Our Local Catch Guide
Everything you need to know to source fresh local seafood from the Monterey Bay
Get to know the species
Learn more about the species that inhabit the Monterey Bay, and the seasonality of when they are available in your local markets and restaurants. Plus learning more about the fish that you order helps appreciate the unique qualities of each species, and will help you be inspired in the best ways to prepare it!
California halibut, not to be confused with Pacific halibut, is a species of flatfish found in abundance in Monterey Bay. A prized catch for both commercial and recreational fishermen, California halibut is fun to catch and delicious to eat.
Wild, fresh King salmon is only available in California on certain weeks during the summer months (pending regulatory changes and potential closures). Find out when, where, and how to access fresh, local wild-caught King salmon.
Anchovies add a rich, unique flavor in many classic recipes. This fish is building its modern-day reputation as a sustainable and tasty seafood option.
Know What’s Seasonally Available
Seafood Seasonality Guide
When you shop for seafood at a grocery store or supermarket, ask for locally-caught seafood that is in season. This encourages fish buyers to source from Monterey Bay fishermen and strengthens our local food system as a whole. Check out our seasonality chart below to help understand what time of year certain species are typically landed. Please note the disclaimer that this information is subject to regulatory changes each year.
*Disclaimer: regulatory changes and season closures may occur with certain species year-to-year. See CDFW’s commercial fisheries page for updated information
*Locally caught salmon will not be available in 2024 due to full season closure
Find Your Sources
Now, more than ever, it’s essential to connect with food harvested and grown close to home, both to feed our families, and to support our local economy. We’ve compiled a list of businesses that provide sustainable seafood from Monterey Bay and California’s central coast fishermen.
Fish Markets & Other Fishmongers
If your business sells local seafood and is not listed, please let us know by filling out this form.
Searching for fresh, California seafood outside of the Monterey Bay region? Click here.
The K-Dock in Monterey Harbor
Fresh Off the Boat
Many fishermen sell their fresh, local catch directly off the boat to consumers. The best way to track these “dock sales” is to contact the fishermen directly, sign up for their email lists, or follow them on social media. You can also download the FishLine app. Learn more about how to buy seafood off the boat.
In Monterey, fishermen occasionally sell off the boat at the K-Dock adjacent to the Harbormasters’ Office. The best way to learn about Monterey dock sales is by signing up to receive email alerts from the Harbor office.
Community Supported Fisheries
Community supported fisheries (CSFs), modeled after community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, are an increasingly popular way of getting fresh seafood from local fishermen and women. Most CSFs offer members weekly or bi-weekly shares of fresh seafood for a pre-paid fee. Learn more about how to sign up for a CSF.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Resident fish buyer in the Santa Cruz Harbor that buys from local fishermen and sells to the public.
Services available:
Seafood market
Community Supported Fishery (delivery, and neighborhood pickup from Aptos to Oakland)
Farmers Markets
Wholesale
Contact: (831) 462-3474, info@hhfreshfish.com
Text ‘hhfreshfish’ to (984) 205-2382 to receive text updates about their seafood delivery options and product availability.
493 Lake Ave., A, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Community-supported fishery with delivery throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties and the SF Bay Area.
Services available:
New Fish & Farm Box Program offers local seafood, mushrooms, chicken, eggs, fruit, vegetables, coffee, and bread.
Contact: Charlie Lambert or Ian Cole
Email ocean2table@gmail.com or text them at (831) 295-8403
Santa Cruz, CA
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Community supported fishery that provides a diversity of California species caught using sustainable catch methods.
Services available:
Pick-up at host sites
Delivery and pickup locations throughout the Monterey Bay region, and overnight shipping anywhere in California and other states
Contact: Jenn Gerard-Lovewell or Alan Lovewell, (831) 334-4676
7532 SandholdtRd., #5b Moss Landing, CA 95039
For a directory of CSFs in other parts of the country, visit the Local Catch website: https://localcatch.org/.
Fish Markets
Fish markets sell seafood from a variety of sources—local, domestic, and international. If you want to be sure you’re supporting our local fishing economy, learn what’s in season, and ask for local, Monterey Bay catch. Learn more about how to shop at a fish market.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Resident fish buyer in the Santa Cruz Harbor that buys from local fishermen and sells to the public.
Services available:
Seafood market
Community Supported Fishery (delivery, and neighborhood pickup from Aptos to Oakland)
Farmers Markets
Wholesale
Contact: (831) 462-3474, info@hhfreshfish.com
Text ‘hhfreshfish’ to (984) 205-2382 to receive text updates about their seafood delivery options and product availability.
493 Lake Ave., A, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Fish Market and wholesaler located on Monterey’s commercial fishing wharf.
Contact: Fish Market, call (831) 656-9505
Wholesale, Call Sal Tringali, (831) 375-3511
Municipal Wharf #2 Monterey, CA 93940
Family-owned restaurant, bar, and Fish Market in Castroville. The eatery is open, but the Fish Market is still currently closed.
Contact: (831) 633-2152
10700 Merritt Street, Castroville, California 95012
Fish Markets & Restaurants owned and operated by a local fishing family for over 30 years.
Contact: (831) 728-7081
Locations:
2420 Hwy 1, Moss Landing, CA 95039
Other Fishmongers
Fishmongers sometimes sell seafood from a variety of sources—local, domestic, and international. If you want to be sure you’re supporting our local fishing economy, learn what’s in season, and ask for local, Monterey Bay catch.
Wholesale, retail, fish buyer, and fish offloading in Moss Landing.
Services available:
Pick-up - Individuals can buy fresh fish right from Bay Fresh. Call for product availability.
Contact: Roger Whitney, (831) 633-5160
7662 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039
Wholesaler, distributor, and trader of quality seafood since 2002.
Services available:
Pick-up on the wharf
Delivery available for wholesale accounts.
Contact: Robbie Torrise, (831) 212-0231
Municipal Wharf 2, Monterey, CA 93940
Grocery Stores
The grocery stores listed here sell seafood from a variety of sources—local, domestic, and international. If you want to be sure you’re supporting our local fishing economy, learn what’s in season, and ask for local, Monterey Bay catch. Learn more about how to buy seafood from a grocery store.
Does your grocery store sell Monterey Bay seafood, but it’s not listed here? Let us know!
Services Available:
Pick-up in store
Catering available
Contact: (831) 688-7442
783 Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Aptos
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Services available:
Pick-up in store
Online ordering
Delivery (via Instacart)
Locations:
3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley
810 Laurel Street, San Carlos
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Services available:
Pick-up in store
Online ordering
Delivery (via Instacart)
Locations:
161 Aptos Village Way, Aptos
1210 41st Ave, Capitola
1101 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz (Westside)
1134 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz
5667 Silver Creek Valley Rd, San Jose
Also includes deliveries to New Leaf in Half Moon Bay.
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Services available:
Pick-up in store
Curb-side pick up
Online ordering (via Instacart)
Delivery
Contact: (408) 513-8200
Location: 5667 Silver Creek Valley Rd, San Jose
Restaurants
The restaurants listed below offer seafood dishes sourced from local fishermen, but they also likely serve seafood imported from elsewhere. If you want to be sure you’re supporting our local fishing economy, learn what’s in season, and ask for local, Monterey Bay catch. Learn more about how to order seafood at a restaurant.
Does your restaurant sell Monterey Bay seafood, but you’re not listed here? Let us know!
Monterey County
An elevated, community-driven restaurant rooted in coastal California cuisine.
Contact: info@cheznoircarmel.com
5th Avenue b/t San Carlos & Dolores Streets, Carmel, CA 93921
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Having the Monterey Bay, Salinas and Carmel Valleys within twenty minutes, Grasing’s takes full advantage of the incredible fresh produce and seafood available by supporting exceptional generational farms and community food sources.
Contact: (831) 624-6562
NW Corner of 6th and Mission Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
Located in downtown Monterey at the Historic Cooper Molera Adobe.
Contact: (831) 921 - 1018
502 Munras Ave, Monterey, CA 93940
Established by longtime local restauranteur Jack Hakim and his two daughters, Googie was created as a neighborhood eatery offering fresh and delicious comfort food.
Contact: 831-392-1520
1520 Del Monte Boulevard, Seaside, CA, 93955
Owned and operated by the DiGirolamo family, with deep roots in the Monterey fishing and restaurant industries.
Contact: (831) 373-4647
2114 Del Monte Ave., Monterey, CA
Family-owned restaurant, bar, and Fish Market in Castroville. The eatery is open, but the Fish Market is still currently closed.
Contact: (831) 633-2152
10700 Merritt Street, Castroville, California 95012
Fish Markets & Restaurants owned and operated by a local fishing family for over 30 years.
Contact: (831) 728-7081
Locations:
2420 Hwy 1, Moss Landing, CA 95039
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Committed to providing fresh, organic, and sustainable American bistro fare.
Contact: (831) 236-7247, pamela@wildplumcafe.com
731 Munras Ave suite b, Monterey, CA 93940
Santa Cruz County
A modern California seafood eatery
Contact: (831) 225-0434
105 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Website I Instagram I Facebook
Pairing seasonal produce from local farmers with line caught fish and lean, hormone-free beef, the menu at Süda stays as fresh as the ingredients. With a variety of inventive dishes, including vegan and gluten free options, there is truly something for everyone.
Contact: (831) 600-7068
3910 Portola Dr.Santa Cruz
Celebrating 30 delicious years on the Santa Cruz Wharf, specializing in fresh, traditional seafood, steaks, and homemade pasta dishes.
Contact: (831) 423 - 5200
25 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
A family-owned and operated with long-time roots in Davenport, CA.
Contact: (831) 204-9671
490 Highway One, Davenport, CA 95017, United States
We encourage you to support all restaurants during this crisis. For a full list of restaurants offering pick-up or delivery services during the COVID-19 crisis, visit the Edible Monterey Bay restaurant list or the City of Monterey restaurant list.
Wholesalers
These businesses sell and distribute wholesale (large quantities at reduced prices) to restaurants and other retail businesses. Wholesalers often buy and sell seafood from a variety of sources—local, domestic, and international. If you want to be sure you’re supporting our local fishing economy, learn what’s in season, and ask for local, Monterey Bay catch.
Wholesale, retail, fish buyer, and fish offloading in Moss Landing.
Services available:
Pick-up - Individuals can buy fresh fish right from Bay Fresh. Call for product availability.
Contact: Roger Whitney, (831) 633-5160
7662 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Resident fish buyer in the Santa Cruz Harbor that buys from local fishermen and sells to the public.
Services available:
Seafood market
Community Supported Fishery (delivery, and neighborhood pickup from Aptos to Oakland)
Farmers Markets
Wholesale
Contact: (831) 462-3474, info@hhfreshfish.com
Text ‘hhfreshfish’ to (984) 205-2382 to receive text updates about their seafood delivery options and product availability.
493 Lake Ave., A, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Seafood processor and wholesaler distributing to all types of businesses six days a week with their own fleet of trucks. They are the parent company to the brand Monterey Bay Seafood and are leasing a dock in Moss Landing Harbor where they support over 25 small-scale day boats.
Contact:
(408) 778-7200
(800) 974-6622
info@lusamerica.com
16480 Railroad Ave, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Fish Market and wholesaler located on Monterey’s commercial fishing wharf.
Contact: Fish Market, call (831) 656-9505
Wholesale, Call Sal Tringali, (831) 375-3511
Municipal Wharf #2 Monterey, CA 93940
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Community-supported fishery with delivery throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties and the SF Bay Area.
Services available:
New Fish & Farm Box Program offers local seafood, mushrooms, chicken, eggs, fruit, vegetables, coffee, and bread.
Contact: Charlie Lambert or Ian Cole
Email ocean2table@gmail.com or text them at (831) 295-8403
Santa Cruz, CA
Wholesaler, distributor, and trader of quality seafood since 2002.
Services available:
Pick-up on the wharf
Delivery available for wholesale accounts.
Contact: Robbie Torrise, (831) 212-0231
Municipal Wharf 2, Monterey, CA 93940
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Community supported fishery that provides a diversity of California species caught using sustainable catch methods.
Services available:
Pick-up at host sites
Delivery and pickup locations throughout the Monterey Bay region, and overnight shipping anywhere in California and other states
Contact: Jenn Gerard-Lovewell or Alan Lovewell, (831) 334-4676
7532 SandholdtRd., #5b Moss Landing, CA 95039