Bruce Adams was born in Connecticut, and his family moved to the California coast in the 1970s. Despite his New England roots, fishing was not part of his heritage.
In 1979, he went along as crewman for Captain Andy Stock (F/V Annabelle) fishing herring in San Francisco Bay. Captain Adams fell in love with the freedom the life afforded, and three decades later he’s still fishing.
Captain Adams has owned the 41-foot wooden F/V La’ola since 2002. Buit in Sausalito in 1912 by M. Pasquinucci, in its early years the boat served as a yacht and won a speed competition on San Francisco Bay. During the Great Depression, the La’ola was purchased by the Caito family and converted to a fishing boat.
An avid fisherman, Captain Adams first wet a hook as a young child, fishing for trout with his grandfather. In his spare time, he continues to fish for trout, referring to it as “therapy.” He regrets that commercial fishing isn’t as viable an industry as it was when he first started, but acknowledges this does give him more therapy time.
Captain Adams has a grown son. From the time he was twelve until he reached age 18, he fished summers with his father, earning better wages than other jobs offered. However, he never seriously considered commercial fishing as a career, due to declining opportunities.
On the La’ola, Captain Adams fishes for salmon, halibut, ling cod, vermillion rockfish, Dungeness crab and albacore. He often markets his catch directly to the public – look for Captain Adams and the La’ola berthed on “G” Dock at Pillar Point Harbor on Half Moon Bay.
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.
