Congress honors maverick S.F. skipper
There’s nobody on the planet like San Francisco salmon skipper Jacqueline Douglas.
Last weekend, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, affirmed that with a Congressional Proclamation, shared by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena.
“I loved what she said last year (on the eve of the salmon season),” Huffman said. “She said, ‘I’m going to be 90 and I’m excited about going out there,’” Huffman said, quoting a Chronicle story. “‘I live for that, going out, taking people fishing for our amazing salmon. If I can’t run my boat, you might as well hang me out to dry.’”
Douglas said it was difficult in the 1970s to gain entry into a male-dominated profession.
“Back then, it was rough for me a lot of days,” Douglas said. “Not everybody liked the idea of me running a salmon boat out of Fisherman’s Wharf. It took a lot of years. Then one day at sea, this old-timer from the wharf, Taylor McGee of the Carrie, called me on the radio, and said, “Hey partner, the fish are down here,’ and I knew I had finally broken through.”
Huffman presented the award at an event at the Marin Art & Garden Center in Ross. He told the crowd that Douglas had drawn national attention after her peers elected her to the California Outdoors Hall of Fame with a record 40 of 41 votes.
Douglas is best known as the skipper of the salmon boat Wacky Jacky. But she is renowned as a fighter for conservation and water issues, as well as advocate for salmon, wildlife and the the Bay Area coast, as well as youth outdoor education.
Douglas is the third Bay Area outdoors legend to receive a Congressional Proclamation. Ken Hofmann, the Bay Area homebuilder and former co-owner of the A’s who funded and supported waterfowl and wetlands conservation, was honored with Thompson in Walnut Creek. Roger Thomas, longtime president of the Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association, owner/captain of the Salty Lady out of Sausalito, and a member of the Outdoors Hall of Fame, was honored with Speier at Fisherman’s Wharf.