Bill Barrow began fishing commercially out of Port San Luis with his father, Captain Dick “Red” Barrow, while he was still in junior high school, trolling for salmon and albacore, and trawling for halibut, sole and rockfish.
After he graduated high school, it was only natural for Bill to eventually get his own boat and begin fishing on his own. Aside from a short period working for the local harbor district, fishing is all he has ever done.
Today Captain Barrow owns the F/V Patience, a 31-foot fiberglass Monterey-style boat built by Puget Sound Boatworks, and also the F/V Z Frog, a 35-foot fiberglass Bruno Stillman. He uses the Patience to troll for salmon; the Z Frog he uses to fish for Dungeness crab, white sea bass and nearshore rockfish.
Captain Barrow is a Director of the Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association, and helps represent his port on the Central California Joint Cable/Fisheries Liaison Committee.
The next time you’re in Avila Beach, stop and take a walk on the historic Harford Pier. You’re sure to spot either the Patience or the Z Frog on one of the moorings in Port San Luis. If you’re lucky, you might also see Captain Barrow out at the end of the pier, unloading his fresh catch to one of the local wholesalers.
Many thanks to Lori French, the original founder of Faces, for her previous work and continued efforts.
Funds for The Faces of California Fishing were provided by a grant from
Central California Joint Cable/Fisheries Liaison Committee.
Content copyright 2012. Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries. All rights reserved.
