Berkeley Pier prior to closing. Credit: Evelin Wozniak
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Orlando Martinez
Orlando Martinez
Interviewed by Camille Antinori and Rob Bermudez, February 2, 2025
Starting out at the pier, fishing became a way of life for Orlando Martinez, both for leisure and meeting economic needs. As he explains, his family tended not to have a lot of food in the house when he was growing up, and the waterfront was one place the kids came to seek sources of subsistence. There, he met a group of Vietnamese brothers from the Vo family who became friends, leading them into adventures and clever strategies to acquire food. His fishing knowledge maps the waterfront: the water near the Hornblowers was deeper; you could catch monkeyface eels near Hs Lordships; you could find fish in the waters near the "dump roads"; and another kind of fish near the marina entrance. He eventually became crew on fishing boats and admits to levels of overfishing in Bay and ocean waters, expressing respect for the regulations we have today. Now living in San Pablo, he still prefers the Berkeley pier for fishing and is puzzled with its lengthy, enigmatic closure. For him and many others, it was always the spot to go. He currently works at the Tokyo Fish Market in Berkeley, California.
The Farallons. Credit: Oceanic Society
Tokyo Fish market, Berkeley, USA. Credit: . Yelp reviewer
Monkeyface prickleback eel. Credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Berkeley Pier. Credit: Evelin Wozniak
Full Interview
Full Interview
Topics (in order):
Topics (in order):
Visiting the pier every day
Berkeley Yacht Club a good place to fish
From 10 years old and up, coming the the waterfront, first to Aquatic Park
Lived near Strawberry Creek Park
Meeting Phat Vo and his brothers
Not a lot of food growing up in the house
Family from Oklahoma and Arizona; grandmother Comanche from Arizona and her house was place where all the family hung out until recent deaths in his family
Father was raised on the waterfront on 9th Street in Berkeley
Got into commercial fishing with Lee family of Tokyo Fish Market
At 14 years old, working 5 am to 11 pm to go out on Boston Whaler to Farallons to fish with long lines carrying about 2000 hooks.
Watching a 80 lb octopus coming up on the lines
Catching 1000 lbs of fish every day
Selling fish in Chinatown at 11 pm at night
Lee (Cubby) Nakamura and connection to jobs for himself and others at Berkeley Bowl and the fish market
Dad taught him to fish; all the family including his mom fished
Teaching his cousin Dre to fish
Thoughts on overfishing
Getting caught by Fish and Game
Living on Alcatraz
Pier fishing: halibut, bass
Fishing fun and kept you out of trouble
Most memorable catch: having 3 poles out and catching a 49 lb halibut on a 10 lb line, with Wendall helping
Comparison to fishing on Emeryville pier which is not really for fishing
Realizing he does not need a license to fish anywhere because of his Native American heritage
Vision for future of the area: open the pier
Preference for the pier: other places not the same feeling; whole atmosphere is nice; can't wait to get there kind of vibe
Stealing food off the Hornblower
We were going to eat!
Lord of the Flies moment getting pigeons from abandoned house
Pier was the place to be
Interaction with harbor master
Wouldn't change anything for the world
Work at Tokyo Fish Market
Full interview transcript
Full interview transcript
Interview transcript (PDF)
Citation (APA style):
Martinez, Orlando, Antinori, C., and Bermudez, R. Exploring Intergenerational and Community Connections to the Outdoors. (2024). Interview with Orlando Martinez, conducted by Camille Antinori and Rob Bermudez. February 2, 2025. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Berkeley Fishing Memories Oral History Project.
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