I bet you don't automatically think of West Sacramento as your source of freshly caught black cod, crab, ling cod, and salmon, but you should. Thanks to the long-standing, dedicated work of Ferrari Fisheries, you have a reliable source of the freshest fish sold in the region. And to make this a perfect catch, buying the fish is an experience that's hard to beat, reminiscent of old-fashioned times. Read on to learn about why Ferrari Fisheries is a true treasure.

Just Like the Old Days

Growing up in this area, many traditional practices from the old world were a part of my daily life. Believe it or not, milk was still delivered to the front door in glass jars. Most people relied on a network of gardeners and farmers for their fruit and vegetables, and fish was part of a telephone tree. Yes, that's a correct statement. There was a well-known fishing family that lived in the Bay Area. The family would catch, or gather the catch of others, and bring it up as far as mid-Placer County in their refrigerated truck. They would call one person in the area, and that person would be the "host" for the truck's first stop. Upon receiving the call, the first “host" would call other "hosts" and ensure that word got out that the fish truck was going to be in the area. Throughout the day, the fish truck would stop at the homes of those who were known to host stops, and through a series of telephone calls, everyone came away with freshly caught fish. 

Ferrari Fisheries is a modern version of that system, in a sense. In addition to selling fish to many local restaurants, Ferrari Fisheries has a system in place to notify you when fresh fish are available for sale. Instead of receiving a telephone call, you sign up on the Ferrari Fisheries website for notifications on what’s selling for the day, almost like they used to do it in the old days. I love the Ferrari Fisheries story and have a feeling you will too. Read on to learn what makes this family business so special.

From Bodega Bay Water to a Stall in Sacramento

There’s so much good to say about Ferrari Fisheries. This multi-generational business is a perfect example of how to build a bridge between old-world integrity and a large market, keeping the business thriving. Let's begin with the Ferrari family's passion for fishing. Before I say dive into their history, I want to highlight that Ferrari Fisheries uses hook and line fishing which means the fish are caught without the use of nets. This is great for keeping the fish in optimum condition and also prevents the capture of other marine life that may be damaged when caught using nets. Okay, now for their history.

Lou Ferrari began fishing at a very young age and eventually bought a small boat while still in high school. Not long after that, Lou purchased a trolling boat and fished for salmon. He did this until, in his late 20s, he met an old Sicilian fisherman who became his mentor for long-line fishing. Lou successfully fished out of San Francisco Bay for over 40 years. He then moved to Fort Bragg, where he continues to fish at age 84. And he passed on what he knew to his son, Tony.

Tony, mostly known as Ferrari, grew up fishing with his father and by age 13, was fishing from his own boat. However, Ferrari was also a left-handed relief pitcher and worked in eight seasons of minor league baseball. In 2008, Ferrari came home to join Lou in running a successful team that makes up Ferrari Fisheries. Today, several local restaurants in the Sacramento area feature this fish, as well as Nugget Markets. And 4,000 people subscribe to their fish wish list. Okay, that was my catchy wording (get it?) and not theirs. Here's the story on how the fish stall comes into play.

Pandemic Creativity

As with many businesses during the 2020 pandemic, Ferrari Fisheries was significantly impacted due to restaurants closing their doors. Ferrari had to move fish to stay afloat (oh, this is too easy). He began selling fish from a cooler in the back of his pickup truck. Interested customers were alerted via text when the day's catch would arrive from Fort Bragg. 300 turned into 4,000, and the back of the pickup truck turned into the River Road Stall, where Ferrari sells whole fish to his customers. This is truly a step back in time. People buy their fish whole, and if they choose to have it done, Ferrari filets their fish, free of charge. He also smokes fish using wood from a nearby apple orchard.

So, get this: you drive up to this peaceful setting to buy fresh fish, talk to one of the fishery owners while he fillets fish, help yourself to a cold drink from a cooler there for valued customers, and go home with a fresh catch of the day for dinner. The worst day visiting Ferrari Fisheries is better than many of the best days buying fish anywhere else. But hey, don't just listen to me on this. Visit this wonderful place and catch the latest at Ferrari Fisheries.   

Places like Ferrari Fisheries are such a treasure because they provide the community with a wonderful source of fresh fish. If you enjoy fresh fish and prefer to catch them yourself, you may have a lot of fishing equipment to keep organized. One way that fishing enthusiasts make that happen is by using self-storage. At West Sacramento Self Storage, we have a state-of-the-art facility that provides our community with storage units for all size needs. Please visit us so we can show you how self-storage can help you keep your valuable fishing gear ready for your next fishing adventure. See you soon!

Ferrari Fisheries
4520 S River Road
West Sacramento, CA  95691
415-999-5783  
Please call for information about hours of operation, as they vary.
ferrarifisheries.com