Mermaid meets Neptune

Petra and Mike Wöbke are in their element when it comes to the subject of fish

It’s been years since there has been any meat on the table in the Wöbke’s home; they are fish-eaters with a passion. Fish is on the menu five times a week, in all its variations. Husband Mike takes on the cooking duties in their home, which wife Petra finds an excellent idea.

OF PICKLING HERRINGS AND HALING BUTS

“Fisch-Wöbke” is somewhat hidden away in Kurgartenstraße/corner of Rose — a little distance from the shopping promenade Vorderreihe in Travemünde. This specialist fish shop is known to holiday-makers and “genuine” Travemünders for its home-made salads and tasty smoked fish. During the main season, customers even put up with queuing up in front of the shop. You can catch sight of the tempting specialities through the shop window — from smoked eel “Schlutuper style”, via herring, halibut, kippers, rollmops and butter mackerel all the way to cold-smoked nori salmon and salmon confectionery. There is also fresh fish but only to order.

FROM BOOTH TO FAMILY BUSINESS

Petra Wöbke has been the boss in the fish shop since 2002. The family business was founded in 1962 by her mother. Initially, it consisted of a mobile fish counter in a VW van before she opened her first shop in Lübeck in 1963. The 18 square metre shop in Travemünde has been open since 1970, fitted out single-handedly at the time by Petra’s father. Even as a child, Petra Wöbke frequently stood behind the counter and played "shop". Even back then, the Wöbkes had specialised in smoked fish from their own family production, and things have stayed that way. The smoked fish is delivered fresh from the oven by sister Manuela who has taken over the family smokehouse in Lübeck-Karlshof from her father. The fish rolls to go are very popular for those looking for a snack between meals, and they are freshly prepared in the shop with the desired filling. The rolls, too, are top quality — from Simon the baker round the corner. Today, Petra Wöbke is a tough businesswoman with 14 employees, Hanse entrepreneur and much in demand as a specialist for work in the Hanse Association. In her free time, Petra Wöbke performs charity work at the outpatient children’s and youth hospice “Die Muschel” (The Mussel) and supports grieving families. “This is a subject close to my heart”, says the 58-year-old who takes pleasure in being able to help.

THE FISH DESIRES TO SWIM

Husband Mike wears the trousers in the salad kitchen. Every day, this trained cook with thirty years’ experience with fish conjures up as many as twenty different salads with his team — including sea algae salad and ten types of marinades, some classic dishes but also with a liking for innovative creations of his own. His biggest hits are the mild herring fillets with herbs and red onions of which he sells around 200 kilos every week during the summer season. Mike Wöbke sees himself as an “ambassador” for fish and would like to enthuse people for fish as high-quality food of the future. To do so, he underwent additional training as a “fish sommelier” in 2017 and since then, he has been happy to share his knowledge. He offers courses and lectures on the subject of fish and tasting sessions for his in-house fish specialities. A completely new line of business, therefore, which is opening up and ensuring that the family business constantly receives new ideas. This includes so-called “pairing” as they express it in professional circles. Because “fish has to swim” as they say, and at his tastings, Mike always recommends a matching white wine or a light red wine with the fish. Great idea!

 

The couple Petra and Mike are particularly proud of their latest award from the specialist fish magazine “Seafood Star” 2018 for the “best fish concept at a tourist location”. Incidentally: Even if the holiday guests have long since returned home, they don’t have to do without the tasty smoked fish because they can have their ideal fish from Wöbkes delivered throughout the country to their home address by forwarding agent. Just give us a call!

Tip

You can also experience maritime harbour atmosphere up close and personal in Travemünde’s fishermen's harbour. Freshly caught fish is sold here directly from the cutters every weekday from 9 a.m. The professional fishermen sail out to sea early in the morning, and usually they bring back cod and flounder, sometimes there is some saithe in the catch. In the spring, there’s herring.