Where can I buy fish straight off the boat in San Diego?
At Tuna Harbor Dockside Market, on the downtown waterfront by Seaport Village, every Saturday from 8 a.m. Local fishermen sell their own catch, and a cutting booth will break down a whole fish. Go early: it closes when the fish sells out.
- When
- Saturdays, 8 a.m.
- Where
- 598 Harbor Lane
- Cutting booth
- On site
- Payment
- Card and cash
Until 1 p.m. or sold out
Downtown, by Seaport Village
Breaks down whole fish
A few vendors are cash-only
The short version
- Tuna Harbor Dockside Market runs Saturdays only, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. or sellout, rain or shine.
- The market's address is 598 Harbor Lane, on the Embarcadero by Seaport Village.
- Catch changes weekly; the Local Catch directory lists 27 species sold, from spiny lobster to sea urchin and yellowtail.
- Peter Halmay of the San Diego Fishermen's Working Group coordinates about 25 fishermen each week, per Axios.
- Seaport Village parking is $8 an hour, or $5 for 2 hours on weekends with a $10 validated purchase.
San Diego's commercial fishermen sell straight to the public once a week at Tuna Harbor Dockside Market, an open-air market on the Port of San Diego's waterfront downtown. It celebrated its 10th anniversary in August 2024, and Axios reported it drew about 1,500 shoppers on its first day. Peter Halmay, president of the San Diego Fishermen's Working Group, coordinates about 25 fishermen each Saturday.
What you'll find
There's no fixed menu. The market says species change with the season, the weather and fishing quotas, so nothing is guaranteed from week to week. The California Sea Grant-backed Local Catch directory lists 27 species sold here, and Visit San Diego's April 2026 guide mentions whole fish, crab, wahoo fillets, and live lobster and prawns.
| Type | Examples listed |
|---|---|
| Fish | Rockfish, sheepshead, yellowtail, white seabass, halibut, lingcod, black cod, swordfish, tuna, opah, wahoo |
| Shellfish | Spiny lobster, rock crab, spot prawns, shrimp, whelks |
| Other | Sea urchin, squid, octopus, sardines, mackerel |
Fish
Rockfish, sheepshead, yellowtail, white seabass, halibut, lingcod, black cod, swordfish, tuna, opah, wahoo
Shellfish
Spiny lobster, rock crab, spot prawns, shrimp, whelks
Other
Sea urchin, squid, octopus, sardines, mackerel
From the Local Catch directory listing. Availability varies week to week. Checked Oct 30, 2026.
How to shop it
- 01
Walk the stalls first
Each stall is a different boat. The market encourages you to ask what they caught, how they caught it and how they'd cook it.
- 02
Buy whole, then use the cutting booth
Staff at the cutting booth will break down a whole fish for you.
- 03
Bring cash as a backup
Some vendors take cards and cash; a few take cash only, per the market's FAQ.
- 04
Bring a cooler
You'll be carrying raw seafood around the waterfront. Ice in the car helps.
Hungry now? On Saturdays during market hours, Dockside Fish N Chips serves poke, fish and chips and ceviche at the market.
Parking
The nearest paid lot is Seaport Village (849 W Harbor Dr). It's $8 an hour with no daily max. Spend $10 at a Seaport Village business and get validated: $5 for the first 2 hours Friday to Sunday, then $3 every 30 minutes. Parking is cashless.
Market
Parking
Market pin placed at Tuna Harbor Park, beside the dock. Coordinates from OpenStreetMap.
See these on the full San Diego mapMaking a morning of it? The USS Midway Museum is a short walk north, and there are more weekend markets in our farmers market guide.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on October 30, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Bars, restaurants and hotels change owners, hours, menus and even team loyalties faster than anyone can keep up. Call ahead or check the place's own website or social accounts before you go.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
Tuna Harbor Dockside Market · checked 2026-10-30
Saturdays 8 a.m.–1 p.m. or sold out; 598 Harbor Lane; (619) 957-7121; cutting booth; Dockside Fish N Chips; species vary.
- PrimaryFAQs
Tuna Harbor Dockside Market · checked 2026-10-30
Rain or shine; card and cash, a few cash-only vendors; lists 2 p.m. close.
- PrimaryTuna Harbor Dockside Market
Seaport Village · checked 2026-10-30
Saturdays 8 a.m.–2 p.m. or until sold out; fishermen sell direct.
- PrimaryParking
Seaport Village · checked 2026-10-30
$8/hr no max; validated rates; cashless.
San Diego Tourism Authority · 2026-04-16
Saturdays 8 a.m.–1 p.m.; whole fish, crabs, wahoo fillets, live lobster and prawns.
Local Catch Network · checked 2026-10-30
Species list.
Axios San Diego · 2024-08-20
~1,500 shoppers day one; ~25 fishermen coordinated by Peter Halmay.
NBC 7 San Diego · 2024-08-24
Rain or shine; local species; Fishermen's Working Group.