Kyler's Catch Seafood Market in New Bedford

If you live in the South Coast and don't buy your seafood fresh from the local fish markets you are crazy. Did you know that New Bedford is the nation's largest fishing port generating economic activity in excess of $1 billion. The fishing fleet lands over 133 million pounds of products annually leveraging $306 million in direct sales.  At the height of scallop season, about 500,000 pounds of scallop meat comes ashore at New Bedford DAILY!

Kyler's Catch Seafood Market is a family business that has been in New Bedford since 1936.  Next time you are driving through New Bedford on 195, take a few minutes and stop by.  You'll be glad you did!

About the Place:  Kyler's went through a revamp and expansion of its retail space in 2007.  The store is clean, uncluttered, and pleasant.  They even have a cool fishtank built into the wall.  The selection is huge.  The bulk of the food is seafood sold by the pound that you cook and prepare at home, some pre-cooked items (crab cakes, stuffed quahogs, lobster spread to name a few) that require little prep at home, and some ready to eat options like various seafood chowders and bisques.

Here's a quick tour:

You can serve up some of their chowers and bisques.

They have a very large lobster tank with lobsters of all sizes.  Chicken lobsters were $4.99/lb.



One of the three large display cases with everything from various types of fish, soft-shelled crabs, squid, conch meat, shrimp, lobster meat, scallops wrapped in bacon and more!

Some of the shellfish options.  I could not say no!

What We Ate:  I love raw oysters.  They are a family tradition and are a special treat that we usually save for holidays. I splurged and bought 1.5 lbs of the oysters.  I brought them home, got out my oyster-shucking knife, and enjoyed some fine oysters on the half-shell.  I'm a purist - no lemon juice or cocktail sauce for me!  If you've kept up with the seafood warnings, you'll know that wild-caught shrimp are 1. much better for you and the environment and 2. much tastier than farm-raised shrimp.  I bought .5 lbs of the jumbo wild-caught shrimp.  I took them home, shelled and de-veined them and then pan seared them in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.  Beyond delish!

Here's one of my shucked oysters moments before consumption!

A half-pound gave us eight large shrimp.

Want to Know More?: Kyler's Catch Seafood Market is located at 2 Washburn Street, New Bedford.  You can find out more, including hours and weekly specials by visiting their website at http://www.kylerseafood.com/home.html.  Bon appetit!

Gooseberry Island in Westport

The main beach as viewed from the Causeway.

About the Place: Gooseberry Island is a great place to escape to for some beach time.  It is a small island that is connected to the mainland with a causeway. It has a path that runs through the middle of it to some WWII submarine towers.  You can walk along the rocky beach all the way around Gooseberry, too.


The rocky beach that circles Gooseberry Island.

It is free, but the dirt parking lot is small and fills up fast. We suggest going visiting either early morning, evening, or weekday.  There is a boat ramp and port-o-jons.  One of the best things about this beach is that dogs are allowed all year round.  Many South Coast beaches are closed to dogs in the summer months, but not at Gooseberry!

Jay and Hank walking along the Gooseberry Island beach.

 What to Do:  Pack a lunch, beach chair, and book and spend a few hours lounging on the beach.  If you want to stretch your legs, you can walk along the sandy path that runs through the middle of the Island.  If you look closely you may see signs of the cottages that used to be on the Island - look for cement stairs to nowhere along the way.  If you have kids or enjoy exploring the natural world, bring a net and bucket.  You can walk along the rocky beach looking for crabs and other creatures!

In the summer months, there is a free guided Gooseberry Island tours on Sundays from 10am to 11am (2012 season).  They alternate with two different tours: Changes Through Time - Explore the changes that Gooseberry Island has gone through over the years due to natural and manufactured processes. Exploring the Tide – Gooseberry Island is home to many plants and animals that live between the tides. Discover the creatures that live along the island’s edge.  Both tours meet at the Gooseberry Island Parking Lot at 10am on Sundays in July and August. 

You can see the WWII Submarine Towers at the far end of Gooseberry Island.

Also, the Westport Fishermens' Association runs the Horseneck Point Life Saving Station which is located on the mainland side of the Causeway.  You can visit from noon to 4:00pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays in July and August.  They have wonderful photographs, information, video footage, uniforms, and maritime treasures of the US Coast Guard representing a heroic and historic timeline from the late 18th century through today.

How to Escape:  Gooseberry Island is located just past the entrance to Horseneck Beach State Reservation. Follow Route 88 all the way to the end (it is also called Old John Reed Road), then take a right onto E Beach Road. Go Straight on E Beach Road and it will bring you right to the beginning of the causeway for  Gooseberry Island.  No parking fee; parking is limited and is first come, first served. 

Want to Know More?: Gooseberry is part of Horseneck Beach State Reservation run by the Department of Conservation & Recreation. Call 508-636-8816 or click  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/southeast/hbch.htm to find out more.  For more information about the Horseneck Point Life Saving Station, visit http://westportriver.org/life-saving-station.html.