Market Harbors Catch of the Day

As the sun peeks over the horizon on a chilly morning, some fishermen gather behind Andria’s Seafood Restaurant, peddling their recent catch to the early morning walkers and fish market regulars.

That’s because it’s Saturday, still a busy day at Ventura Harbor Village.

The tourist season at the village is on the wane, and things are pretty quiet now on weekdays.

On weekends, families and out-of-towners are still drawn by the fresh fish market and mini-festivals staged by the harbor’s operators. The weekend harbor is a family-friendly stop, with activities for adults and children including a petting zoo, the Kids Harborland, live entertainment in restaurants and a jolly jump. Recent events like the kinetic sculpture race have drawn locals and tourists to the harbor’s shops and stores.

But come here during the workweek and it’s a slower pace, with only a few locals walking the docks. The midweek harbor finds most of the people around on boats. At the Harbor Village Carousel, the painted horses wait silently for the occasional child.

“All the stores and restaurants are open during the week,” said Teona Brown, marketing director for the village. “But during the summertime, there are more events. During the winter, it’s just a nice quiet place to get away for the day.”

Things are expected to pick up during the Christmas season. There will be a round of holiday festivities, beginning with the annual Parade of Lights on Dec. 16. More than two dozen boaters are expected to participate in the parade, said Brown.

With ocean-themed T-shirts, shell shops and boat yards, shoppers see the harbor as a place to find unique holiday gifts, Brown said.

“I think that’s where we get a lot of people during the holidays, doing their holiday shopping,” Brown said.

The fisherman’s market, which is sponsored by the Ventura Port District, is a harbor village mainstay where people choose among lobsters, crabs, shrimp and a variety of fish, including halibut, shark and yellowtail.

“There is usually a line of people waiting for the market to open around 7 or 8 o’clock,” said Sandy Delano, property manager for the Ventura Port District. “Sometimes we even have somebody selling strawberries.”

Eric Hooper, who co-founded the market in 1998, showed off a swordfish he caught on a recent day, weighing in at just over 300 pounds. Hooper, who puts in 80 hours a week on a boat, said that when he opened the market with other fishermen, he sold 200 pounds of halibut on the first day.

“But I didn’t start this to be rich or anything,” Hooper said. “I started this because I love to fish and I love the ocean.”

Prices for the fish are generally lower than catch found in grocery stores, the locals say. Upon request, fishermen will clean and filet a buyer’s purchase.

“I don’t think I’ve bought fish from a regular grocery store since this market opened,” Delano said.