Grouper

Last week I got to go hang out on the docks with some salty fisherman who told me silly jokes like:

What did the fish say when he ran into a wall?

Dam.

The light was gorgeous as dawn broke and nearly 4,500 lbs. of fish was unloaded after the Brandy came in from 15 days at sea. It was a fun little freelance assignment for the New York Times about "The Grouper Capital of the World." The gist is that local land development, increasing fishing regulations, and the rising cost of operating are changing the landscape of Madeira Beach, Fla. Which in turn is driving the cost of grouper up. And that is changing the face of local restaurants, who've started serving up other white fish and calling it grouper.