Yes, the fish is certainly fresh at this place; it's true, you can't find it any fresher anywhere - period, end of conversation. We know because the owners, Rob and Denise, probably just pulled it out of the Pacific Ocean on their boat, which is moored in nearby Charleston.
In fact, Rob formed West Coast Clams in 2011 "to bring to the market the only wild caught and locally harvested clam that the west coast has seen in over 20 years! One by one the clams are dive harvested and fully purged in approved water before going to the market! These clams can be sold as sashimi grade." Now, that's fresh!
With fresh catch in their seafood case, Denise and Rob can focus on delivering great seafood baskets and chowders to their customers. Opting to concentrate on the flavor of the seafood, all the entrees are lightly breaded, quick fried and served piping hot. There are no thick and heavy beer batters here, or anything else that detracts from the seafood. What you will find in your basket is moist and juicy fish along with a portion cup of excellent, crunchy coleslaw with cranberries, both of which are tucked among a generous handful of fries, and delivered with exceptional service that is genuinely friendly and appreciative. Here the word "customer" is synonymous with "friend," and everyone is treated with respect and affection.
We're fond of their fish & chips baskets and the recently improved clam chowder (which is noteworthy for its clam content), and often order one of each item and then share, for these servings are quite substantial and filling. But don't you be timid. Be sure to try their Coos Bay Butter Clams or Coos Bay Oysters, or perhaps their Wild Caught Prawns... temptations too yummy to be missed. Or, maybe a combination of fish and clams, oysters or prawns might be a good initiation to these exceptional crustaceans.
Be aware that indoor seating is limited. However, there is conversation about pulling another vessel alongside the floating market and renovating it in order to open up a more expansive area for seating. In nice weather (and, yes, the sun often does shine on the southern Oregon coast), many visitors and locals prefer to take their scrumptious orders up to the Boardwalk to enjoy expansive views of the bay and be charmed by those who frequent the walkway.
To be sure, there are other fish & chip joints in Coos and Curry Counties, but you'd be hard pressed to find one that could best the Fisherman's Seafood Market. Give these other places a try if you must, but keep in mind that you'll always be welcomed back to Fisherman's. We confess that anytime we're in the Coos Bay area, and indeed we do often concoct an excuse to drive the 1.25 hours up north from Port Orford just to visit Fisherman's Market, we place our orders at this friendly little spot. We think it has the best fish and chips we've found anywhere on the Oregon coast, and over the years, we believe we've tried them all.
Oh, one last thought. There have been times when our eyes were bigger than our appetite, and we found ourselves bringing home a couple of pieces of fish. We've successfully reheated them by placing them on a rack and setting them in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Not quite as perfect as when they arrive at our table at Fisherman's Market, but darned good nonetheless!
Fisherman's Seafood Market
Located Under the Boardwalk, at the Coos Bay Downtown City Docks
200 South Bayshore Drive, Coos Bay, OR 97420
541.267.2722