Despite Slow Start Of Season, First of King Salmon Unloaded At San Francisco's Pier 45
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Some of the first King Salmon of the Northern California commercial season were unloaded at San Francisco's Pier 45 this week, but it wasn't exactly a great opening.
It's a bit of a fishy start to the season, but nobody exactly predicted a "bumper year" or productive start.
"It doesn't look like it's going to be a bumper year. The fish are a little bit on the smaller side than we saw last year," said Duncan MacLean of Half Moon Bay who just got back from the Farallon Islands. He said both the fish and the catch were smaller than hoped.
Larry Collins, president of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association said it's impossible to predict how the season will go.
"10 pounds is better than eight pounds. You know, 12 is better than 10. We can't keep fish under 27 inches, so the smallest would be about eight pounds," he said.
Fishermen are getting $6.50 a pound wholesale, but consumers should expect to pay about a third higher than that.
"Whole Foods is buying salmon. The restaurants are buying a lot," Collins said.
Windy conditions have most fishermen on shore until probably next weekend, so finding fresh wild King Salmon at your local market may take several more days.