Peter Moreno owned a tap room in Gloucester Harbor named Low Tide. It has since become a fine dining restaurant given its location on the pier but in 1973 it was a salty tavern where all of the fishermen and women would go to hang out. They'd come morning, noon and night to check on the weather, share stories and socialize with their peers. Peter (pronounced Pet-ah) wasn't technically a part of the fleet, but he was an integral piece to their success. He grew up on boats in Southern Maine where his father and uncle were commercial journeymen. By 16, Peter had done overnight fishing trips to George's Bank and Martha's Vineyard. He had sailed the Atlantic Coast three times delivering vessels from Maine to Florida. He had hauled so many lobster pots by this point in his life, he could do it in his sleep. But when Peter decided to go to college outside of Boston he needed a new job for extra cash. He ripped the job posting from the want ads and drove to Gloucester. When he arrived, he fell in love with Low Tide instantly. The scenery, the stories, the people. He began working there the summer of his freshman year and never left. When old man Phillips was ready to retire he handed the keys to his beloved tavern to the only capable hands ...Petah's.
It's been 5 years since Peter first took over Low Tide. Every morning before the fleet shows up he takes a row in skiff just outside the harbor to "check the chop". At first it was a way for him to get back on the water and go into work with a clear mind. Then it became great small talk with the regulars. Eventually, Peter's chop review was coveted information for anyone going out that day. He not only gave wind direction and sea height but Peter would make uncanny predictions about how the weather would behave throughout the day and was almost never wrong ...almost.