If you’re a seafood lover there’s little that can compare to fresh, salty, delicacies handpicked at your local seafood market.
The Trader Bay Seafood Company, located on Shoal Line Boulevard in Hernando Beach, is one of those local seafood markets and has been in business for over 18 years. The popular market lures in hungry fish devotees every day and has been serving up fresh fish, smoked fish and shellfish for years.
Under the new ownership of Toni and Gene Werbe since August 2009, the family-run market focuses on supporting locally landed fish, with a good range of species on offer.
“We’ve had some really good catches into the market all week,” said co-owner Toni Werbe. “And the quicker you get it from sea to plate the better.”
Evolving to suit consumer needs, Trader Bay is a one-stop shop for all locally caught seafood and a variety of seasonings and beverages to help create a full meal.
Customers can also purchase whole or filleted, smoked fish as well as delicious freshly made dips with sour cream, cream cheese, green onions, smoked fish and secret seasonings.
“I have several fishermen that catch for me and then I call around the different landing places for my special catches of the day,” said Werbe. “It’s all fresh delivered early every morning and I’m constantly on the phone to get the prize catches,” she said. “You can never have enough fish – especially for holiday weekends.”
A traditional seafood market, Trader Bay also offers more than a piece of fish over the counter. They also serve up an education in fish preparation, cooking and accompaniments.
Liz Boik, a longtime employee at the market, has all the necessary skills about preparing fish to be cooked at home. Passionate and knowledgeable about her trade, she is always on hand to help and demonstrate how customers can be confident in cooking their favorite fish.
Ruby Turner, a longtime regular customer at Trader Bay said, “Fish used to be a once a week purchase for my husband and I, but I’m coming more and more now because the seafood is so fresh and it’s easy to cook.”
“This place couldn’t be any better located. Having a fish market and restaurant right on the coast is ideal, and Trader Bay can grill or steam your fish or shellfish while you wait.”
In addition to being a seafood market, Trader Bay also cooks up fried or steamed seafood platters that will keep you coming back for more.
Trader Bay also has a large selection of smoked products. Smoked on the premises, mullet and salmon are their customers’ most popular smoked fish buys.
Werbe explained that Blue Crabs are her best fresh fish sellers hotly followed by Grouper, then shrimp.
“I just can’t keep my smoked products on the shelf,” she said. “As soon as I’ve smoked the fish, it’s gone.”
The market has a relaxed and casual café bar ambience with indoor and outdoor tables where you can relax and enjoy your favorite fish at affordable prices. Specials in May include Flounder Hollandaise and Blackened Shrimp Alfredo.
And for dessert, try their homemade Working Cow Ice Cream.
Liz Book said she’s never been an ice cream lover but this ice cream is so rich and creamy she can’t stop eating it.
“The flavors are amazing and so satisfying,” she said.
“Flavors include Blueberry Cheesecake, Cappucino Kahlua, Peanut Butter Blast and Toasted Coconut with Chocolate Flakes.
“We wanted to make not only the best of our produce but also make an inviting and affordable place for everyone to come eat as well,” said Werbe. “This will be a relaxed place where you can sit inside or outside and enjoy your favorite fish.”
Trader Bay Seafood prides itself on being an all-round, first-class fish market reeling in excellent quality, exceptionally fresh fish with good customer service to regulars known by name. Every product is locally caught. From cobia to mullet, from smelts to frog legs, whatever type of fish titillates your fancy, Trader Bay can provide. “We sell Stone Crabs too,” said Werbe.
For those dedicated cooks who make their own stock, bouillon and soup, Trader Bay can also provide offcuts and fish heads.
“We sell every part of the fish,” said Werbe. “We don’t waste anything at all,” she said. “I also give back a lot of offcuts to the crabbers and they use it as bait.”
The great thing about Trader Bay Seafood is that if you want a whole fish or bushels of oysters or a mere half-pound of shrimp, their customer service is superlative — a hidden gem at Hernando Beach.
