The Maricque Legacy
Two became three.... Then back down to two
Legend has it, fishing in the Maricque family started six generations ago. Unfortunately for Mark and Nick Maricque, the father and son commercial fishing members of the family today, names and specifics weren't passed down over the years. Mark became the third member on the family's unnamed drop net boat, along with his father William Robert (Bob), and Bob's Uncle Frank. Mark's first memories are from when he was about 5 years old when his dad and grandpa Vander Geeten (Papa) made a very special gift. This gift was depended on for those that fished drop-nets and it was nothing more than a small coal shovel with a seven and a half inch measure attached to the handle so Mark could help pick fish on-board At these times, the boat was docked in Green Bay, Wisconsin on the East Rivr where Frank and the late Elmer and Max Maricque owned a fish house. With Frank's retirement, the boat was back down to two crew members until Jim Maricque started to fish with his brother and nephew.
In 1984 the boat was moved out of Green Bay to the Suamico River where it docked at numerous places, including Bill Dickinson's, the Marks's, Tom Peters', and Red Belongia's. In 1985, Jim took himself off of the boat to work in the family fish house and the fishing operation was switched from a three man drop-netting operation to a two-man gill netting crew.
In 1998, a new family member entered the fishing community. At age 15, Mark's son Nick joined his dad and grandpa as the third member on the Frank J, named after Bob's uncle. In 2000, Maricque &Maricque Fisheries purchased their own property on the Suamico River where the boat is still docked today. With the passing of Bob Maricque in the May of 2002, the Frank J was back down to two fishermen on board. Fishing stayed just father and son for a number of years until the Department of Natural Resources cut the fishing quota by ninety percent. With far less fish to catch, Suamico fishermen were left with extra time on their hands. Mark and Nick extended an invitation to Tom Peters to join them fishing on the Frank J. The two became three again.
When it was time for Nick to return to school, be it high school, then college and now as a teacher, Tom and Mark would continue fishing. In the fall they would catch perch on the 'Frank J.' In the spring once the ice was out of the river, they'd switch to whitefish on Tom's boat, the 'Bucky D.'
Tom and Mark share a story that happened in the spring of 2007 that neither had ever witnessed before. While lifting their nets out on the Bay, they saw a seagull walking along side their boat! A thin layer of ice had developed while hey were working. Although they say it was kind of scary, the smiles on their faces suggested a fonder memory.
With a new fiscal season beginning in July 2007, the Maricque's lost a close friend with the unexpected passing of Tom Peters. What was a three person, finely tuned crew, returns to what it is now. The two, father and son fishing together, every summer day, on the bay of Green Bay.
In 1984 the boat was moved out of Green Bay to the Suamico River where it docked at numerous places, including Bill Dickinson's, the Marks's, Tom Peters', and Red Belongia's. In 1985, Jim took himself off of the boat to work in the family fish house and the fishing operation was switched from a three man drop-netting operation to a two-man gill netting crew.
In 1998, a new family member entered the fishing community. At age 15, Mark's son Nick joined his dad and grandpa as the third member on the Frank J, named after Bob's uncle. In 2000, Maricque &Maricque Fisheries purchased their own property on the Suamico River where the boat is still docked today. With the passing of Bob Maricque in the May of 2002, the Frank J was back down to two fishermen on board. Fishing stayed just father and son for a number of years until the Department of Natural Resources cut the fishing quota by ninety percent. With far less fish to catch, Suamico fishermen were left with extra time on their hands. Mark and Nick extended an invitation to Tom Peters to join them fishing on the Frank J. The two became three again.
When it was time for Nick to return to school, be it high school, then college and now as a teacher, Tom and Mark would continue fishing. In the fall they would catch perch on the 'Frank J.' In the spring once the ice was out of the river, they'd switch to whitefish on Tom's boat, the 'Bucky D.'
Tom and Mark share a story that happened in the spring of 2007 that neither had ever witnessed before. While lifting their nets out on the Bay, they saw a seagull walking along side their boat! A thin layer of ice had developed while hey were working. Although they say it was kind of scary, the smiles on their faces suggested a fonder memory.
With a new fiscal season beginning in July 2007, the Maricque's lost a close friend with the unexpected passing of Tom Peters. What was a three person, finely tuned crew, returns to what it is now. The two, father and son fishing together, every summer day, on the bay of Green Bay.