Go on the boat with David Cox, Indiana's caviar king of the Ohio River.

Mykal McEldowney
David Cox steers his boat Sunday, April 16, 2023, as he prepares to pull his nets for the season. "Who else can say they have an office like this," he said. "I watch the leaves come down in the fall and come back in the spring." Paddlefish season begins in November and runs through April.
David Cox steers his boat Sunday, April 16, 2023, as he prepares to pull his nets for the season. "Who else can say they have an office like this," he said. "I watch the leaves come down in the fall and come back in the spring." Paddlefish season begins in November and runs through April.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
A photo of a young David Cox holding a paddlefish hangs Sunday, April 16, 2023, inside a memory room near he and wife Vicki's antique store in English, Indiana. Cox climbed his way up from high school dropout to become a successful entrepreneur who sold tons of Hoosier caviar to customers around the globe. He learned the trade from Vicki's father. Cox was sentenced in November 2018 to two years in prison after pleading guilty to federal gun and wildlife charges. Now out of prison, Cox recently completed his first season back on the Ohio River netting paddlefish.
A photo of a young David Cox holding a paddlefish hangs Sunday, April 16, 2023, inside a memory room near he and wife Vicki's antique store in English, Indiana. Cox climbed his way up from high school dropout to become a successful entrepreneur who sold tons of Hoosier caviar to customers around the globe. He learned the trade from Vicki's father. Cox was sentenced in November 2018 to two years in prison after pleading guilty to federal gun and wildlife charges. Now out of prison, Cox recently completed his first season back on the Ohio River netting paddlefish.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
As his crew gets his boat into the Ohio River, fisherman David Cox puts on his rain gear, on a chilly and breezy Sunday, April 16, 2023, at the boat ramp in Troy, Indiana.
As his crew gets his boat into the Ohio River, fisherman David Cox puts on his rain gear, on a chilly and breezy Sunday, April 16, 2023, at the boat ramp in Troy, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
On a chilly and breezy Sunday, April 16, 2023, the white caps on the Ohio River flowed opposite the current as David Cox and a small crew put in at the boat ramp in Troy, Indiana.
On a chilly and breezy Sunday, April 16, 2023, the white caps on the Ohio River flowed opposite the current as David Cox and a small crew put in at the boat ramp in Troy, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Chris Epperson works to pull up a net while Derrick Hammond removes and measures a paddlefish, or spoonbill, Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the Ohio River just outside Troy, Indiana.
Chris Epperson works to pull up a net while Derrick Hammond removes and measures a paddlefish, or spoonbill, Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the Ohio River just outside Troy, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Chris Epperson and Derrick Hammond work together to pull up a net while fishing Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the Ohio River just outside Troy, Indiana.
Chris Epperson and Derrick Hammond work together to pull up a net while fishing Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the Ohio River just outside Troy, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Derrick Hammond measures a paddlefish, or spoonbill, Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the boat of David Cox on the Ohio River just outside Troy, Indiana.
Derrick Hammond measures a paddlefish, or spoonbill, Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the boat of David Cox on the Ohio River just outside Troy, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Chris Epperson directs fisherman and captain David Cox  to a net buoy with hand motions Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the Ohio River just outside Troy, Indiana.
Chris Epperson directs fisherman and captain David Cox to a net buoy with hand motions Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the Ohio River just outside Troy, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Chris Epperson grabs onto a large paddlefish Sunday, April 16, 2023, while pulling nets on the Ohio River. Once the fish is in the boat, Derrick Hammond measures to be sure the fish is the proper length.
Chris Epperson grabs onto a large paddlefish Sunday, April 16, 2023, while pulling nets on the Ohio River. Once the fish is in the boat, Derrick Hammond measures to be sure the fish is the proper length.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
As captain David Cox drives to his next fishing area, Derrick Hammond untangles a large paddlefish from a net Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the Ohio River. Once the fish is in the boat, Hammond measures to be sure the fish is the proper length.
As captain David Cox drives to his next fishing area, Derrick Hammond untangles a large paddlefish from a net Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the Ohio River. Once the fish is in the boat, Hammond measures to be sure the fish is the proper length.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Across from David and Vicki Cox's paddlefish processing area sits their antiques and collectibles store Sunday, April 16, 2023, complete with a hanging airplane and lots of yard decoration. The airplane lists David's nickname, Caviar King.
Across from David and Vicki Cox's paddlefish processing area sits their antiques and collectibles store Sunday, April 16, 2023, complete with a hanging airplane and lots of yard decoration. The airplane lists David's nickname, Caviar King.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
During the caviar making process Sunday, April 16, 2023, Vicki Cox adds a salt mixture to paddlefish roe inside a processing area on the Cox's property in English, Indiana.
During the caviar making process Sunday, April 16, 2023, Vicki Cox adds a salt mixture to paddlefish roe inside a processing area on the Cox's property in English, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Paddlefish decor sits Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the exterior of David Cox's garage in English, Indiana. Cox has pulled thousands of pounds of paddlefish caviar out of the Ohio River.
Paddlefish decor sits Sunday, April 16, 2023, on the exterior of David Cox's garage in English, Indiana. Cox has pulled thousands of pounds of paddlefish caviar out of the Ohio River.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Fisherman David Cox carries a waste can up a set of steps and into his paddlefish processing facility Sunday, April 16, 2023, in English, Indiana.
Fisherman David Cox carries a waste can up a set of steps and into his paddlefish processing facility Sunday, April 16, 2023, in English, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
During the caviar making process Sunday, April 16, 2023, Vicki Cox washes paddlefish roe inside a processing area on the Cox's property in English, Indiana, before adding a salt mixture and storing.
During the caviar making process Sunday, April 16, 2023, Vicki Cox washes paddlefish roe inside a processing area on the Cox's property in English, Indiana, before adding a salt mixture and storing.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
David Cox sprays water as he cleans up inside his paddlefish processing facility Sunday, April 16, 2023, alongside his wife, Vicki, as two friends and fellow fishermen Chris Epperson and Chris Hammond grab a smoke outside.
David Cox sprays water as he cleans up inside his paddlefish processing facility Sunday, April 16, 2023, alongside his wife, Vicki, as two friends and fellow fishermen Chris Epperson and Chris Hammond grab a smoke outside.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Derrick Hammond closes a shed door Sunday, April 16, 2023, at David Cox's paddlefish processing facility in English, Indiana. On the wall inside the facility is a sign Cox had made after he says rumors about him swirled around the fishing community. He says he earned a reputation from other local catfisherman for killing fish, which he says isn't true.
Derrick Hammond closes a shed door Sunday, April 16, 2023, at David Cox's paddlefish processing facility in English, Indiana. On the wall inside the facility is a sign Cox had made after he says rumors about him swirled around the fishing community. He says he earned a reputation from other local catfisherman for killing fish, which he says isn't true.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
David Cox points out pictures and shares various memories Sunday, April 16, 2023, from inside a personal den on his property in English, Indiana.
David Cox points out pictures and shares various memories Sunday, April 16, 2023, from inside a personal den on his property in English, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
An arial photo framed on David Cox's wall Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, shows his former property in English, Indiana, before he made additions for he and his family's many hobbies and businesses.
An arial photo framed on David Cox's wall Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, shows his former property in English, Indiana, before he made additions for he and his family's many hobbies and businesses.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Wyatt and Lyndsie Cox, give their grandfather, David Cox, a big hug Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, after gathering for a short time inside David's memory shack on his property in Crawford County, Indiana.
Wyatt and Lyndsie Cox, give their grandfather, David Cox, a big hug Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, after gathering for a short time inside David's memory shack on his property in Crawford County, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
David Cox unboxes a new seine net Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, at his home in Crawford County, Indiana. Cox has been assisting Andrew Caplinger, co-owner of Caplinger's Fresh Catch Seafood Market, with a new fish pond venture in the area.
David Cox unboxes a new seine net Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, at his home in Crawford County, Indiana. Cox has been assisting Andrew Caplinger, co-owner of Caplinger's Fresh Catch Seafood Market, with a new fish pond venture in the area.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
IndyStar investigations editor Tim Evans interviews David Cox, a longtime Crawford County fisherman, a his home Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in English, Indiana.
IndyStar investigations editor Tim Evans interviews David Cox, a longtime Crawford County fisherman, a his home Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in English, Indiana.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
David Cox looks out from his shed Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, and over to his family's antique business across the street.
David Cox looks out from his shed Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, and over to his family's antique business across the street.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar