The Scalawags of Fisherman's Wharf

Dishonest and unsavory fishermen have found a home at the docks, where rent is cheap.

A A A Comments By Ashley Harrell Wednesday, Dec 17 2008

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Prince and the Port have a restraining order on Crazy Paul, but that doesn't make Prince feel much better.

No one interviewed could say where Crazy Paul might be now.

Nels Olvin

Anna Wong’s Best Times, docked at the Hyde Street Harbor.

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On that recent Friday afternoon, a couple of upstanding fishermen are hanging out aboard the Arctic, a double-ender fishing boat (one that is pointed at both ends, like a canoe) owned by Sara Bates. Bates is a short-haired, outspoken woman who left graduate school two years ago to try her hand at commercial fishing, only to have her boat idled at the wharf for the better part of two salmon seasons that were cancelled for lack of fish. She's part of what Prince considers a new class of fishermen — a young, conscientious bunch attracted to an outdoor lifestyle.

The other fisherman is Kemp, who is also sticking out the bad seasons, optimistic that the fish will return. Kemp and Bates are the kind who do everything by the letter of the law with conservation in mind. They say that for the most part, the other fishermen, while sometimes rough around the edges, operate in a similar capacity.

Then there are the Wongs, with their Best Times, still tied up at the Hyde Street Harbor.

Apparently, while Prince was out for Thanksgiving vacation, his supervisor, John Davey, overruled the Wongs' eviction. Anna Wong had all the required paperwork — a permit, a license, and ownership of Best Times — and Davey saw no particular reason to reject her, even after hearing about the Wongs' extensive criminal record from SF Weekly. The fact is, there's no rule banning poachers.

Atop the Wongs' berth agreement, the handwritten word "cancelled" has been crossed out. For now, according to the agreement, they will pay $329 a month, because the Hyde Street Harbor is newer and more expensive. There's a handwritten note, though, that says the Wongs' rent will dip to $207.20 when the boat resumes fishing.

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