Carl Tarnow

Net Mender and Retired Commerical Fisherman

Carl Tarnow of Belford, NJ is a fourth generation retired commercial fisherman who clammed and fished pound net traps on the Raritan and Sandy Hook Bays. Carl Tarnow’s family ran their own seafood packing house in Belford and he represented the area as a member of the Shellfish Council for several years. Carl Tarnow designed and maintains the model pound net maze in Marshall Meadows Exploration Park and is a valued speaker on pound net traditions. At the Tuckerton Seaport, Carl Tarnow works with Gus Heinrichs in Perrine’s boat works; he demonstrates net mending, and shares stories and pictures of pound net fishing in Belford area.

Carl Tarnow’s pound net models can be found at the Tuckerton Seaport. He restored a model pound for Barnegat Light Historical Museum which was originally created by Axel B. Carlson Jr. Carl Tarnow represented New Jersey commercial fishing traditions at the 2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the 2004 Long Island Traditions Folklife Festival. Carl Tarnow is a retired pound-net fisherman, clammer, oysterman and net mender.