A Summer Adventure: Scoring the Freshest Local Seafood Straight Off the Boat

Dock sale sign in Monterey Harbor

By Melissa Mahoney, July 7, 2025

Summer in Monterey Bay is the perfect time to enjoy one of the freshest and most rewarding food experiences around — buying seafood straight off the boat. Just like stumbling across a roadside farmstand bursting with just-picked produce, there’s something special about the chance to buy fish directly from the fishermen who caught it. If you're lucky enough to live near the bay, or come for a visit, keep an eye out for ‘off-the-boat’ or ‘dock sales’ at our local harbors — typically on Fridays or weekends.

Sweetwater Fisheries sells straight off the boat in Santa Cruz

Buying direct comes with a lot of benefits:

  • Unmatched freshness — it was likely swimming just hours before you got it.

  • Supports local fishermen — 100% of your purchase goes to the people who make their living from the sea.

  • Cuts down on your carbon footprint — fewer steps in the supply chain mean less energy used.

  • Connects you to one of our last wild food sources — and it’s always a bit of an adventure!

The only catch? Dock sales aren’t always predictable. That’s why we created our How to Buy Direct guide and repost local sales whenever we spot them — to make it easier for you to know when and where to go. If you miss them, or they sell out, don’t worry! There’s also local fish markets or community supported fishery dealers in or near each port who probably have something similar and buying from them is the next best thing.  

Dock sales in Moss Landing

What to Bring:

  • A cooler and ice – The fishermen will bag your fish, but bringing a cooler and your own ice helps keep it safe and cold for the ride home.  

  • Cash or Venmo – Not every boat is set up for cards.

  • An appetite for whole fish – Health regulations require you to buy the whole fish before they can filet it for you. It’s worth it, but it can be a little more expensive, so plan accordingly.

So, if you’re looking to try something new this summer, grab your cooler and head to the docks. You’ll come home with some of the best local seafood around — and probably a great story to go with it.

Need a recipe? We’ve got plenty on our website, and our friends at realgoodfish.com have excellent options too.

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