Jon Haag has been working in the North Carolina seafood industry for over 25 years. Originally from Long Island, New York, he got his start a few years after graduating Vanderbilt University with a degree in Environmental Science. Jon has always loved fish, and found the retail experience a great way to enjoy the animal while sharing his interest with others. He worked with a few different stores up and down the Carolina coast, before finding his own spot on Oak Island where he opened Haag and Sons in 1994. Since then he has focused on providing top quality, fresh seafood to local restaurants and area residents alike.

Jon and his staff take great pride in how they cut and present their product. All fish are cut to order. It takes a little more time, but the result is superior, and allows Jon to display the beauty of the fish in his shop. He treats his fish with a light touch, careful not to damage or mistreat the flesh which would result in a lower quality result when cooked. He works closely with restaurants and purchasers like Papa Spud's to offer unique varieties of fresh local fish. Triggerfish, for example, was once considered a throw away fish by commercial fishermen, but have recently been rediscovered by chefs and are now in high demand.

In addition to their work at the shop, Haag & Sons is a proud member of Brunswick Catch. Brunswick Catch is a community of commercial fishermen, restaurants, retailers, and dealers that are working together to build and promote the local seafood industry. The industry has faced significant challenges in recent years. Fishermen are being driven out by high prices and demand for waterfront property, rising fuel prices, and increased competition from lower cost imported seafood. Brunswick Catch hopes to combat these challenges with public education about the local seafood industry, the high quality of local products, and positive impact the industry has on local communities.

If you're ever in the Oak Island area (south of Carolina Beach), stop by Haag & Sons, you'll be glad you did:

Haag & Sons Seafood
7910 East Oak Island Drive
Oak Island, NC 28465

Carolyn H. (Jun 12, 2012 at 1:41 am)
Thanks for the info. I wonder if you might want to consider a new title for the segment since fresh fish is typically not so smelly as old fish. I'm sure you are not trying to say that the fish is not fresh so readers might get confused. Just a thought.

Rob M. (Jun 12, 2012 at 11:10 am)
"This Job Stinks" is a quirky tagline that Haag & Sons includes on their T-Shirts, and other merchandise. It's not meant to be taken literally, it's just a funny line to lighten things up.

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