Went to the wharf many times in the 50s, 60s and 70s. My main remembrance is of JoJo who seemed to always be on the wharf. Looking forward to the rebuilding and strengthening of the wharf.
I had the pleasure of working for a short lived para-sailing outfit during the summer of '79. We built a floating platform on the short beach and towed and anchored it a little way from the end of the wharf, where tickets to ride were sold. A skiff brought customers from the wharf to the platform. We pulled parachutes from the platform and occasionally landed them safely back on deck, but often dropped the riders in the ocean. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I always volunteered for trolling duty, flying around in a figure eight pattern to attract customers. At the end of each day I got to fly back from Capitola to Santa Cruz. I could see the roof line of the Capitola Mall and more. The ride was about 45 minutes. That was high adventure for a 16 year old. I wouldn't trade the memories for the world.
I’m interested in the story behind the Dragons that feature on the pillars at the opening to the wharf and on the Venetian buildings. Anyone know who made them? Or why?
If one remembers back in the I believe early sixties right up until 1978 there was a guy that once owned the bait shop and he charge two bits for fishing on the wharf and that man was none other than Tom Shanahan .
I worked the gas dock at Tom's in the Santa Cruz Harbor during my '78-'79 Senior year at Soquel. He taught me the right way to use a broom....lol. That came in handy when scrubbing pelican puke off of the para-sailing platform. I believe we were classmates , Gary.
@JohnWOler might possibly be but other than that there was plenty of good times on that Wharf to catch fish and at the same time renting boats for as little as I believe $15 with oars or if one decides to get a motor it's usually I believe under $30 for the whole day and that's from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. that the boats must be turned in but if one remembers if you come back late let's say by 3:30 p.m. I believe there was an extra $10 charge but back in the day when Tom Shanahan had that fuel pump I believe he was a Chevron marine fuel dealer and also to one remembers back in the 60s I believe up until early 70s that Tom Shanahan charge two bits to fish on that Wharf and there was a very colorful character on that Wharf at that time by the name of JoJo Jojo If one remembers he had an old saying if you didn't catch any fish he would say this you didn't hold your mouth right .
Thanx y’all early 1900 capitola wharf rats 135 salmon a day they know about , thanx YALL now we ain’t allowed to catch one fish mataye mia 🇮🇹 🇮🇹 Italy 🇮🇹
Went to the wharf many times in the 50s, 60s and 70s. My main remembrance is of JoJo who seemed to always be on the wharf. Looking forward to the rebuilding and strengthening of the wharf.
Believe me this is one of my favorite places on the planet!
Awesome I grew up down there 1990s best time best fishing
Holy Capitola
I had the pleasure of working for a short lived para-sailing outfit during the summer of '79. We built a floating platform on the short beach and towed and anchored it a little way from the end of the wharf, where tickets to ride were sold. A skiff brought customers from the wharf to the platform. We pulled parachutes from the platform and occasionally landed them safely back on deck, but often dropped the riders in the ocean. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I always volunteered for trolling duty, flying around in a figure eight pattern to attract customers. At the end of each day I got to fly back from Capitola to Santa Cruz. I could see the roof line of the Capitola Mall and more. The ride was about 45 minutes. That was high adventure for a 16 year old. I wouldn't trade the memories for the world.
I’m interested in the story behind the Dragons that feature on the pillars at the opening to the wharf and on the Venetian buildings. Anyone know who made them? Or why?
If one remembers back in the I believe early sixties right up until 1978 there was a guy that once owned the bait shop and he charge two bits for fishing on the wharf and that man was none other than Tom Shanahan .
I worked the gas dock at Tom's in the Santa Cruz Harbor during my '78-'79 Senior year at Soquel. He taught me the right way to use a broom....lol. That came in handy when scrubbing pelican puke off of the para-sailing platform. I believe we were classmates , Gary.
The wharf used to be open to auto traffic. I remember Dad driving us to the end of the wharf and back in '67, give or take a year.
@JohnWOler might possibly be but other than that there was plenty of good times on that Wharf to catch fish and at the same time renting boats for as little as I believe $15 with oars or if one decides to get a motor it's usually I believe under $30 for the whole day and that's from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. that the boats must be turned in but if one remembers if you come back late let's say by 3:30 p.m. I believe there was an extra $10 charge but back in the day when Tom Shanahan had that fuel pump I believe he was a Chevron marine fuel dealer and also to one remembers back in the 60s I believe up until early 70s that Tom Shanahan charge two bits to fish on that Wharf and there was a very colorful character on that Wharf at that time by the name of JoJo Jojo If one remembers he had an old saying if you didn't catch any fish he would say this you didn't hold your mouth right .
Thanx y’all early 1900 capitola wharf rats 135 salmon a day they know about , thanx YALL now we ain’t allowed to catch one fish mataye mia 🇮🇹 🇮🇹 Italy 🇮🇹
Got hit pretty hard in Jan.