GRAND RIVERS, Ky. — It’s been a year since Spectrum News 1 first met David Fields. The former high school principal and basketball coach turned fishmonger was enjoying one of his best years as the owner of Lake City Fish Market.

In the past eight years, Fields has become one of the highest regarded producers of American paddlefish caviar. Prices always vary but at times “America’s Best Caviar,” could sell for $40 an ounce. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed things for Fields.

“I can’t sell it right now,” Fields told SP1 during a Facebook Messenger interview. “What people have to realize, from an entrepreneurial and a business standpoint, is a lot of people are losing a lot of things right now.”

Fields sells the bulk of his caviar wholesale to restaurants around the country including in cities where restaurants and bars have been shuttered to prevent people from gathering and potentially spreading the very contagious Coronavirus. Fields was also lined up to provide caviar to several Kentucky Derby events however Churchill Downs announced Tuesday the Derby is postponed to September.

“I know it may go back to what it was but this year are they still going to have all the little parties, I would think so but we just don’t know. It’s still premature to make any kind of decisions,” Fields adds.

In our 2019 interview Fields said this, "You have to be ready and available and I’ve always been ready and available to my fisherman who are the life-blood of this business.” With the in mind Fields is still buying paddlefish from Kentucky Lake and is producing caviar and stocking up. While those sales have come to a halt Fields is still buying and selling fish locally. It’s in demand as many grocers have experienced a run on food. 

“This is uncharted waters for I guess everyone.”