San Francisco markets welcome first salmon of the season

The first commercially caught salmon were offloaded at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California, U.S.A. on Monday, 21 June, 2021, after a 16 June opening for waters north of Pigeon Point, California.

“It seemed like it went pretty good,” Russ Denman, skipper of the F/V Sea Pearl, told National Fisherman. "Definitely some fish around.”

Larry Collins, executive director of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association, a local fishing and wholesale cooperative, said he was happy to see fish coming into the wharf.

“Pretty nice grade! I bet it’s a 13-pound average,”  Collins said. “A lot of these will go to restaurants -  the ones that are still with us.”

California’s San Francisco area commercial season is open 16 to 30 June, and will be significantly more restricted than the 2020 season thereafter, opening 17 to 22 July, 1 to 17 August, and 1 to 30 September. A typical summer salmon season would run May to October.

“These salmon are considered the best in the world because of the high incidence of shrimp-like krill in their diets,” Golden State Salmon Association President John McManus said. “Watching the wharf buzzing with activity reminds everyone of the importance of salmon to San Francisco's fishing industry, which is still alive and kicking at the Fishermen's Wharf. It's a beautiful sight to see.”

Reporting by Jes Hathaway

Photo courtesy of Dennis Whitaker/Golden State Salmon Association