Nestled within a restored mid-century warehouse in North Pacific Beach, The Fishery is exactly what it claims. As if you needed further proof, there’s even a premier seafood market housed at its center.
You would be hard-pressed to find fish fresher than the selection offered here and the open kitchen does wonders with this market-driven menu overseen by these talented chefs, who let the quality product shine bright. Think—ahi tuna poke prepped with just a hint of soy sauce, sesame seeds and chili. Stuffed with crisp-fried cod fillets, rice, beans, guacamole and served with homemade chips, the cod burrito makes a hearty and hefty meal—just right for the many surfers who come here after tackling the waves at nearby Tourmaline Canyon Surfing Park.
Judd Brown grew up in the La Jolla Shores in the 60’s. He fished in the surf, rode bikes on trails in the hills where mansions now perch, and never found a desk job he couldn’t quit. The sea had a special pull, and when he found swordfishing, there was no turning back.
“There’s isn’t a rush in the world like coming on a pair of swords finning on the surface. The boat creeps toward them while you fine tune your grip on the harpoon.
It ain’t fishing – it’s hunting.”
After five salty years, Judd made a hard call. “I was a good fisherman, but I knew I wasn’t great. As a commercial fisherman your life is narrowly focused on catching fish and hoping the market is in your favor. Sometimes you get one price over the radio, and the next day at the dock they knock off 15% and blame the market.”
They returned to shore, married his high school crush, Maryanne, and they got to building a business and then a family.
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