Local Partner Highlight: Miss Mary Seafood
February 25, 2025
At the Tides Inn, we support our local community by sourcing the very best produce and products from farmers and fishers. In this new spotlight, we will feature key purveyors in our Northern Neck region.
Miss Mary Seafood: Honoring Heritage, Community and Fresh Catches
Just off the shores of Virginia’s Northern Neck, Miss Mary Seafood stands as more than just a seafood market—it is a testament to heritage, hard work and a deep commitment to the community. Owned by Lisa and Tony Ferguson, the business reflects generations of watermen who have worked the waters and the evolving story of Virginia’s seafood industry.
The story of Miss Mary Seafood begins with the deadrise boat of the same name, built in 1972 in Deltaville, Virginia. From 1982 to 2000, Tony’s father, Girlard David Ferguson Jr., owned the Miss Mary. After his passing, Tony was able to bring the vessel back into the family in 2013 and over the next five years, carefully restored her, transforming the boat into a symbol of the family’s legacy and a commitment to providing the community with fresh, high-quality seafood.
Since then, Lisa and Tony have expanded the business, navigated industry challenges while staying true to their promise of delivering “Seafood That’s Fabulously Unbelievable.”
Lisa and Tony’s roots in the seafood industry run deep, shaped by firsthand experience with its dedication, challenges and rewards. Tony spent 15 years as a tugboat captain, while Lisa, known as The Salty Daughter, documented the industry through photography and storytelling. Their paths crossed in Poquoson, Virginia, where watermen gathered to share their experiences. Just months after their first date in 2017, they took a leap of faith—selling fresh shrimp from the back of Tony’s truck in White Stone. When he returned to work, Lisa carried on, eventually expanding to farmers markets in Yorktown, Urbanna and Kilmarnock. By April 2018, they signed the lease on their White Stone storefront, officially cementing their place in the local seafood industry. In April 2024, the couple marked both their seventh business anniversary and their wedding aboard the Miss Mary deadrise, a full-circle moment celebrating their love, families and the heritage they are preserving.
Miss Mary Seafood prioritizes sourcing Virginia seafood whenever possible, including Virginia Blue Crab and Rappahannock River Oysters, to support local suppliers and preserve the industry’s integrity. When certain catches aren’t available locally, they carefully select sustainable options from the Atlantic or tropical waters further south.
With the seafood industry constantly evolving, Lisa and Tony understand the challenges of sourcing. While availability may change, their commitment remains the same—delivering the highest-quality seafood on the market.
Having grown up in the industry, Lisa and Tony have witnessed the rise of imported seafood and the misconceptions surrounding it. Their goal is not just to sell seafood but to educate their customers—ensuring that whether someone is a lifelong seafood lover or new to the experience, they leave with both knowledge and confidence.
At Miss Mary Seafood, honesty is just as important as the products they sell. If something isn’t right, they make it right. Their commitment to exceptional customer service and top-tier seafood has built lasting relationships with their customers and suppliers alike.
Lisa and Tony understand that their success is intertwined with the success of the community. They prioritize collaborations with local businesses and restaurants, including Salt & Meadow Restaurant, offering recommendations to customers and actively participating in efforts to preserve the heritage of the Northern Neck.
Through their partnership with the Tides Inn, they continue to share the best of Virginia’s seafood with guests who appreciate both the flavors and the stories behind them. As they look ahead, their goal remains simple—to ensure that future generations can continue to experience the tradition, quality and sense of community that Miss Mary Seafood represents.