Ernie Koepf was born (1951) and raised in Moss Beach, and raised his own family in El Granada. He now resides in the hills of Oakland with his wife of 16 years, Jan Moestue.

Early in his life he was initiated into the fishing community and was known as Little Ernie to his father’s Big Ernie, a prominent commercial fisherman in the community.

Coming of age, Ernie Koepf (the junior) began his own fishing career. He retired in 2016 after fishing his two boats for 30 years for salmon and crab and 45 years for herring in SF Bay. To his fishing credits he also adds two years in Bristol Bay and two years in Southeast Alaska. He also served as a harbor patrolman at Pillar Point Harbor and ran a haul out facility for SMCHD, in addition to Search and Rescue. Among his appointments, he is a past president of the Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association, port representative to the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Executive Director to the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries and board member of several fishing co-operatives.

In his retirement, he has written and self-published three works of fiction and one work of non-fiction; Opening Day, Common Criminals, Wrecking Crew and Shipwreck. This last book being the true unsung tale of survival by a real old-timer of Half Moon Bay, Hjalmar Johnson.

Much change has come about to Princeton and the fisheries of the West Coast. The history of the Coastside is also rich with change. Ernie Koepf is here to speak on both.

$10 admission supports our Youth Services Programs.