Fishing this week has been excellent for many local fishermen and the variety in our case shows it. Capt. Mintz of the “Jody H,” was successful offshore and has brought us some Swordfish, Opah, Louvar and Albacore. Fresh fillets, steaks, and loins of these fish will be available in the market through the weekend. Albacore loins will be available for $7.95 per pound or you can buy them whole for $3.00 per pound while supplies last. We will also be featuring each of these fish as specials in our Restaurant.

Capt Cunningham of the “Tommy Lynn 2,” has been keeping us in supply of Blackgill Rockfish while Capt. Smith of the “Pleasure,” and Capt. Conchelos of the “Elizabeth Jane,” have had great trips of Vermillion Rockfish. Both will be available fresh in the Market and as “Fish of the Day,” in the Restaurant.

Finally, for those of you who missed out on last week’s supply of Dungeness Crabs, don’t worry because they’re here again. Capt. Arnoldi of the “Rosalena Marie,” has caught and delivered more of these succulent beauties. According to him, the supply of Crabs looks good for the next few months. He has been fishing for more than 35 years and says that there are more Crabs this year then he can ever remember. That’s good news for those of us who love Crab. Mmmmmm! Even more good news is the low price of $4.95 per pound live or $5.95 per pound cooked, cracked, and cleaned.

The Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 18 November 2010

Ahoy,

This years California Dungeness crab season has opened with a bang! Crabbers throughout California have had a strong beginning with the majority of production near the San Francisco Bay area. Many of our local fishermen have made the journey northward to capitalize on this bountiful start. Captain Arnoldi of the “Rosalena Marie” made the trip north and his success has provided us with our first crabs of the season.

With that said, we will be offering first of the season Dungeness crab in the Market for $4.99 per pound live or $5.99 per pound cooked, cracked, and cleaned. Supplies should remain strong throughout the weekend and into the beginning of next week but don’t wait too long or they may crawl away. Chef Joel Lopez will also be offering these succulent beauties as specials in our Restaurant including the return of our amazing Cioppino.

Please remember that just like eating crab, cooking crab takes us some time so feel free to call ahead and we will do our best to get them to you as soon as we can.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 11 November 2010

Ahoy Friends,

First and foremost we would like to extend a warm and heartfelt thanks to all our Veterans for the sacrifices they have made so we may live in a land that enjoys freedoms unsurpassed in this world.

We also would like to take the time to remind you how the “Bonnie Marietta,” and “Tognazzini's Dockside Restaurant & Fish Market,” FISH-LIST works. From May through September we post a weekly email, (usually on Thursday) letting you know of Captain Mark's fishing activities aboard the “Bonnie Marietta” during the week.

Because of a lack of a Salmon season the last couple of years, and the Albacore giving us the slip the past several years our direct sales have suffered. However this weekly email will still keep you updated on other local fishermen and their catches that may be available at both the Fish Market and Restaurant. Be assured that as soon as we have a Salmon season, or the Albacore show up again we will resume sales from the deck of the "Bonnie Marietta." Dockside sales off the boat generally begin on Saturday at 8 A.M., but are occasionally conducted on other days. This weekly email will notify customers of sale days and times.

During the balance of the year, (October to April) we occasionally use this email to update you on special features here in the Restaurant & Fish Market, but it will not be the regular weekly posting that we do May though September.

So with that in mind, we do believe we have a special offering this weekend. “Local White Seabass.” Yes, it is very late in the year to have this fish available but between the efforts of Capt. Nailen of the “Seeker,” Capt. Conners of the “Silver Bullet,” Capt. Nakazawa of the “Arima,” Capt Schuyler of the “Flyer,” and Capt. Kann of the “C,” we are blessed to have local hook and line caught White Seabass. This weekend you will find it available in both the Restaurant and Market. In the Restaurant it will be available as “Fish of the Day.” We believe that this offering of veggies, rice and White Seabass for $10.95 is a great value and hard to beat. And in the Fish Market you will find fresh White Seabass fillets for $10.95 per pound.

Again starting this weekend, Friday November 12th, and continuing though Monday November 15th, Local White Seabass $10.95 as “Fish of the Day” in the Restaurant or $10.95 per pound for fillets in the Market.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 23 September 2010

Ahoy Mates!

Had a windy week and as a result the fish case is looking a little skinny. Hopefully the great weather predictions during the coming days will change all that! Nevertheless before the wind started blowing some of the guys did get out and caught a few fish....

Although supplies are limited we are happy to offer you Albacore from Capt. Nailen of the "Seeker", Lingcod and other assorted Rockfish from Capts. Tobin, Kann, Loiseau and McGill. Swordfish from Capts. Roff and Schoditch and Halibut from Capts. McGill, Loiseau and Nakazawa.

Did you know.......
Next weekend (Oct 2nd & 3rd) is Harbor Festival? Yep, is it right off our bow again!

Capt. Mark and I would like to take a minute to share a few things with you:

1. We will be open our normal hours as usual throughout the week and weekend.

2. Parking should be good through Thursday and becoming limited Friday day and Friday evening, but you should still be able to park either in front of or behind the Restaurant. If you have any difficulty, call us. Unfortunately, next Saturday and Sunday we will not be able to offer parking.

3. During the Harbor Festival Dockside customers may enter for free. That's right--if you are coming to either the Restaurant or Fish Market, all you have to do is let them know and they will not charge you an entrance fee. Any difficulty entering, all you have to do is just call 772-8100 and Capt. Mark will come to your rescue.

4. Some tasty info.... In addition to our regular menu, next weekend we will have a special Harbor Festival menu consisting of fresh and local seafood samplers for $3.00. Beer & wine specials will be $2.50 and $3.50 and, as usual, we will have BBQ Oysters drizzled with garlic butter available at the patio for $1.50. Yum yum!

5. On a last note ... We will have live music throughout the weekend! Come on down and listen to "Lenny Blue" all day Friday, "Tennessee Jimmy Harrell" and "Mostly Monica" who will be playing back to back on Saturday and Sunday.

If we get as good weather as this weekend, then you won't want to miss all the food and fun!

Now you know ....

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 16 September 2010

Ahoy Mates!

We've had another great week and some interesting Albacore news. There was a sign of some local Albacore this past week before the wind started to blow. Some of the smaller boats had scores up to twenty or so, and Capt. Leage of the sport boat "Princess" made a commercial crew trip that yielded 40 fish! We promptly purchased those fish for both the Fish Market and Restaurant. We're not sure what to make of this late showing of fish. Will it be like the last several years with a quick squirt of fish for a few days, or will it develop into something that will make it worth some effort? Guess only time will tell!

Did you know ....

That I know Capt. Mark has been putting together his Albacore gear on the stern of the "Bonnie Marietta"? Although he is not saying anything right now, I know he is preparing to make a trip the next time a good weather window opens in anticipation of getting a few of these fish himself! Ah-hah!

So now you know! (PS don't tell him I told you)

And here is the rest of the scoop! We will be offering both Capt. Leage’s and Capt. Nailen’s Albacore starting tomorrow, Friday Sept. 17th and continuing though Sunday, Sept. 19th (while supplies last) for $3.00 a pound whole, or $7.95 a pound for filleted loins. Whole fish yield approximately 50% so you can save by purchasing one and having us fillet it for free. These fish average about 20 pounds each. Of course these fish are fresh, gutted and gilled and guaranteed premium. You will also find them featured as lunch and dinner specials in both the Fish Market and Restaurant.

While the good weather lasted others enjoyed some good fishing as well and we are blessed to have their fishing efforts represented here at Dockside!

Capt. Roff and Schoditsch of the "Diane Susan" made another short trip with their pelagic gillnet and we will once again have their fresh Swordfish, Thresher Shark, and Opah. The hook and line Halibut action remained steady and a talented group of captains keep our supply strong. Thank you Capt. Loiseau of the "Flatfish", Capt. McGill of the "4Baja", Capt. Campopiano of the "Island Hopper", and Capt. Nakazawa of the "Arima".

Capt. Tobin, Capt. Patchen, Capt. Eaton, Capt. Arnoldi, Capt. Dyck, Capt. Appel, Capt. Cunningham and Capt. Griffen, as always, are steady suppliers of Black Gill Rockfish, Lingcod, Cabezon, Vermillion Rockfish, Gopher Rockfish, Kelp Greenling and others. We thank them for the variety of fish necessary to keep the selection that we offer local and plentiful.

Lastly we received Pacific Halibut Cheeks, Columbia River King and Silver Salmon, and Southern California Yellowtail to help round out our fish supply.

So if you find yourself in need of a "fish fix" this weekend we have quite a few choices to offer!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 9 September 2010

Ahoy, and welcome to September.

As we enter the fall the availability of some very seasonal fish happens here on the Central Coast. This first week of September is no exception. Captain’s Tom Roff and Diane Schoditsch of the Diane Susan delivered us a nice selection pelagic fish and we are excited to share them with you.

Both Mako, and Thresher Shark will be in strong supply at the Market this weekend, as well as Opah. These are always a delight to have and we are sure you will find them a great value. However, the featured fish of Tom and Diane’s catch will be Swordfish. This means that this weekend starting Friday September 10th, and going thought Monday September 13th; we will have premium local Swordfish for $9.95 a pound. In addition we would be more than happy to vacuum pack it for you at no additional charge!

Do you know what we mean by pelagic fish? Let’s see… Any water in the sea that is not close to the bottom or near to the shore is in the pelagic zone. Pelagic fish include fish that make the open ocean their home. They swim continuously in open water, usually well offshore; they tend to be nomadic and do not remain in one area. Marine pelagic fish can be divided into coastal (inshore) fish and oceanic (offshore) fish. They can be as small as sardines or herring, but when fishermen speak of pelagic they most always are talking about the larger fish such as Tuna, Swordfish, Opah and such.

In addition to the Diane Susan’s success this past week we are happy to have Port San Luis’s Captain Evans of the Lucy L, and Captain Ward of the Dancing Bear back in action. Both captains are providing much of our local Halibut as well as nice bonuses of Sand Sole and Starry Flounder. You’ll find Sand Sole as the “Fish of the Day” in the Restaurant. This fish is similar to Petrale Sole and often marketed as Petrale elsewhere however, here at Dockside we tell you exactly what you are getting!

You will also find good supplies of Lingcod, Blackcod, and Blackgill Rockfish thanks to Captains, Tobin, Patchen, Griffin, Campopiano, Eaton, Arnoldi, and both the French’s (John & Jeff).

The Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 2 September 2010

Ahoy,

Ahhh ... Labor Day Weekend! Today I read somewhere that a lot of people think that Labor Day simply means an extra day off and a great excuse to have a barbeque in the backyard! In reality Labor Day is a day set aside to recognize the efforts and pay tribute to all you men and women! Did you know that Labor Day has been a national holiday in the United States since 1894? Most people often associate Labor Day as the end of summer holiday, same as they do with Memorial Day being the beginning of summer holiday.

Well Ok then, lets cover what just might make that backyard barbeque at hit for all you laboring men and women!

How about "White Sea Bass" at a repeat performance of $9.95 a pound for fillets starting Friday, Sept. 3, and going thought Monday, Sept. 6. Or while supplies last. Just about the time when most thought the White Sea Bass were done both Capt. Connor's of the "Silver Bullet", and Capt. Van Wagner of the "Pure Adrenaline" connected again and we will be pleased to offer their bounty to you.

In addition some of the other fishermen who's labors paid off were Capt. Nakazawa of the"Arima"who got in on a fish we don't often see in our local waters ... PACIFIC BARRACUDA! What a nice surprise for us and if you have never had a chance to try Barracuda it may be another a great reason to drop by Dockside this weekend. Pacific Barracuda (also known as California Barracuda or Silver Barracuda) are thin for their length. They rarely exceed 10 pounds, and a maximum length not quite 4 feet. Pacific Barracudas are slender, predatory fishes with small scales, a large mouth with fang-like teeth, and a protruding lower jaw. The tail fin is forked and the two dorsal fins are widely separated. Pacific Barracuda has a full flavor, meaty firm texture with large flakes, low fat content and flesh which is light tan when raw and off-white when cooked. Barracuda can be substituted in recipes for other fish and you can find a multitude of Barracuda recipes online. So if you would like to try Barracuda fillets you will find them here at $5.95 a pound this weekend and as with the White Sea Bass ... while supplies last.

Other local Capt.'s continued to keep us "happy" with fish and they include:
Capt. Kann "C" Vermilion Rockfish & Lingcod
Capt Bigham " "No Name" Gopher Rockfish & Lingcod
Capt. McGill "4 Baja" Vermilion Rockfish & Lingcod
Capt. Patchen "Kaps" Lingcod, Vermilion and Black Rockfish
Capt. Eaton "Curly" Lingcod
Capt. Mowry "No Name" Lingcod
Capt. Evans "Lucy L" Sand Sole, Starry Flounder, Angel Shark
Capt. Ward "Dancin Bear" Halibut, Starry Flounder and Sand Sole.
Capt. Tobin "Pleasure" Lingcod
Capt. Dyck "No Name 3" Lingcod

Did you know?
When not fishing, Capt. Mark loves to keep the "Bonnie Marietta" busy with research charters and vessel support services? As matter of fact this past week he was involved with TNC and a Fishing Trawl study charter. They are looking at whether ocean trawling on soft bottom has adverse impacts or not. Capt. Mark and crew Bill Skok, spent the better part of 6 days collecting bottom sediment samples with a Van Veen grab sampler. This mechanical grab is dropped over the side of the boat and automatically trips when landing on the bottom of the ocean. It then takes a sample of the soft or sandy bottom. The equipment has lever arms and cutting edges on the bottom of the scoop which allows it to cut deep into sediments. It is then retrieved and the samples removed and collected.

Although this charter might not be quite as exciting as some of the other research work Capt. Mark has done with the "Bonnie Marietta", he always appreciates being involved in what is going on out there. I on the other hand I always appreciate getting him out from under my feet for a few days! ha ha!

Hope you all have a relaxing weekend.
Stay safe, eat healthy and enjoy your family & friends!

The Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 26 August 2010

Ahoy,

White Seabass fishing has picked up and a few local fishermen have capitalized on the opportunity. Capt. Conners of the Silver Bullet and Capt. VanWagner of the Pure Adrenaline made the short run to Port San Luis and were rewarded for their efforts. Because of their success, we will once again be offering White Seabass fillets in the Market for an amazing $9.95 per pound this weekend. For those of you who would rather have us prepare this mouth-watering delight for you, we will be offering it as specials in our Restaurant.

The first Albacore of the season have been landed in Morro Bay and Capt. Nailen of the Seeker takes the credit to be the first to do so. He told us that he forgot how strong they are and how much fight they have in them. His fish will be a wonderful addition to the Market this weekend for $8.95 per pound.

Finally, Capt. Cunningham of the Millenium and Capt. Rose of the Nikki J. both had good landings of Blackcod, Grenadier, and Blackgill Rockfish. All three will be available in the Market as well as in the Restaurant.

The Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Friday 20 August 2010

Ahoy,

White Seabass fishing has grinded to a stop and although we are hopeful that the bite may pick up again, our current supplies are exhausted. With that said, Halibut fishing has been steady and we are pleased to have some more fish from Capt. Conners, Capt. Mowry and good ole’ Capt. Evans. You may recall that Capt. Evans fishes out of Port San Luis and is an amazing 87 years young! Capt. Evans has had some help recently from his grandson who hopes to carry on the legacy started by his grandfather. In addition to Halibut, Capt. Evans has also provided us with supplies of Sand Sole as well as Starry Flounder. Sand Sole is light, mild and delicate, and will be available as Fish of the Day in the Restaurant this weekend. All three fish will be available for purchase in the Market along with a nice variety of other favorites.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Friday 13 August 2010

Ahoy,

Fishing this week has once again been fruitful for many local fishermen. White Seabass and Halibut are still around however the bite has slowed a bit. Nonetheless, Capt. Conners of the “Silver Bullet,” Capt. Nailen of the “Seeker,” and Capt. VanWagner of the “Pure Adrenaline,” continue to keep us in good supply of both of these delightful fish. Both will be available in the Restaurant or fresh from the Market throughout the weekend.

Capt. Rose of the “Niki J,” also had a successful trip this week and has brought us some succulent Blackgill Rockfish. These fish will also be available in the Restaurant and Market. Finally last but not least, Capt. Arnoldi had a nice landing of both Lingcod and Vermillion Rockfish. Both will be available in the Market however, Lingcod will be available as “Fish of the Day,” in the Restaurant. Supplies of both are strong for the moment however, don’t wait too long or they may swim off before you know it.

Thanks as always to all of our local captains! Their efforts and hard work continues to be the reason that we are able to provide you with such a tremendous variety and quality of fresh local product.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 05 August 2010

Ahoy,

Albacore continues to be a no show here on the Central Coast, however Halibut and White Seabass fishing remains strong and steady. Actually, it’s just about as consistent of hook and line fishing as we can remember in recent history. The best part about a strong and steady supply of both of these wonderful fish is that it allows us to once again share some of Morro Bay’s bounty with you at some real savings. So here we go!

Starting tomorrow Friday, August 6, and continuing though Monday, August 9, (while supplies last), we will be offering Local Halibut fillets for $11.95 per pound, and Local White Seabass fillets for $9.95 per pound. The Captains responsible for both of these spectacular values include Capt. Connors of the “Silver Bullet,” Capt. Nailen of the “Seeker,” Capt. Van Wagner of the “Pure Adrenaline,” Capt. Dunn of the “Fog Dog,” Capt. McGill of the “4Baja,” Capt. Kann of the “C,” Capt. Schuler of the “Flyer,” Capt. Loiseau of the “Flat Fish,” and Capt. Baker of the “Thunder Chicken.”

One thing new for those of you that may want to capitalize on this weekends specials here at Dockside is vacuum packing. We have recently purchased a commercial vacuum packer and it does a beautiful job. So this weekend with either your Halibut or White Seabass purchase, we would like to offer you “FREE OF CHARGE,” custom vacuum packing of your fish. No limit on how much we will pack for you, we just ask the packs be 1 pound or bigger.

For those of you that enjoy dining with us you’ll find White Seabass as Fish of the Day in the Restaurant for $10.95 including rice and veggies, along with numerous Halibut Specials. The fish market will also be featuring some dandy White Seabass and Halibut specials as well.

Finally we would also like to thank our other regular producers including Capt. Griffin, Capt Patchen, and Capt. Tobin they always seem to be steady suppliers of Lingcod and other assorted Rockfish we have here at Dockside. Thanks Guys!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 29 July 2010

Ahoy,

Blackcod continues to be the mainstay for most commercial fishermen here in Morro Bay so our supplies remain steady and strong. It’s a delightful creamy textured fish that takes a little effort to prepare, but is worth the extra care for those that have learn to deal with it’s special needs.

Halibut and White Seabass fishing continues to remain steady, and although the specials we did last weekend exhausted our supplies, availability is looking good for this weekend and hopefully into next week.

Also lingcod and some rock fishing were fair so we do have limited supplies of both those.

A fish you may find intriguing as “Fish of the Day,” in the Restaurant and featured for only $5.95 per pound this weekend in the Market is Pacific Grenadier. At least 7 different species of Grenadiers inhabit the depths of all of the world’s oceans except those of the high arctic. They are related to cod, are widespread, diverse, abundant, and frequently occur on the upper continental slope. Grenadiers are rarely found in waters shallower than 300 feet and can actually dominate depths greater than 6000 feet in both number of individuals and number of species. Grenadiers are usually caught incidentally to other fisheries. The Pacific grenadier dominates the grenadier catch in California.

The fillets remind us of Petrale fillets with flavor much like many of the rockfish. Probably one of the most ugly fish you may ever see. If you come by the market we would be happy to show you one.

As always we like to acknowledge those that give you access to the local bounty. This week our hand especially goes out to those many small boat commercial fishers. While many of the larger boats have been pursuing Blackcod, it has been the small boat fishers that continually bring us variety in both the Market and Restaurant. Thank you to Capt. Connors, Capt. Nailen, Capt. Van Wagner, Capt. Campopaino, Capt. McGill and Capt. Dunn for their continued Halibut and White Seabass. Capt. B. Terra, Capt. D. Terra, Capt. Burbach, Capt. Griffen, Capt. Mowry, Capt. Kann, Capt. Patchen, Capt. Appel, Capt Eaton, and Capt. Tobin, for the Lingcod and Rockfish.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 22 July 2010

Hello all,

Last weeks wind persisted through the beginning of this week, but ocean conditions improved greatly the past few days and some good fishing has continued.

In previous weeks we have had some great Halibut and Lingcod fishing and although they have both tapered off a little, our supply remains strong and fresh as always.

This week some beautiful White Sea Bass showed up and many local captains jumped at the chance to land a few of these magnificent fish! Most of these fish exceeded 30 pounds with a few reaching the 50-pound mark. So you know what that means…? This weekend we will be offering local fresh White Sea Bass fillets for $9.95 a pound in the Fish Market. They will also be featured as “Fish of the Day,” in the restaurant for $10.95 including rice and veggies. Both are great values for this quality fish.

These fish are a little unusual as they were all taken just north of Morro Rock and with hook and line gear. Did you know that most White Sea Bass in California are taken with drift nets south of Point Conception? These fish do however range as far north as Monterey so it’s nice to have some show up in our local waters.

Starting Friday July 23rd, and continuing though Sunday July 25th you’ll be able to enjoy these local White Sea Bass here at Dockside. (While supplies last as always.)

Our sincere thanks go out to Capt. Schuyler of the “Flyer,” Capt. Nailen of the “Seeker,” and Capt. Conners of the “Silver Bullet,” for making this local bounty available to you.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 15 July 2010

Ahoy,

The forecast this weekend is calling for HOT temperatures inland with pleasantly mild conditions here on the coast. Capt. Mark and I had business in Davis yesterday, and forged through the heat for most of the trip. As we returned home, it was wonderful to watch the thermometer drop from over 100 to a comfortable 68 degrees. I guess we have been spoiled with too many years of living on the coast! That hot weather just about melts the Capt. and me.

The first part of the week continued with mostly good ocean conditions, but the small craft advisory flag was hoisted yesterday, and the days of a windless ocean came to halt. However, before being pushed off the ocean, many local fishermen made the most of the good fishing. Halibut fishing slowed a bit but the lingcod production easily replaced it. So you know what that means…? Local hook and line Lingcod will be featured at $7.95 per pound for fillets in the market, and as "Fish of the Day" in the restaurant at $10.95 including rice and veggies. Much thanks to Capt. Tobin of the "Pleasure," Capt. Dyck of the "No Name II," Capt. D. Terra of the "Gusto," Capt. B. Terra of the "El Zappo," Capt. Eaton of the "Curly," and Capt. Patchen of the "Kaps," for providing us with this tasty local delight.

So remember starting Friday morning July 16th, and continuing through Sunday July 18th, you’ll find local Lingcod fillets for $7.95 in the market and as fish of the day in the main restaurant.

Other fish at Dockside for the week include Alaskan King Salmon, Canadian Pacific Halibut Cheeks, Pacific Northwest Petrale Sole, and Southern California White Sea bass, and Yellowtail. We are also proud to have local Blackgill Rockfish caught by Capt. Cunningham as well as local Halibut caught by Capt. Nailen and Capt. Schuyler topping off the fish case at the market.

There have been a few scattered reports of Albacore but too soon to get excited.

Always pleasant to visit with you, thanks for taking the time to read our posting.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 8 July 2010

Ahoy Mates!

July started off with a bang and the fireworks display Sunday night were simply outstanding! It was so nice to have "traditional" fireworks back here in Morro Bay ... woo-hoo!

Local Halibut catching has also been red-hot thanks to the Morro Bay captains who have been targeting these beautiful flat fish. Here at Dockside we love to reward the fishermen for their dedication and hard work by making sure they receive a fair price; therefore many of them sell their fish to us, and right now we have an abundance of Halibut making it a great weekend for those of you that enjoy local Halibut. Thank you to Capt. Schuyler, Capt. Nailen, Capt. Camp, Capt. Bigham, Capt. Mowry, Capt. Van Wagner, Capt. Loiseau, and Capt. Dunn! At Dockside Fish Market you will be able to purchase local California, hook and line caught Halibut fillets for only $11.95 a pound. That is a reduction of $5.00 a pound from our usual $16.95 a pound! This SPECTACULAR SPECIAL will start Friday, July 9th, and continue though Monday, July 12th while supplies last. We will also be featuring these Halibut in the Restaurant as lunch specials for under $14.00, and dinner specials for under $20.00. Once again: Friday, July 9th though Monday July 12th, $11.95 a pound for local, fresh, hook and line Halibut.

The good ocean conditions also allowed other fishermen to land some nice catches. Our thanks go out to many other Morro Bay Captains including Capt. Tobin, Capt. Appel, Capt. Johnson, Capt. B. Terra, Capt. D. Terra, Capt. Eaton, Capt. Dyck, Capt. Patchen, and Capt. Campoplano for their hook and line Lingcod and other assorted Rockfish, all of which continue to be a mainstay for us here at Dockside.

We are truly blessed to receive such quality fish from fishermen who really do take extra special care of their fish. They enjoy providing you with the ocean’s bounties.

Our Thursday shipment today included another allotment of fresh Northern Halibut Cheeks, troll caught King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Petrale Sole, and Yellowtail. So you will find a solid selection available for you to select from this week.

Finally Capt. Mark and the "Bonnie Marietta" ventured out and about again for the final 4-day portion of this years 8-day commercial Salmon season. Yes, he found a couple more King Salmon. Catching Morro Bay Salmon in July even in traditional years is difficult at best. Even as little as he has caught we are still proud, as they have been the only commercial Salmon landed here in Morro Bay!

Oh before I forget, we have another California Sheephead, compliments of Capt. Tobin! This one is a male and is about 19 lbs. Our son Marc has been spending some time with him and thinks we just might have another Simon in our tank??? Here is a video clip of Simon who was one of other Sheephead's we had at the Fish Market a couple of years ago and released on the 4th of July YouTube - Capt. Mark Tognazzini and his CA Sheephead fish

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 1 July 2010

Ahoy Mates!

Much to talk about this week when it comes to great fish selections here at Dockside ... so lets get right to it.

Our weekly delivery included many selections of premium fish from Alaska, Canada, and Southern California. After several weeks without Halibut Cheeks we finally were pleasantly surprised to receive 40 pounds of these delicacies today, thanks to from Harbor Trading who is our main supplier of our fresh fish from areas other than here at home. Along with this delivery we also received troll caught King Salmon, White Sea Bass, and Snow Pass Silver Salmon. Last summer we had some of these this Silver Salmon from Snow Pass Alaska. These salmon are a hatchery fish that is released into the wild where both commercial and recreational fishers harvest them and then the excess that returns to their release site are harvested. Here is a website you may find interesting about them. Snow Pass Coho (http://www.ssraa.org/snow_pass_coho.htm)

Of course our local fishermen accounted for some nice landings this week also. Capt. Evans is back in action and along Capt. Schuyler, and Capt. Nailen, their Halibut catching gives us a good supply of local Halibut. Capt. Tobin continues to provide daily landings of Lingcod, and with help from Capt. Appel, Capt. Darrell Terra, Capt. Ben Terra, and Capt. Morris our Lingcod supply is strong.

If you're looking for some help celebrating a glorious Fourth of July you can have your choice of Snow Pass Silvers (Coho's) or the Southern California White Sea bass fillets for $9.95 a pound starting on Friday July 2nd, and continuing though Sunday, July 4th while supplies last.

Finally, yes Capt. Mark and the "Bonnie Marietta" ventured out looking for a Salmon today and guess what? He found one. After two closed seasons, and the much abbreviated season so far this year, Capt. Mark delivered the first local commercial King Salmon into Morro Bay in nearly three years! We know that things will get better but don't count on it this year, at least for California King Salmon.

Happy Fourth of July, have an exciting wonderful and safe weekend!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 24 June 2010

Ahoy Mates!

I swear June just got here, so how come we are already approaching the last weekend of the month? Guess its true time flies when your having fun! Speaking of fun, the Fourth of July is just around the corner and we've been making plans to kick it up a notch or two here at Dockside with some fantastic music and food. There are ambitious plans here in Morro Bay to bring back a traditional Independence weekend full of fun things for the kids, and a real fireworks display. No "laser light show" this year! Hooray! We are sure looking forward to that!

The ocean conditions improved and a short window of opportunity developed for those fishers that were ready. Most all landings were Blackcod, of which we have a good supply. We did receive a limited amount of Blackgill Red Rockfish from the brother's team of Capt.'s John and Jeff French on the "Nadine." Capt's Tobin, Appel, and Patchen enjoyed some success with their Lingcod catches, and they also brought us some different rockfish with their landings. Of course Thursdays are always a busy day here at the Fish Market as we take delivery of fresh fish that may not be available locally this time of the year. Capt. Mark and our son Marc, made sure our supply of King Salmon was replenished, and they were both impressed with the troll King's we received from Alaska. In addition they located more Pacific Halibut from Canada, White Sea Bass from Southern California, and Yellowtail from Mexico. These along with several others make for an outstanding display case at the Fish Market and of course you will see both the Yellowtail, and White Sea Bass as daily specials in the Restaurant.

Did you know... Capt. Mark is getting the "Bonnie Marietta" ready for the very short Salmon season our fleet will be allowed this year? In a previous e-mail update we commented that they will only have two, four day openings. The first being July 1st to the 4th and the second July 8th to the 11th. A lot of effort for so very little time, but he is going just for principal. Even though Capt. Mark is optimistic about his fishing, realistically finding enough Salmon to even make expenses he said will be like "Hitting a hole in one." Who knows... it could happen even though the conditions don't support it.

Well, now you know.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 17 June 2010

Ahoy Mates,

Ah...

Finally a reasonably calm ocean for a few days, and Capt. Rose of the "Nikki-J" took complete advantage of it bringing in a nice load of beautiful Black Gill Red Rockfish and Black Cod.

Our Thursday delivery today included both Alaskan Silver and King, troll caught (hook & line) Salmon. The Alaskan and Canadian seasons have finally started going so we should see some of the different species of Salmon available from week to week though September. Although the Kings continue to be a little on the expensive side we will be offering Silver Salmon fillets (Coho) starting tomorrow, Fri 6-18-10 for $14.50 a pound while supplies last. You'll fine both these Salmon outstanding quality because of Capt. Mark's attention to detail, and either he or our son Marc inspect every fish as it comes off the truck.

In addition White Sea Bass season opened on the fifteen and we were blessed with a limited amount of these first of the season White Sea Bass.

Since today is Morro Bay High School Graduation Ceremony we'd like to take the time to congratulate all the graduates out there and wish you the best of luck in your futures.

Last but not least we'd like to wish all you Dad's out there a fabulous Father's Day. Hope your weekend is filled with family fun and fish!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 10 June 2010

Ahoy,

A handful of local fishermen have fought the wind and have landed fish here and there. Their fishing however, has been limited to a few hours in the morning due to escalating afternoon winds. Although the fishing has not been great, we have had a fairly steady supply of some nice hook and line Halibut as well as an occasional assortment of local Rockfish and Lingcod.

This week we are also pleased to have more Canadian, hook and line, troll caught King Salmon. This fish is of the highest quality and with the “limited” local season, is the best bet for those of you who need your Salmon fix. As we have said in the past, if you're looking for local Salmon, you will most likely be disappointed this year, as the local commercial Salmon season has been set for two, four-day periods. Commercial Salmon fisherman may find it difficult to catch enough fish during this season to outweigh the cost of fuel, ice, licensing, etc.

Last weekends "Pinot & Paella" festival was a huge success! Our staff here at Dockside rose to the occasion and served our version of paella to over 400 people. The event raised money for the local youth arts charities as well as gave us an opportunity to perfect a tasty dish that will soon become an occasional weekend addition to our specials board in the Restaurant.

Catch you next week,

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Friday 04 June 2010

Ahoy Mates!

Oops, somehow we got so distracted this week that we let our normal Thursday e-mail night swim right by us without catching it!

To recap the week: the ocean was windy and rough, which handicapped much of the fleet. Only those that hit it early and beat the wind back to the dock were successful. As nice as it was on the beach, one would never guess just how windy it was on the ocean! Pretty typical of what a difference a few miles offshore can make.

Getting down to brass tacks, here is the catching news....

Capt. Schuyler of the "Flyer" continues to bring in some very nice Halibut. This week he was joined by two newcomers to Dockside's long list of local fishers. They included Capt. Baker of the "Thunder Chicken," and Capt. Chapman of the "Hold on-Fish on." They too delivered Halibut, keeping all you Halibut lovers satisfied.

Of course with the reopening of Lingcod season Capt.Tobin of the "Pleasure" helps us with a steady supply of Lingcod and he has been joined regularly by Capt. Ben Terra, Capt Darrell Terra, Capt. Appel, and Capt. Eaton. Another newcomer to our docks with some Lingcod production included Capt. Dittrich of the "Alicia II".

Capt. Patchen almost daily delivers Vermillion, Black, and Brown Rockfish, as do the Capt.'s Terra who often deliver a mixed bag of Rockfish with their Lingcod.

Here at Dockside we specialize in Pacific Oysters. During the rainy season we have to bring them in from Willapa Bay, but as soon as the rainy season is over Neil Maloney of "Morro Bay Oyster Company" oyster beds go into full production, and we showcase his product every chance we get!

If you happen to be in Templeton this Sunday looking for something to do, Dockside will be participating in the "Pinot & Paella" fundraiser. This is a benefit for children's programs within San Luis Obispo County. Our one and only Chef Joel has created an amazing "Paella" recipe. Dockside's 2nd's in command Abraham, Mauro, Sal and Sara, will be serving up our version of "Paella" which will include Vermillion Rockfish and Lingcod from Morro Bay, Canadian Mussels, Mexican Scallops, Washington Clams, and Lobster from the Bahamas.

Capt. Mark, myself and some of our crew here at Dockside have been testing out our version of the "Paella". I must say that it exceeds our expectations, so we're pretty sure you will find it as one of our specials here in the Restaurant in the near future. Just food for thought!

Pinot-Sea-Ya and Paella-Later!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 27 May 2010

Ahoy Mates!

How about a flat ocean, very little wind, and good catching? This pretty much describes what the past several days have been like here in Morro Bay. Capt. Mark and I are very thankful that the fishermen have been blessed, it gives us the chance to share and let you enjoy their hard work.

In a nut shell here is what our weekly tally board looks like for locally caught fish... Capt Schuyler had a few good days catching Halibut while Capt. Smith weighed in with some beautiful Vermillion Rockfish. Both Capt.s Terra (father and son) as well as Capt.'s Tobin, Eaton and Diller all delivered their share of Lingcod. Capt. Griffin and Capt. Terra (Sr.) brought in some more Rock Crab. And then last but not least Capt. Patchen (along with some previously mentioned Capt.'s) provided us with an assortment of different Rockfish, of which include Gopher, Brown, Blue, etc.

So if you happen to hear someone say there aren't any local fishermen catching local fish anymore, just tell them they haven't been looking in the right places. Yes, the fleet and the fishermen have changed somewhat, but when given access there is still an abundance local ocean resources for all of us to share.

Other fish we've brought in to Dockside this week (from fishers in other areas) include northern Halibut fillets, northern Halibut cheeks from Canada, and Yellowtail from Mexico. We opted to not bring in any fresh wild Salmon from either Canada or Alaska this week, because the price of the best Salmon is so artificially high due to the holiday weekend. Capt. Mark simply refuses to play that game.

Weather forecast for Morro Bay this weekend is sunny with clear sky's ... what a grand way to celebrate Memorial Day.

Capt. Mark, myself and the Dockside crew pay tribute to those that have fought and died in defense of our country so that we can have all our rights & freedoms!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Friday 21 May 2010

Ahoy,

Local captains and their crews have been busy recently, and have been blessed with good results. Here at Dockside we are honored that these captains choose us to bring their catches to you, both in our selections in the fish market, and as specials in the restaurant.

Capt. Rose of the "Nikki J" continues to bring in a steady supply of both Blackgill Rockfish, and Blackcod. Blackgills are one of approximately 60 different rockfish species, and have a delightful white, firm, mild fillet. Blackcod are also marketed as Sablefish, or as Butterfish, and have a creamy, buttery like fillet that is also mild in flavor but requires special cooking techniques. Recreational fishermen rarely catch both of these fish as they roam the Pacific in depths of over 100 fathoms. (600 feet)

Both Capt. Terra of the "Gusto," and Capt. Tobin of the "Pleasure" have made good landings of lingcod since the commercial season reopened May 1st. Lingcod fillets are also white, firm and mild. An interesting thing about lingcod fillets is that their flesh can range from white to different shades of green, sometimes even almost turquoise. When cooked however it turns white. In the past many used to say that the greener the fillet the better the flavor, but Capt. Mark believes all the different shades are equal in taste. You can be the judge!

Halibut landings from our beloved Capt. Evans in Port San Luis have been limited recently, but Capt. Schyuler of the "Flyer” had a couple of good days, and it pleases us to once again have some spectacular local halibut available. Did you know that when halibut fist hatch they have their eyes on both sides of their heads? As they mature, their eyes migrate to one side or the other, and they soon start to resemble the right or left eyed adult halibut we all recognize. Most all soles and turbots do this too, but in some species they only become all right eyed or left eyed.

We thank you for taking time to read this week posting and look forward to writing to you next week. As always, please feel free to call or write if we can help you with any of your "fish" questions. Capt. Mark, as well as the "Dockside" crew are always happy to help you know more about our local fish and fishermen.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Thursday 13 May 2010

Ahoy Mates!

Hope you all have been enjoying a beautiful spring.

Not much to report on the local scene. Blackcod seems to be the fish of choice for most local fishers. So it's availably usually remains strong, as long as the seas stay pleasant.

Capt. Mark once again located troll caught Canadian King Salmon for Dockside this week. A properly handled large troll caught King sits at the top when it comes to the quality we look for in a great salmon fillet. Of course the other Salmon if also handled properly can be quite nice, but a Humpy or Dog compared to a King, Coho, or Sockeye would be like comparing hamburger to fillet mignon.

Quick refresher on the 5 different wild caught Pacific salmon. Chinook also known as King, Coho also known as Silver. Sockeye also known as Red, Pink also known as Humpy, and finally Chum also known as Dog. Any other names you hear are used for marketing purposes. So when you see salmon only being promoted as "wild" not by one of the 5 different species then they either don't know, don't care, or just don't think it matters, but it does.

Did you know there actually is a 6th Pacific Salmon. However the likelihood you would ever have a chance to try some is remote, as this Salmon known as a Cherry Salmon is found only in the Western Pacific Oceans of Japan, Korea, and Russia.

In addition to the King Salmon, remember it is the time of year that we try to have fresh Northern Halibut Cheeks available weekly. Not every week we are successful but today we did get 40 pounds of these delightful nuggets. All fish have a piece of flesh that can be considered cheeks on either side of "face." However for a cost effective commercial effort at harvesting these pieces of flesh it takes a fairly large fish, caught in numbers. That is why you usually only see halibut cheeks marketed.

Until next week!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Friday 7 May 2010

Ahoy Mates!

Welcome to the 2010 Bonnie Marietta / Dockside Restaurant & Fish Market weekly postings. For many of you long time "Fish-List" members and those of you who have recently joined us, we will remind you that since 1996 from May 1st through Sept 30th we offer a weekly posting sent to you usually on Thursday evenings. Our weekly postings originally were based around Capt. Mark fishing activities and our direct sale of Salmon and Albacore from the decks of the Bonnie Marietta.

However because of the lack of Salmon seasons and Albacore production the last several years we have incorporated our restaurant & fish market into our weekly postings.

So now for 2010 Salmon season update....

Many of you have heard that there will be a Salmon season this year, so we would like to take the time to clarify myth verses reality. Recreational fishermen south of Pt. Arena will get to fish 5 days a week from early April until September, however commercial fishermen will only be allowed two 4 day periods for a total of 8 days. These periods will be from July 1st to July 4th, and July 8th to July 11th. Capt Mark as well as the majority of the fleet find this opportunity no better than 0 days the last two years.

Disappointing as it may seem Capt Mark may attempt to locate and land some fish during this small window of opportunity, but as optimistic as he is, he will not count the fish before they are caught. With this in mind as with the last couple of years we will continue to secure the very best wild Salmon from other fisheries for both the fish market and restaurant.

For example, this week in time for Mother's Day weekend you will find fresh, troll caught (hook & line) King Salmon fillets from Canada in the fish market for $18.95 per pound.

Later in the summer it may be realistic to think about fresh Albacore production. The slight El Nino conditions may bring us a stronger possibility of local Albacore production than we've experienced the past few years. Mid July is traditional for these long fin tuna and we will talk more about them in subsequent postings.

Along with the fresh Salmon available at the fish market this weekend you will find supplies of locally caught Rock Fish, Black Cod and Lingcod. Capt. Rose of the "Niki-J" has been responsible the past several weeks for our steady supply of Blackgill Rockfish and Blackcod, as well as Capt Tobin of the Pleasure with a scattering of local Lingcod.

Want to wish you the happiest of Mother's Day and thank you for choosing to be part of our "Fish-List" . Your patronage and support have enabled us to bring you quality seafood at a reasonable price.

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Sunday 28 March 2010

Ahoy Mates,

It’s time for an Easter celebration and Crab Fest here at Dockside! Capt. Ricketts of the "Sea Hawk" (along with a little help from the "Easter Bunny") will be delivering fresh Dungeness Crabs from Monterey Bay to us here at Dockside just in time for Easter Weekend!

Our Easter Crab Fest will begin Friday, April 2nd and run through Saturday, April 3rd and Sunday April 4th. Crabs will be available for Lunch or Dinner and will be priced at $21.95. The crabs range in size from 1 ½ to 1 ¾ pounds, and will be served cracked and chilled along with your choice of sides. We anticipate a strong demand, so please call and reserve your crabs early to ensure availability.

For those of you who would rather enjoy your crabs at home, they are also available in our Fish Market for $6.99 per pound live, or $7.99 per pound cooked, cleaned and cracked.

Other Dockside News: Capt Rose of the "Niki J" has provided us with a nice supply of fresh, local Blackgill Rockfish. This moist and mild fish will be served as our "Fish of the Day" in the Restaurant or available in our Fish Market for $8.50 per pound.

Wishing the hoppiest of the Easter Season to all of you!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew

Saturday 16 January 2010

A long overdue Dockside Crabfest is on the horizon, and we would like you all to be the first to know. The California Dungeness crab season has been underway since mid-November but as much as we wanted to do a Crabfest last month, steady supplies were not available. However, as we all know, good things come to those who wait, so get ready to tie on a crab bib and enjoy freshly cooked, chilled, and cracked Dungeness crab here at Dockside.

Our Crabfest will begin Friday, January 22, continue Saturday, January 23, and conclude on Sunday, January 24. The crabs will range from 1 ½ to 1 ¾ pounds, and will be served cracked and chilled along with your choice of the usual dinner sides for $19.95. Of course sitting down to a crab dinner is fun as well as tasty and we anticipate a strong demand, so please call make your reservations early to ensure availability.

Once again: Dungeness Crabfest at Dockside. Lunch or Dinner. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 22, 23, and 24. $19.95. Reservations 772-8100.

Other Dockside News: The holiday season was followed by some big swells and has kept some of our local fish unavailable. However, Capt. Evans of the Lucy L, and Capt. Ward of the Dancing Bear, both based out of Avila have kept our local halibut and sole supply strong. Capt. Bumponserio of the Commander also delivered a nice load of White Seabass this week. His catch of Seabass is unusual for this time of year, so it has been a special treat both in the Fish Market for you to take home, or as a featured fish in the Restaurant. The supply of this wonderful fish should last into the first part of this next week, but you can always call ahead to make sure.

The Happiest of New Years to all of you!

Capt. Mark & Miss Bonnie Tognazzini, Family & Crew