When it comes to long standing fishing heritage in the Monterey Bay, you'd be hard pressed to find a family more deeply rooted than the Aliottis. Adam Aliotti is a fourth generation fisherman making the Monterey Bay his home and livelihood. Originally from Italy, Adam's great grandfather, Salvatore Mirabella, made a living fishing seiners part of the year and fishing salmon in Bristol Bay Alaska. Adam's grandfather, Giuseppe Aliotti, fished albacore, salmon and octopus, the way his family did back in the Mediterranean. It was with wicker woven octopus traps that Giuseppe stumbled upon and pioneered the spot prawn fishery in California in the '50s and worked with Governor Brown Sr. to establish the fishery back in the '70s. 

Adam started fishing with his grandfather at just 6 years old, chasing king salmon. At 17 he was fishing full-time and hasn't stopped. On his boat, the FV Ocean Warrior, Adam fishes primarily spot prawns and is one of only a handful of boats permitted to catch this highly prized and sought after species. During the off season, Adam fishes king salmon, black cod, and albacore.

When it comes to his favorite fish to catch, without question it is king salmon. Not because they are exciting to catch or delicious to eat, but because of the nostalgia. He loves trolling and working up and down the coast, remembering his childhood and fishing with his grandfather. Ironically, king salmon is his least favorite fish to eat.

Adam's favorite fish to eat is white seabass on the bar-b-que, Italian style, with chopped tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, olive oil, and a little red wine vinegar. 

Skylar is talented in two of the most difficult and intuitive disciplines: fishing and music. Born and raised in Pacific Grove, he remembers his childhood at Lover’s Point fishing, diving, and surfing. By the time he was 17 he got his first boat for $500, a little skiff that got him on the water sport fishing. His first experience on a commercial boat was on the iconic, FV San Giovanni out of Monterey, with Captain Jiri Nozicka. From there his list of boats and fishing experiences span from salmon in Bristol Bay to crabbing in Half-moon bay and longlining in the Monterey Bay. 

With the money he made fishing in Alaska he bought the FV Sable and fishes rock crab, rockfish, and salmon. Most recently he's been fishing the FV Ocean Warrior, an impressive boat built in Nova Scotia that is set up to fish spot prawns and king salmon. 

As Skylar so eloquently puts it “Fishing is my livelihood, sometimes feels like it’s just a job, but I quickly begin missing it if I haven't been doing it for a while. I love being on the ocean, for the people, and the stories. Once you’ve had a taste of the ocean air it its hard to walk away - It’s one of those places where life happens.”

When Skylar isn’t fishing he’s playing drums for a few local bands like the Gary Meek Quintet, in Monterey and LA, as well as club work with top 40 dance bands, like the Joint Chiefs, and The Minor Williams Band.

Skylar’s favorite fish to eat is calamari, breaded and baked, or prepared Sicilian style with olives, capers and tomatoes.