The Big Dig Presents: Catching The Codfather Catching The Codfather | 1. Red Lobster
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Feb 11, 2026 Carlos Rafael, a New Bedford fishing magnate who built Carlos Seafood into a regional powerhouse. He recounts his rise from the Azores to running a vast fleet. The story covers booming modernization, federal loans, shrinking quotas by 2015, a suspicious sale meeting with covert buyers, and the shocking discovery of hidden cash ledgers tied to an illicit fish network.
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Selling Plans That Never Stuck
- Carlos Rafael recounts wanting to sell his business and hand it to his daughter but she refused the lifestyle and responsibility.
- He says his late decision to keep working led to the legal troubles that followed.
Scarface Parallels In The Office
- Carlos's office decor includes Scarface memorabilia and he imagines Al Pacino playing him in a film adaptation.
- The comparison frames him as an immigrant who made his own luck and pushed boundaries.
From $5,000 To Fleet Owner
- Carlos started Carlos Seafood with a $5,000 loan and 27 cents and quickly bought boats to expand.
- He moved from fish cutter to buyer to boat owner, focusing on business rather than going to sea.
