The West Coast pulls like a magnet. Here is where many people make their life, putting down roots along these western shores, sometimes driven by necessity, driven by an idea, others simply by birth. This West Coast provides people with the verve and the zest to pursue the things they value in life, often linked to the sea. Some of the stories in this collection are true or at least they are rooted in truth. Some are fantasy, but both types, I think, are typically Western. I hope they resonate and that you enjoy them. Ernie Koepf is retired and living in Oakland. He was a commercial fisherman of 30 years on the open ocean and spent 45 years in the San Francisco Bay as a herring fisherman. During his time on the water, he was a member of many Fisherman's Associations and co-ops. He was also the class representative for the herring fisherman in the class action lawsuit against Cosco Busan Shipping, in which the fishermen prevailed. For a brief period, he was a Deputy Harbormaster at Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay. He lives with his wife, Jan Moestue, and his pug, Elsie. He can be contacted at nearshoreguy@hotmail.com