Within the first 20 minutes of the start of the tour, Kirk already had a greedy dungeness crab hanging onto his fishing pole. We tossed it back, of course, but not before he showed us how to tell males from females.

In between useful information on coastal foraging and fishing, he showered us with anecdotes and fun facts about the bay. You can just tell he loves doing this, and is damn good at it.

The tour ended with Kirk showing us how to poke pole for monkeyface eel (which isn't actually an eel, I learned). Imagine a spear crossed with a fishing pole that you stick into holes in the rocks, and pulling out an eel (but not!) with it. Also, the name "poke pole". Heh.

Before we left, Kirk even recommended an awesome place for lunch to us, since we were most definitely craving seafood after a cold morning of learning. A great way to spend 2.5 hours, for sure.

I'm not going to say much about Kirk's fantastic, #1 best of the best amaze-balls coastal foraging tour. I'm just going to tell you that if you haven't yet partaken you're really missing out on something great: Fascinating. Informative. Funny. Interactive. Useful. Funny. Fun. Practical. Entertaining. Kirk loves what he does and loves to teach you how to do it too. In 2.5 hours with Kirk I learned more useful information about sustainable fishing, ecology, marine biology, and getting food from our oceans and bays than I did in my entire high school and college curriculum combined. And I had more fun learning it. Much more fun.

If you have even half an ounce of interest, pick up a ticket (often on Goldstar) and get yourself down to Kirk's Coastal Foraging Tour. Dress really warmly or you'll be sorry. I was comfortable in a North Face Snowboarding parka, a beanie, and gloves in August. This might sound like something for the kids, but Kirk's a salty fellow. If you don't want the kiddies hearing a few well-placed f-bombs best to leave them home.

Took an evening Coastal Fishing & Foraging tour with Kirk Lombard through Vayable - he said we were his first Vayable customers. We had a wonderful time learning about the different fish and shellfish found in the bay! He is a character, charming and very knowledgeable about the bay. Actually - I want to emphasize just how knowledgeable he is - he worked for the Department of Fish and Game, knew details about all of the species that anyone asked him about and even was able to identify some of the boats coming into the harbor.

On our tour, we learned about crab traps, how to throw a hawaiian fishing net, about the different kinds of limpets and bivalves found in the bay and watched him try to catch a "monkeyface eel" (which he holds (held? not sure if it's current) a record for the largest caught in the state).

It was chilly and I wish I had worn warmer clothes and shoes in particular. Overall, fun experience and would recommend it to friends.

We found Kirk Lombard's tour through an email from Goldstar. His tour sounded really interesting, so we bought the deal and signed up for his Wednesday San Francisco Coastal Fishing/Foraging Tour. We had a pretty small group, which was nice because everyone could get their questions answered and we all got to try our hand at things like throwing a net.

Kirk is super knowledgeable about all things fishing, probably because he used to work for the Dept of Fish and Game. He'll tell you what is legal/illegal to catch in the Bay and Pacific Ocean beaches, what is/isn't good eating, and will answer just about any question you ask him. He was friendly and funny, and even let the two kids on our tour poke-pole with him.

On our tour, we fished/foraged for Dungeness Crab, Monkeyface Eels, Mussels and Limpets. And did all of this with very inexpensive equipment, which made it seem easily accessible to anyone who wants to give it a go! We also learned how to throw a Hawaiian fishing net, and talked about the different types of seaweeds found around here that are edible.

It was a great day, although I'd recommend bringing your own water and an easy-to-eat snack as the tour goes from 11-1:30 and we were HUNGRY by the end of it!

Well, Kirk finally gave me a reason to sign up for Yelp and write my first review. I went on one of his tours with a couple of friends back in April and had a fantastic time. Not only is Kirk a funny, personable, and super sharp guy he takes his art very seriously. The learning doesn't stop at the end of your tour if you don't want it to - through his blog and monthly email I learn invaluable info and get a good laugh in the process. My friends and I have now gone out most weekend sleuthing and discovering the entire coast catching clams, crabs, and just having a great time in the process. Heck, we've even picked up our fishing licenses just so we have more to do. If you have any interest in how to get your feet wet, then Kirk is an excellent mentor!
James N.,
Burlingame, CA

Hi, well I actually thought we were gonna be caught in a deluge, but the sky held back its wrath, and we (me and the other 20 or so seafood tourists) were treated to a fun, super educational, passionate, fascinating and all around fantastic 3 hours of all things Nor-Cal seafood related. Kirk's passion obsessive seafood monomania and all around love of the oceanic environment make for the best class I have taken in years. If kids had teachers like this in school they would all be inspired to reach for the stars.. anyhow take and enjoy Kirk's class.. but watch out , he may have as many as 5 parallel thought processes going at once .. you better keep on your toes.. and ask questions. that makes him go off in all sorts of unexpected directions. Again the one of the best things I have done in a long time. I put good for kids.. but not if they are squeamish or afraid of a bit of "salty" language.
jason c.
Oakland, CA

Kirk Lombard is a fount of knowledge, and a character, to boot. The tour was excellent: informative, entertaining, and his enthusiasm and generosity shined through the whole time.
I highly recommend it and checking out his website for more great resources.
Thanks, Kirk!

So fun. We flung mesh boxes dangling from fishing poles into the waves to cratch crabs. All the crabs were described. We watched him catch a Monkey Faced eel. We learned about easily picked edibles like limpets, snails and mussles. And Kirk Lombard is very very entertaining.

What a character.5 of us where lucky to be the only people that day. we learned so much, even though i've been fishing the bay for 45 years. 4 of us went out and bought poke poles right after the tour. we loved this experience. Thanks kirk!

Kirk Lombard's Foraging Tour was awesome! He showed us many of his secrets, tips and tricks for catching differnet kinds of fish, eel and crab. He even caught a couple of carbs with a fishing pole and bait box!! That was quite exciting. It was windy and cloudy but still somehow managed to get a little sun/wind burned. But it was worth it. I just wished it was longer, even though we did go a lil over the 2.5hrs. I definately recommend booking this event!! I found Kirk's Foraging Tour very informative, i now have a desire to go and catch me some smelt :) I would definately go again, maybe Kirk will take us with him on one of his fishing trips... wishful thinking.

Ever heard of candlefish? Limpets? Monkeyface eels? These intriguing local marine species and more will seem familiar friends after two hours with fishing guru Kirk Lombard on ForageSF's wild seafood walk....

This was 2.5 hours of fun. I like fishing but feel even if you are not a fisherman you would like this. He goes into laws, sustainability how to live of the local food.

Kirk's is extremely generous with his knowledge and successfully taught all of us how to procure meals from the sea and much about the politics of fishing on the West Coast. And it was all FUN! His passion rubs off on you.