The Big Dig Presents: Catching The Codfather Catching The Codfather | 2. I Hope Those People Sink
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Feb 18, 2026 A tense 1980s waterfront strike and how one fisherman used chaos to expand his power. The mechanics of the fish auction and lightning-fast bidding tactics. International rulings and a split over George’s Bank that crippled New Bedford’s economy. Dealers relocating the auction and the violent escalation around the yellowbird market. Early signs of overfishing and looming legal trouble.
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Auction Rules Reward Aggressive Bidders
- New Bedford's auction rules created complex strategic bidding where winning one species could give you the whole boat.
- Mastery of that system rewarded fast, risky dealers like Carlos who could manipulate bids across species and boats.
International Ruling Devastated Local Fishing
- The Hague ruling split George's Bank and removed access to key fishing grounds from New Bedford fishermen.
- That loss immediately slashed local revenue and set the industry on a path toward desperation and conflict.
Too Many Boats, Too Few Fish
- Government incentives and overbuilding created too many boats for shrinking fish stocks, worsening competition.
- Rising operational costs and reduced catches intensified pressure that made conflict between crews and owners inevitable.