Maricque Family Legacy
Commercial fishing has been in the Maricque family for generations. According to Frank Maricque, fishing in the Maricque family has been going on since the 1890's. Fishing was passed down to Frank by his father and grandfather. Details about the early days are sketchy but to say the family tradition stretches three centuries can't be muttered by many.
Skipping ahead, Frank fished along side his brother Elmer and Max. Frank and Elmer spent a majority of their focus on the catching while Max focused on the fish house operations. At some point in time, the decision was made to serve fish in William's bar, who was another brother, in an attempt to attract customer to the hotel which was above the bar. At that time, fish were plentiful and the value in perch was very low which allowed for the fish to be purchased, prepared, and served for about ten cents.
As time went on, Bob and his brother Jim (son's of William) started to hang around with their uncles while on shore. The boys quickly found themselves on the boat and learning the ropes of the fishing operation. When Elmer and Max passed away, Bob and Jim picked up what their uncles had started on the boat and in the fish house and eventually operated the bar when William passed away too.
During the 1960's, Bob, Jim, and Frank welcomed the next generation to the boat with Bob's son, Mark. Mark's involvement on the boat started around the age of 6. As Mark grew into his teens, his involvement increased to assist in the fish house and restaurant. In 1982, Frank passed away leaving the fishing legacy to the next generations.
Maricque's Bar has been a Green Bay favorite on Wednesday and Friday nights. For years, Mark battered the fish before Bob took post over the pans making sure the perch left the kitchen a golden brown. Betty (Bob's wife), Cindi (Bob and Betty's daughter), and Yolanda (Mark's wife) all spent time serving plates and drinks to loyal customers while Jim and his son Jamie tended bar. After years of the restaurant business, Bob, Mark, Cindi, and Yolanda hung up their aprons when Betty became ill. Bob and Mark focused their attention on catching the fish during the days, while enjoying family fish dinners at home at night.
In the mid-1990's, the next generation was brought on board when Mark's son Nick stepped on the boat. Nick grew up walking through the fish house, watching nets being made, seeing the preparations of the restaurant, and even joined his dad and grandfather on the boat during nice days, but there was no escaping his new summer job before high school.
Since then, Bob has passed on and fishing lands strictly in the hands of Mark and Nick. Mark still relies on fishing as his only income, where as Nick assists during the summers and weekends when he isn't teaching. So many things have changed throughout the years, but one thing remains consistent; fishing is the Maricque legacy.
Skipping ahead, Frank fished along side his brother Elmer and Max. Frank and Elmer spent a majority of their focus on the catching while Max focused on the fish house operations. At some point in time, the decision was made to serve fish in William's bar, who was another brother, in an attempt to attract customer to the hotel which was above the bar. At that time, fish were plentiful and the value in perch was very low which allowed for the fish to be purchased, prepared, and served for about ten cents.
As time went on, Bob and his brother Jim (son's of William) started to hang around with their uncles while on shore. The boys quickly found themselves on the boat and learning the ropes of the fishing operation. When Elmer and Max passed away, Bob and Jim picked up what their uncles had started on the boat and in the fish house and eventually operated the bar when William passed away too.
During the 1960's, Bob, Jim, and Frank welcomed the next generation to the boat with Bob's son, Mark. Mark's involvement on the boat started around the age of 6. As Mark grew into his teens, his involvement increased to assist in the fish house and restaurant. In 1982, Frank passed away leaving the fishing legacy to the next generations.
Maricque's Bar has been a Green Bay favorite on Wednesday and Friday nights. For years, Mark battered the fish before Bob took post over the pans making sure the perch left the kitchen a golden brown. Betty (Bob's wife), Cindi (Bob and Betty's daughter), and Yolanda (Mark's wife) all spent time serving plates and drinks to loyal customers while Jim and his son Jamie tended bar. After years of the restaurant business, Bob, Mark, Cindi, and Yolanda hung up their aprons when Betty became ill. Bob and Mark focused their attention on catching the fish during the days, while enjoying family fish dinners at home at night.
In the mid-1990's, the next generation was brought on board when Mark's son Nick stepped on the boat. Nick grew up walking through the fish house, watching nets being made, seeing the preparations of the restaurant, and even joined his dad and grandfather on the boat during nice days, but there was no escaping his new summer job before high school.
Since then, Bob has passed on and fishing lands strictly in the hands of Mark and Nick. Mark still relies on fishing as his only income, where as Nick assists during the summers and weekends when he isn't teaching. So many things have changed throughout the years, but one thing remains consistent; fishing is the Maricque legacy.