Where’s the Fish?

As a seafood aficionado, I love to buy locally caught fresh fish. We are blessed with a rich marine environment supporting healthy stocks of fish, crab and oyster production in Humboldt Bay.

The fisher men and women who bring this food to market operate a risky, uncertain business, worthy of our support. Here is a guide to help you find, purchase and dine on these delicacies — what the French poetically call fruits de mer, fruits of the sea.

Arcata Pizza and Deli (1057 H St., Arcata) offers both cooked and fresh fish to eat in or take home. Owned by fisherman Josh Auckland, whose boat supplies the restaurant. Seascape Restaurant and The Eatery in Trinidad, and Gill’s by the Bay on the waterfront in King Salmon and many others will also put seafood on your plate.

Captains Catch Seafood is located on a boat on Dock B at Woodley Island Marina with fish available depending on the season, caught from F/V Captain Banjo. In late October, blast-frozen and fileted sushi-grade albacore, salmon and rockfish were on sale. Check them out on Facebook or call 209-662-0437.

Cece Seafood, based in Trinidad, is a new business aimed at home fresh fish deliveries. Started in April by fisherwoman Cece Lenarte and her fisherman husband, Mike, the website says, “Cece Seafood was born from a simple idea: bringing you the freshest possible fish straight to your door. Who better to do that than a family that truly loves fishing, eating, and community?” You can sign up for email alerts about available fresh fish and order at ceceseafoodandcharters.com or pick up fish at Sea Goat Farmstand (1450 Hiller Road) in McKinleyville.

The Humboldt Dockside Market (Madaket Plaza, Saturdays 9-1, June 6-Oct. 31) was started in 2025 by North Coast Growers Association and Ashley’s Seafood (ashleysseafood. com) and F/V Aguero to allow local fishers to sell directly to the public.

I talked with fisherman Andrew Medina (F/V Giuliana), who sells halibut, lingcod and rockfish there. His customers appreciate the high quality, locally caught fresh fish, he says, which keeps money in the community and builds relationships with fisherfolk. Medina and others also sell from their boats at the Woodley Island Marina in Eureka.

Unfortunately, the Dockside Market has now closed for the season.

Sebastian Elrite sells Bay oysters at Humboldt Bay Provisions (corner of 2nd and G Sts., Eureka) and at Dock B on Woodley Island. Other Eureka boats also sell their fresh fish when available; consult the info board at the parking area as you approach the Marina building and restaurant to see what’s available. Depending on the season, you can find fresh local salmon, halibut, rockfish, sablefish, tuna, oysters and crab. Visit seasideweavers. com/freshfish for more details.

And Sunken Seaweed has been growing kelp and other seaweeds on the Samoa Peninsula since 2022 (sunkenseaweed.com). Find their products in local stores and sometimes at the Arcata Farmers’ Market.

Tim Haskett launches his boat from Eureka and Trinidad in search of fishy fare. He is a member of the Senior News Community Advisory Council.