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The Sea Forager's Guide to the Northern California Coast
In The Sea Forager’s Guide to the Northern California Coast, Kirk Lombard combines a startling depth of knowledge with wry humor and colorful storytelling to guide readers’ quests to hook fish, dig clams, and pick seaweed for themselves. Leighton Kelly’s stunning, occasionally idiosyncratic illustrations complement practical instructions for gathering a variety of fish and seafood and delicious recipes for what to do with each catch. Lombard, a former staff member at the state Department of Fish and Game and founder of the foraging tour company/seafood delivery service Sea Forager Seafood, insists that his readers follow all regulations and encourages sustainable practices above and beyond what the State of California requires. This quirky and useful how-to is sure to inspire an empowering epicurean adventure.
272 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2014
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182 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 23, 2022
I've had the good fortune to meet Kirk Lombard in real life, and he's a true force of nature, bon vivant, and all-around nice person. His big personality and good humor shine through in this field guide to the edible sea life of the Northern California coast.
Interspersed between practical how-to guides for sustainably harvesting fish, mollusks, crustaceans and kelp (yes, kelp!), are wonderful, self-effacing stories of his foraging adventures, family heirloom recipes, haikus (yes, haikus!), and some of the most hilarious footnotes you'll ever read. Bonus points: stunning, hand-drawn illustrations by Leighton Kelly of assorted sea life and fisherman's gear.
Interspersed between practical how-to guides for sustainably harvesting fish, mollusks, crustaceans and kelp (yes, kelp!), are wonderful, self-effacing stories of his foraging adventures, family heirloom recipes, haikus (yes, haikus!), and some of the most hilarious footnotes you'll ever read. Bonus points: stunning, hand-drawn illustrations by Leighton Kelly of assorted sea life and fisherman's gear.
September 12, 2016
A unique source book that covers wild edible items, especially around the Monterey Bay and the SF Bay area. A comprehensive look at fish, shellfish, seaweeds and gear that the fisherman/forager will need, to get the freshest seafood available. Filled with a cornucopia of knowledge and know how, it also has anecdotal stories that make this newly published book a must for the do it yourself seafood foodie. An excellent read. Educational and entertaining.
September 23, 2016
For anybody even remotely interested in fishing, the sea, the Northern California coast, the outdoors and offbeat stories, this book is for you. Deftly and entertainingly written by local fisherman (and tuba player) Kirk Lombard, you really, honestly cannot go wrong with this book. I don't go fishing, and I found this book a joy to read. Coupled with numerous amusing stories, the book is packed with useful information and knowledge about our coastal waters and it's inhabitants (catching, cleaning and cooking), I felt like I was out there, in the middle of the night, trying to net some smelt, along with Kirk...the advantage being, I was just loafing on my sofa while doing it. Well suited illustrations by Leighton Kelly. a PERFECT gift for the NorCal fisherman in your world. From Heyday Books.
October 26, 2020
On the surface this looks like a serious book on fishing and other forms of seafood collecting. And yes, it's a comprehensive guide, but it's also heavily laced with 'fishing stories', a once common genre. Some like the story about shark ceviche is nightmarishly disgusting, I'm glad I wasn't eating when I read it. Another was a description of the Lizardfish, more bones than Colma(a city that's mostly a cemetery) and tastes like hair. The story's a bit longer...
It does tell you how and where to fish, make some gadgets and how to cook what you gather. Since I've fished, hiked and visited many of these sites since I was a kid, it was also a nostalgic read for me. While probably not useful for people living outside of California, most of the stories are universal and a hoot.
It does tell you how and where to fish, make some gadgets and how to cook what you gather. Since I've fished, hiked and visited many of these sites since I was a kid, it was also a nostalgic read for me. While probably not useful for people living outside of California, most of the stories are universal and a hoot.
May 16, 2019
I liked the Book a lot but I was not fond of the way the book is structured. I wish there was a chapter on how to get this started as a hobby, first steps, etc. the information is very useful but not a book to read to figure out how to get started immediately
August 29, 2022
Loved this book!
Full of fun humor and facts. reads quickly thanks to Lombard's style and humor interspersed. This type of book could easily be really dry read, but not this one!
Be a good read for anyone going near shore in northern California to know what is out there and what you are seeing, from crabs and fish to the different seaweed you will see (and now know you can eat!)
Definitely more of a guide to edibles of coastal areas rather than detailed technique, and so the drawings (the only pictures) leave a little to be wanted in detail, but they give you enough you can then go online to find out more, including all the youtube videos on techniques (he even a few times tells you which to ignore!)
Full of fun humor and facts. reads quickly thanks to Lombard's style and humor interspersed. This type of book could easily be really dry read, but not this one!
Be a good read for anyone going near shore in northern California to know what is out there and what you are seeing, from crabs and fish to the different seaweed you will see (and now know you can eat!)
Definitely more of a guide to edibles of coastal areas rather than detailed technique, and so the drawings (the only pictures) leave a little to be wanted in detail, but they give you enough you can then go online to find out more, including all the youtube videos on techniques (he even a few times tells you which to ignore!)
August 19, 2025
Kirk Lombard, an avid fisherman and all around awesome person, has masterfully crafted the greatest guidebook I’ve ever read! This comprehensive guide is jam packed with detailed insider info. Lombard provides readers with the how and when for catching each species, and even includes his favorite recipes. He also heavily focuses on sustainable foraging practices which is a highlight for me. Funny, practical, and straightforward, this book is great for both the novice and expert alike. Just grab a copy and go on some adventures!
December 22, 2025
This is a great and unique book, but I wish that it was written in less of an encyclopedic manner and more of a Field guide format. what I mean is that I want it to be organized by ecosystem rather than by animal because the novice forager is going to be going to a specific location to forage for as many things as possible. For example, I want it to be organized into Rocky inner tidal zone and then surf fishing and then skin diving.
August 8, 2019
Super cool book for foragers, hikers, anglers, or anyone interested in the rich diversity of flora & fauna on the Northern Cali coast.
November 14, 2016
The copy I read from the library had a beautifully illustrated blue cover, although this waterproof one would be super practical for people who are actually going to use it as a guide to forage. I was using it as a way to learn more about what is out there in the California coastal waters, and what people do with it. Sort of a combo of anthropology, cuisine, and a big beautiful dose of natural science. An excellent resource, fun to read, and did I mention the amazingly skillful and gorgeous illustrations?
May 2, 2017
Really loved the personal stories about each species. Very fun read if you enjoy fish and/or fishing!
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December 22, 2017641.39 L841 2016
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January 2, 2018This book was great at being what it was, it just wasn't exactly what I wanted it to be, if you know what I mean.
The section I was most excited about, seaweed, was the smallest in the book. I would say the majority of the book was dedicated to fish. The natural history bent was great, and I enjoyed learning about the various fish (especially the non "sport" fish species.)
I feel like a huge part of food is culture, especially when talking about foods that are unfamiliar and/or not as domesticated. Knowing that acorns (for example) are edible is not much help if you don't have the understanding of what gathering and preparing them looks like. I was most hoping that this book would bridge that gap for various forage'able edibles of the N. California coast, but it was light on that, and fish heavy (as opposed to seaweeds / other plants getting equal time.) This might partly be a consequence of the author living in the San Francisco bay area; urban development would naturally skew the focus to what was in the ocean itself.
The section I was most excited about, seaweed, was the smallest in the book. I would say the majority of the book was dedicated to fish. The natural history bent was great, and I enjoyed learning about the various fish (especially the non "sport" fish species.)
I feel like a huge part of food is culture, especially when talking about foods that are unfamiliar and/or not as domesticated. Knowing that acorns (for example) are edible is not much help if you don't have the understanding of what gathering and preparing them looks like. I was most hoping that this book would bridge that gap for various forage'able edibles of the N. California coast, but it was light on that, and fish heavy (as opposed to seaweeds / other plants getting equal time.) This might partly be a consequence of the author living in the San Francisco bay area; urban development would naturally skew the focus to what was in the ocean itself.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews