Veteran fisherman takes over the Fish Market on Ninth Street

TEXARKANA, Ark. — At the Fish Market on the Arkansas side, cars can be seen gathering and customers standing around the counter as meat cutters prepare freshly caught fish.

Buffalo fish are the main staple they come for, but that is not all that is available.

“Buffalo fish, catfish when I can get them, the occasional gar, crawfish when they are in season, I bring them all here,” said Herbert Dozier, owner and fisherman.

Dozier goes out to Arkansas fisheries each week to bring the fresh catch to his customers, including the Little River, Red River and Sulphur River.

“I also go to some Arkansas lakes, like Millwood, though the state of Arkansas disallows fishing from May to September,” he said.

Dozier purchased the Fish Market in July of last year and has been in operation since. He is also in the process of refurbishing parts of it. Though he is the new owner, the Fish Market has been through a succession of them.

“The Fish Market was originally established by Joe Pounds 50 years ago,” he said. “And that’s what we do here, cut and sell fish.”

“I’ve been shopping at the Fish Market for seven years,” said customer Shannon Torrence of Texarkana, Arkansas. “It is all about getting the freshly caught fish right here.”

Torrence says his family is a big fan of him bringing home their weekly catch.

“It is all about the fresh, better taste,” he said. “I like to get buffalo ribs and backbones. You just pull the skin, wash, season and fry it up.”

The Fish Market is located at 1123 E. Ninth St., Texarkana, Arkansas.

Staff photo by Junius Stone ■ The Fish Market, a Ninth Street institution for 50 years, is under new ownership and is in the process of being refurbished. But now, as always, it features freshly caught area fish for its eager customers.

Staff photo by Junius Stone ■ Vernon Ownen, a veteran fish butcher, cuts buffalo fish in front of waiting customers. The Fish Market processes more than 1,500 pounds of fish each week.