Captain Dave Aripotch is among the most experienced and well known fishermen in the Montauk fleet. His career began, like many local fishermen, as a clammer in the 1960s and 70s. He then slowly and painstakingly worked his way up to become a local leader and trusted voice throughout the harbor. His vessel FV Caitlin and Mairead is named after his two daughters. His wife Bonnie is the Executive Director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, and is one of the most prolific advocates for small scale fishermen and traditional fishing communities in New York State. Both Bonnie and Captain Dave have served as foundational pillars and mentors of the Montauk Dock to Dish program, and always take extra care to ensure that only the most sustainable and highest quality fish are contributed to Dock to Dish chefs.

At Dock to Dish Montauk we have pioneered unique community-based seafood sourcing programs which provide forward-thinking chefs and members of our cooperatives with direct dock access to incredibly fresh, wild, sustainable seafood that is accurately curated and fully trackable and traceable to the source of origin and fisher who harvested the haul. Dock to Dish Montauk is a strictly supply-driven, membership-based model which was founded by a crew of veteran seafarers who launched the original Community Supported Fishery program of New York State; and then established the first Restaurant Supported Fishery program in North America.