Our Boats

Bodega Bay sits at the edge of the Sonoma Coast, sheltered by a natural harbor that has drawn fishermen for centuries. The Pomo and Coast Miwok peoples harvested the bay's rich waters long before European contact. By the mid-1800s, commercial fishing operations were established, and by the early 20th century, Bodega Bay had become one of the most productive fishing ports on the Northern California coast.

Today, Spud Point Marina is the heart of Bodega Bay's commercial fleet — a working harbor where you can watch the boats come in at dawn, smell the salt air, and buy fish directly from the people who caught it.

King Salmon — Chinook — are the crown jewel of Northern California's commercial fishery. The Sacramento River system produces one of the most significant Chinook runs on the West Coast, and the fish that return to spawn are intercepted by commercial trollers like Pat working the ocean off Bodega Bay, Point Reyes, and the Farallon Islands.

Salmon trolling is one of the most selective and sustainable commercial fishing methods in existence. Each fish is caught individually on a hook — bycatch is minimal and the catch is handled with care from the moment it comes aboard.

Dungeness crab season transforms Bodega Bay every winter. When the season opens — typically in December — the harbor comes alive with activity as crab pots are loaded, boats are prepped, and the fleet heads out to the productive grounds off the Sonoma and Marin coasts.

Pat catches them by the hundreds of pounds per trip and sells them direct — which means you're getting crab that was in the ocean days, not weeks, ago. Fresh-cooked Dungeness is one of the great pleasures of California seafood culture.

Every summer, warm Pacific currents push north along the California coast, bringing with them schools of Albacore and Bluefin tuna. For commercial fishermen like Pat, this is the season to range further offshore — sometimes 50 to 100 miles out — chasing the temperature breaks where tuna concentrate.

Albacore caught by Pacific coast trollers is among the most sustainably managed fisheries in the world. The fish are caught one at a time, handled carefully, and bled immediately to preserve quality — a product that bears no resemblance to the canned variety.

Rockfish are the workhorses of the Northern California commercial fishery — available year-round, found in the rocky reefs and deep-water structures off the Sonoma and Marin coasts. There are dozens of species in California waters, from the prized Black Cod (Sablefish) to the vivid orange Vermilion Rockfish.

Pat catches rockfish throughout the year, providing a consistent supply of fresh, local fish even when salmon and crab seasons are closed. Rockfish is versatile, mild-flavored, and works beautifully in everything from fish tacos to cioppino.

The Northern California commercial fishing industry operates under some of the most rigorous sustainability regulations in the world. Catch limits, gear restrictions, and seasonal closures are managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the California Department of Fish & Wildlife to ensure healthy fish populations for future generations.

Small-boat commercial fishermen like Pat are the backbone of this system — they fish selectively, handle their catch carefully, and have a direct economic stake in the long-term health of the fishery. Buying direct from Pat is a vote for that system.