Where to buy fresh, local seafood in Essex county

Is it just me, or is it really difficult finding fresh, local seafood here in Essex county? I've been googling for a half hour now and cannot seem to find any info about fishmongers at farmers' markets or stores which carry a decent selection of local fish. Seems like we're close enough to the coast to have access to some great seafood. Help!

The guy at the Montclar Farmers market on Walnut Stis (was? It's been a couple years) pretty good.

Don't know if the catch is local, but the Asian market (Golden something--Dawn?) on Morris Ave. next to NY Sports Club has live fish and a selection of various stuff on ice, frozen fish and seafood, etc., etc.

Have you been to Freeman's?

How about Freeman's?

Freeman's has wonderful fresh fish

Freeman's is my favorite Maplewood business.

The quality is good but Freeman's seems pretty pricey to some of us. Before they took over at Eden/Ashley, I bought fish more regularly there.

It cost me more to buy produce at the farmers market, but I still patronize them first. I am happy to pay a little extra to not only support an excellent small business but because I know and trust how the fish is handled from them getting it to me walking out the door with it.

Point taken, hank. But budgets are a consideration as well. So I have resorted to using them only for a very special treat/occasion. And I shop instead at places that have a high turnover on fish, like the Golden whatever in Springfield on Morris or Kam Man, AFC, etc.

nakaille said:
Point taken, hank. But budgets are a consideration as well. So I have resorted to using them only for a very special treat/occasion. And I shop instead at places that have a high turnover on fish, like the Golden whatever in Springfield on Morris or Kam Man, AFC, etc.

Jeez, why not just make more money?

Where's that new button?

I don't understand why your Googling didn't find these Yelp reviews: http://www.yelp.com/biz/freemans-fish-market-maplewood

Then again, I'm confused about what kind of "local" fish you expect to find for sale from Essex County waters.

Gus & Co in Upper Montclair has been getting RAVE reviews

I haven't been there yet, but all I've been hearing is good things.

http://www.ggny.com/GusCo/

Not Essex County, but closer than Montclair: the fish at the Summit farmers' market on Sunday mornings is fresh and local. They often sell out before the market is over so go early.

j_r said:
Not Essex County, but closer than Montclair: the fish at the Summit farmers' market on Sunday mornings is fresh and local. They often sell out before the market is over so go early.

This is absolutely the best fish available locally. It's all from the waters around LBI, so the catch varies from week to week. However, it is very expensive, but worth every dime.

I don't find it hard at all to find fresh fish here. I always go to Freemans.

I find the Summit Farmers Market to be very expensive. I have been using Whole Foods for fresh fish and have been very satisfied.

SammiJ said:
I find the Summit Farmers Market to be very expensive. I have been using Whole Foods for fresh fish and have been very satisfied.

When I lived in Maplewood, I got my fresh fish at Whole Paycheck, too. In the 8 years I lived there, I never found a clam for sale in Freeman's -- or a soft shell crab, so I stopped trying.

Now that I'm down the shore, I have a great little seafood shack by the beach where I've bought fresh fish and shellfish (LOOOOOOVVVVVE those LBI clams) 3 times in just the last week. What a pleasure!

Summit Farmers Market has the freshest fish I have found without driving to the shore