August 2024 Monterey, CA. Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf Association continues to team up with noted Monterey Bay Fisheries Historian and author, Tim Thomas, who is offering free monthly "Wharf Walks - Walking Tours at Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf" (www.montereywharf.com) on the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 AM - Noon.

In August, Tim Thomas will be conducting a free Wharf Walks.  Wharf Walks will be held on Saturday, September 7th: "Fish Tales of the Monterey Bay". Tours meet at the head of Old Fisherman's Wharf (near the pink "Harbor House" store, #1 Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey. Advance reservations are required by calling Tim Thomas at (831) 521-3304 or via email [email protected].

The tour is for ages 10-adult only.

After the Walk, participants may want to take a whale watching tour with one of the four whale watching companies on Monterey's Old Fisherman's Wharf (for a fee - details at montereywharf.com).  

History of fishing on the Monterey Bay

For thousands of years people have made their living fishing the Monterey Bay, beginning with the Rumsien Ohlone, the Native People of the Monterey area. From abalone to rockfish, everything was fished and utilized and the Monterey Bay was a multi-cultural stew, made up of whalers from the Azores, squid fishermen from China, salmon fishermen and abalone divers from Japan, and Sicilians fishing sardines in the "dark of the moon." This entertaining tour of Old Fisherman's Wharf and the waterfront will take us back in time to explore the history of the Monterey Wharf, early history of the Monterey waterfront, The Rumsien/Ohlone People--Monterey's first fishermen, the abalone industry, whaling the bay and of course, the legendary sardine industry. Discover some of the people and cultures of Monterey's colorful past and hear fascinating stories about Old Fisherman's Wharf and those who worked and walked there. Learn more about the sardine and squid industry, too.

About Tim Thomas 

Tim Thomas, fourth-generation native of the Monterey area, is a fisheries historian who has researched the fisheries of Monterey Bay for over twenty-five years.  He has researched, written and lectured extensively on Monterey’s fishing communities and for sixteen years was the Historian/Curator for the Monterey Maritime Museum. Tim is the co-author of Monterey’s Waterfront, published in 2006, author of the Japanese on the Monterey Peninsula, published in 2010 and author of The Abalone King of Monterey: “Pop” Ernest Doelter, Pioneering Japanese Fishermen & The Culinary Classic that Saved an Industry, published in 2014 and, Abalone Diving on the California Coast, published in 2023.

He is Project Director and Editor of the J.B. Phillips Historical Fisheries Report. A project that produces lectures, symposia’s and a publication that focus on the history, the science, the people and the status of the fisheries of the Monterey Bay.

Tim is also the historical consultant for the Monterey Bay Aquarium and has worked and developed programs for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and California State Parks. Tim has been featured on PBS, BBC and on C-span

He is also on the board of directors of the Monterey Japanese American Citizens League and curator of Japanese American Heritage Center. Tim sits as Chair on the City of Monterey’s Museums and Cultural Arts Commission and was a recipient in 2023, of the Ed Ricketts Memorial Lifetime Achievement award given by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.   He has traveled and lectured extensively on the Monterey Japanese community both here and in Japan. In 2008, Tim was the guest curator for the exhibit, Abalone as Food and Beauty at the Awa Museum in Tateyama Japan.

About Wharf Walks

For thousands of years people have made their living fishing the Monterey Bay, beginning with the Rumsien Ohlone, the Native People of the Monterey area. From abalone to rockfish, everything was fished and utilized and the Monterey Bay was a multi-cultural stew, made up of whalers from the Azores, squid fishermen from China, salmon fishermen and abalone divers from Japan, and Sicilians fishing sardines in the "dark of the moon." This entertaining tour of Old Fisherman's Wharf and the waterfront will take us back in time to explore the history of the Monterey Wharf, early history of the Monterey waterfront, The Rumsien/Ohlone People--Monterey's first fishermen, the abalone industry, whaling the bay and of course, the legendary sardine industry. Discover some of the people and cultures of Monterey's colorful past and hear fascinating stories about Old Fisherman's Wharf and those who worked and walked there. Learn more about the sardine and squid industry, too.