Fishermen have always been an integral part of the Door County story.
Since the first white settlers arrived here, the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan have provided a bounty of freshwater fish - first for survival, later for commerce, and eventually for the benefit of millions of tourists. Many of the county’s communities sprouted from fishing docks and piers, their remnants still visible today.
For the men and women who still wake up before dawn each day to comb the waters of the lake, it’s a labor of necessity and of love. The area’s fishing industry has encountered dramatic highs and lows over the last century as overfishing and invasive species have at times put the industry’s future in question.
But local stewards have stepped up to preserve this vital piece of Door County life. In our new mini documentary on Door County’s fishing history, we introduce you to Charlie and Will Henriksen, a father and son rising every morning to keep this tradition alive into the next generation.
The Henriksens head out each day in search of prized whitefish, which they bring back to the county’s 298 miles of shoreline to distribute to local restaurants, stores, and distributors.
The fish, once primarily boiled or fried, is being reinvented by local chefs who are transforming Door County’s food scene. Chefs like Ryan Klawitter of the Wickman House, Mike Mead of the Shoreline, and many others who have recognized that going local also includes bringing the best from our lake to your table.
Take a journey into the history of Door County’s fishing past and future in this video, and meet more of the locals who cherish this place in the Our Door County series.