East Lyme ― A new fish market has opened in Niantic, as commercial fisherman Bryan Hunt opened Fish Niantic on Methodist Street in mid-December. He said his background allows him to access fish others can’t get.

“Every dragger, every rod and reel guy knows who I am,” Hunt said. He added, “These are my friends, so I go right to the boats.”

On a wall of a shop hangs a screen playing videos he filmed while fishing, so he can show customers the types of fish and the ways they’re caught.

“A customer can ask me anything: Where did it come from, how was it caught, will there be more,” he said.

Below the video are Niantic Bay, Ninigret, Moonstone and Malpeque oysters, mostly $1.95 each; Rhode Island littlenecks ($1), and Rhode Island top necks ($1.25). Next to that is a case with refrigerated prepared foods and sauces from La Stella Italian Market in Norwich.

Then there’s the case with the freshly filleted winter flounder, fluke and black sea bass from Stonington, and live Jonah crabs caught off Watch Hill. The shop has also carried cod from Block Island Sound, lobster meat, day boat dry sea scallops, Faroe salmon, Gulf shrimp, Alaskan king crab legs and more.

Hunt said he plans to eventually start offering authentic poke bowls, with the “right rice, freshest tuna and right ingredients,” and seafood dishes such as lobster mac and cheese.

“Since I was a little kid, I always had a fishing pole in my hand,” said Hunt, 52. Born in California, he came to Connecticut in 1982 and now lives in Waterford.

Hunt said he began commercial fishing in the mid-90s, but that during most of his commercial fishing years, he was also working in manufacturing.

He said of commercial fishing, “It’s just rough life. You get up really, really early, in all different environments, all different weather, and as long as the wind’s not blowing too wildly you go.”

Hunt said prior to opening Fish Niantic, he sold seafood to people at the Stonington docks, mostly lobsters, though he also sold conch headed for China. He opened his market as fishing season was slowing but said when summer comes, he’ll be out fishing every day.

Hunt said the main reason he decided to open a market “was the fish prices fluctuate so greatly, so you can go out one day and make a profit, and the next day you go out and you lose money, so there’s no consistency to that.”

BUSINESS SNAPSHOT

• Business: Fish Niantic
• Owner: Bryan Hunt
• Where: 9 Methodist St., Niantic
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.