owner of the Lobstah Kingz at the Stonington Town Dock. Maderia works full time as a crane operator at Electric Boat and three days a week, he lobsters, setting about 200 traps southeast of Fishers Island. He markets his business on Facebook, Instagram and his website and sells to local markets as well as a group of private customers.  

FISHERMEN BUOYS
2024

Bryca Taylor

Bryca Taylor

Artist: Susan Scala

Bryca Taylor

Bryca Taylor

Artist: Susan Scala

Carley Grace

Carley Grace

Artist: Susan Scala

Carley Grace

Carley Grace

Artist: Susan Scala

Furious

Furious

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Furious

Furious

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Heritage

Heritage

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Aaron Williams

Heritage

Heritage

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Aaron Williams

Hostile Waters

Hostile Waters

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Guzzo

Hostile Waters

Hostile Waters

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Guzzo

Invictus

Invictus

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Invictus

Invictus

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Jenna Lynn II

Jenna Lynn II

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Guzzo

Jenna Lynn II

Jenna Lynn II

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Guzzo

Lady Lynn

Lady Lynn

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Michael Grimshaw

Lady Lynn

Lady Lynn

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Michael Grimshaw

Lil Bit

Lil Bit

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Michael Snurkowski

Lil Bit

Lil Bit

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Michael Snurkowski

Lobstah Kingz

Lobstah Kingz

Artists: Lobster Kingz Lobsterman: Matt Madeira

Lobstah Kingz

Lobstah Kingz

Artists: Lobster Kingz Lobsterman: Matt Madeira

Mackenzie Paige

Mackenzie Paige

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Gary Stone

Mackenzie Paige

Mackenzie Paige

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Gary Stone

Quaimbauger

Quaimbauger

Artist: Susan Scala

Quaimbauger

Quaimbauger

Artist: Susan Scala

Regulus

Regulus

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Regulus

Regulus

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Restless

Restless

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Edwin Emery

Restless

Restless

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Edwin Emery

Ruthy L

Ruthy L

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Glen Beck

Ruthy L

Ruthy L

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Glen Beck

Sara Elizabeth

Sara Elizabeth

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Smith

Sara Elizabeth

Sara Elizabeth

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Smith

Sarah Jean

Sarah Jean

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Fred Emery

Sarah Jean

Sarah Jean

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Fred Emery

Stacy & Geal

Stacy & Geal

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Walter Roderick

Stacy & Geal

Stacy & Geal

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Walter Roderick

Starbrite

Starbrite

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Starbrite

Starbrite

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Stephanie Kay

Stephanie Kay

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Dan Emery

Stephanie Kay

Stephanie Kay

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Dan Emery

Susan C

Susan C

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Dan Malone

Susan C

Susan C

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Dan Malone

Tradition

Tradition

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Thomas Williams

Tradition

Tradition

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Thomas Williams

FISHERMEN BUOYS
2023

Carley Grace

Carley Grace

Artist: Susan Scala

Carley Grace

Carley Grace

Artist: Susan Scala

Furious

Furious

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Furious

Furious

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Heritage

Heritage

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Aaron Williams

Heritage

Heritage

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Aaron Williams

Hostile Waters

Hostile Waters

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Guzzo

Hostile Waters

Hostile Waters

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Guzzo

Invictus

Invictus

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Invictus

Invictus

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Jenna Lynn II

Jenna Lynn II

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Guzzo

Jenna Lynn II

Jenna Lynn II

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Guzzo

Lady Lynn

Lady Lynn

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Michael Grimshaw

Lady Lynn

Lady Lynn

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Michael Grimshaw

Lil-Bit

Lil-Bit

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Michael Snurkowski

Lil-Bit

Lil-Bit

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Michael Snurkowski

Mackenzie Paige II

Mackenzie Paige II

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Gary Stone

Mackenzie Paige II

Mackenzie Paige II

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Gary Stone

Regulus

Regulus

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Regulus

Regulus

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Restless

Restless

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Edwin Emery

Restless

Restless

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Edwin Emery

Ruthy L

Ruthy L

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Glen Beck

Ruthy L

Ruthy L

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Glen Beck

Sara Elizabeth

Sara Elizabeth

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Smith

Sara Elizabeth

Sara Elizabeth

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Robert Smith

Sara Jean

Sara Jean

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Fred Emery

Sara Jean

Sara Jean

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Fred Emery

Stacy & Geal

Stacy & Geal

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Walter Roderick

Stacy & Geal

Stacy & Geal

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Walter Roderick

Starbrite

Starbrite

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Starbrite

Starbrite

Artist: Susan Scala Fishermen: Joe & Nancy Gilbert

Stephanie Kay

Stephanie Kay

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Dan Emery

Stephanie Kay

Stephanie Kay

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Dan Emery

Susan C

Susan C

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Dan Malone

Susan C

Susan C

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Dan Malone

Tradition

Tradition

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Thomas Williams

Tradition

Tradition

Artist: Susan Scala Fisherman: Thomas Williams

Lobstah Kingz

Lobstah Kingz

Artist: Noelle Wolcin Lobsterman: Matt Madeira

Lobstah Kingz

Lobstah Kingz

Artist: Noelle Wolcin Lobsterman: Matt Madeira

Bryca Taylor

Bryca Taylor

Artist: Colleen O'Connor

Bryca Taylor

Bryca Taylor

Artist: Colleen O'Connor

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