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Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39 — The checkable facts
Quick answer
Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco began as a working harbor built in the late 1800s by Italian immigrants from Genoa and Sicily, whose fleet made it the largest deep-sea fishing port in the state. Dungeness crab is still boiled in sidewalk stalls. Sea lions took over K-Dock at Pier 39 after the earthquake of October 1989 and peaked above 2,100 animals in 2024.
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Sea lions first hauled out at Pier 39 in September 1989 | PIER 39 — California sea lions |
| The record count is about 1,700 animals, during Thanksgiving week 2009 | PIER 39 — California sea lions |
| Alcatraz operated as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963 | National Park Service — Alcatraz Island |
| Alcatraz ferries depart from Pier 33 | National Park Service — Alcatraz Island |
| Italian immigrants, largely from Genoa and Sicily, built the fishing fleet here in the late 1800s | Wikipedia — Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco |
Frequently asked
Why did sea lions move into Pier 39?
They hauled out on K-Dock shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake of October 1989 and stayed because the floating docks were sheltered, herring was plentiful and nothing chased them off. Marina staff asked the Marine Mammal Center what to do, and the advice was to leave them alone. The count hit a record above 2,100 in mid-2024.
How many sea lions are usually on the docks?
The number swings with food and season. Winter and spring bring the biggest crowds; in summer many adults head south toward the Channel Islands, where most pups are born in June. A few dozen animals in August can become several hundred by January. The all-time high, recorded in 2024, was above 2,100.
Is this still a real fishing port?
Yes, though far smaller than it was. Commercial boats land Dungeness crab, herring and salmon at Pier 45, and the stacked crab pots on the docks belong to working vessels rather than a display. Next door, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park keeps an older fleet afloat, including schooners and a steam ferry.
How do you reach Alcatraz from here?
Ferries leave from Pier 33, about a ten-minute walk east of the crab stands, and the crossing takes roughly fifteen minutes. Sailings are timed and booked ahead through the park's authorized operator; in summer they commonly sell out days in advance. The island itself is run by the National Park Service.
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