TUNA HARBOR DOCKSIDE MARKET598 Harbor Lane, Downtown San Diego . Saturdays from 8 AM to 1 PM

Every Saturday many customers come with coolers to take home their fish. Whole fish can be scaled, gutted and filleted at the cleaning station!

from his vessel, Erin B. Pete has been a major presence and vocal advocate for the local fishing industry, and boasts the benefits of “cucina provera.” He is one of the market founders and organizers, believing that the

market “brings the community down to the docks and gives the public direct access to the freshest fish.” Pete enjoys uni (sea urchin) in pasta or on a piece of toast with some olive oil. He has three daughters and one son, Luke, who plays a major part at Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. Luke started listening to Peter talk about fishing when he was 3 years old. He dives for top snails and starfish, and tends for Peter when he is diving for sea urchins. Luke developed the direct marketing of the sea urchins.

Meet the fishermen From our hands to your plates

The market brings the community down to the docks and gives the public direct access to the freshest fish. - Peter

Peter and Luke Halmay Erin B.

David and Nick Haworth Barbara H.; Tiffany H.

Elizabeth H.; Sea Haven

David, a native San Diegan, started fishing at 9 yrs old and bought his first lobster boat at 16 yrs old. He was taught by his father, a tuna fisherman back when the canneries were in San Diego. Today, David fishes for tuna and owns 4 vessels: Barbara H. (named after his mother), Elizabeth W. (his wife), Tiffany H. (his daughter) and Sea Haven, co-owned by Arthur. Each vessel routinely leaves port for 3-week trips, fishing 200 miles offshore. They catch albacore, bluefin and yellowfin tuna, swordfish, thresher shark and lobster using hook and line, purse seine, trolling and lobster traps. David loves to freshwater fish as a hobby and is very involved in advocating for his industry. Nick, his son, has been fishing with him part time for over six years.

Luke Halmay sorting through he and his dad’s tank of sea urchin (Credit: J.. Houston)

(Credit: J. Houston)

At cleaning stations volunteers will scale, gut and/or filet your fish, for free!

(Credit: J. Houston)

(Credit: J. Houston)

Born in Budapest and raised in Montreal, Peter left his engineering career to start diving for sea urchins in 1970 off San Clemente Island. Five years later, he moved to San Diego to fish. Today, he still dives for sea urchin

Arthur is originally from San Juan Capistrano. He left the Coast Guard in 1976 and has been fishing ever since. He co-owns the vessel Sea Haven. He and his crew leave for 4 to 14 day trips to catch bluefin tuna, swordfish and rockfish. They go out for 30 days when fishing albacore tuna. They use drift nets to catch swordfish, and pole and line for albacore. His father was also a fisherman out of Newport Beach and his 21 year old son Anthony fishes with him off of San Diego. For him fishing is a “lifestyle”, not just a occupation. Arthur cans his tuna (some with jalapeños for an extra kick!)

Arthur Richard Lorton III Sea Haven

John Law Wild West; Rock Ridge

John, raised in San Diego, has been fishing since 1976. Originally he worked on sport fishing boats as a guide and in 1990 decided to break away from the tourist world to fish commercially. He owns and operates the Wild West and the Rock Ridge, inspired by the cult classic, Blazing Saddles. He goes on day trips, no more than fifteen miles out, fishing for mainly coastal rockfish, lingcod and sometimes halibut. He has also been lobstering since 1995. He most often fishes alone but sometimes his nephew Rob will join him when he can. At the market, you will see Victoria selling fish with John. One of John’s favorite recipes is barbecued whole rockfish. He wraps it in foil that he leaves open to let the steam escape and adds dry vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower to which helps avoid making the fish soggy.

Giacamo Damato Gutsy; Ocean Princess

Giacamo and his family come from Orange County to sell their fish every Saturday. He has been fishing since he was 21 yr old, learning from his father who still fi s h e s i n O r a n g e County. He is a 5th generation fisherman; his family members also venture the seas off Alaska and Italy. Using b o t t o m l i n e g e a r, G i a c a m o c a t c h e s seasonal fish, including: black cod, sand dab, thorny head and various other rockfishes. He also catches yellowtail using hook and line. Giacamo, his wife Jiosy (who his boat is named after, although spelled differently), and his two sons Nick (age 14) and Andrea (age 10) help at the market. Jiosy loves to cook, so ask her for a recipe! A favorite is pan-fried rockfish fillets: Coat filet with olive oil and flour, and add onions, garlic, chopped tomatoes, white wine and fish broth.

Richard is a hard working newcomer to the fishing industry, fishing for the first time commercially six years ago. He was inspired to become a fisherman after he earned his captains license and realized he loved being on the ocean. He recently bought his own boat who he named after his girlfriend, Alicia M., who works by his side every Saturday at the fish market. He fishes for a variety of fish including many types of rockfish. He uses traditional hook and line and sometimes short long lines (25 to 50 hooks, as opposed to industrial lines that have thousands). Alicia and Richard’s favorite recipe is baking fillets of rockfish with lemon, capers and cilantro.

Richard Yoder Alicia M.

Dan Major Plan B.

Dan, born and raised in San Diego, has been fishing for over two decades. On his boat, he uses traps, and rod and reel to target a variety of fish and invertebrates, according to what is in season. He catches box crab, razor crab, lobster, octopus, eel, sheephead, tuna, mackerel and many species of rockfish. He and his wife, Kelli, as well as his two children, Troy and Heather, work at the fish market every Saturday. He usually fishes by San Clemente Island, a 60 mile, 9 hour trip. Everything he sells is the freshest it could be (including still alive and on his boat that he docks at the pier). He won’t sell anything he won’t eat himself and serve to his children.

Zack, Sr. has been fishing since 1979 and his son,  Zack, Jr.,  joined him in 2010. Together they catch rock crab, Kellet’s whelk, and groundfish using traps, for the invertebrates, and long lines, for the fish. A native San Diegan, Zack, Jr. was one of the driving forces behind the evolution of the market and is now a market organizer and vendor. Along with Zack, you will see family friend, Alli, selling their catch each Saturday at the market. Besides fishing, Zack, Jr. enjoys sailing and traveling. His favorite recipes are fish tacos made with the any of the groundfish they catch, and halibut fish and chips. 

Zack and Zack Roach Addiction

(Credit: J. Houston)

Meet the fishermen of TUNA HARBOR DOCKSIDE MARKET

(Credit: J. Houston)

598 Harbor Lane, Downtown San Diego . Saturdays from 8 AM to 1 PM

Compiled by Samantha Feingold; feingoldsamantha@gmail.comMarked photos gifted by Jason Houston at jasonhouston.com