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Check out the latest discussion on who's the best fish processor in San Diego:
http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/san-diego-range-fishing/142097-fish-cleaning-after-trip.html

 

From Julia H.

There is nothing like a women run business, the five star girls do the best job in town. The same day service can't be beat. You can tell this place is run by fisherman for fishermen. The prices are great for the services you get. The smoked fish is excellent and the vacuum packed fish equals that just caught freshness.

 

From David C.
May 16, 2010

I have been long range fishing for quite some time, and have tried all the other options of fish processing. Eventually I tried using Five Star Fish Processing, and I have no need to look any further.

I try to keep Sarah and her staff aware of when I'm going fishing, and give them an idea about how much fish I will be processing, but from there it's straight great service.
They assist me in bringing my fish over to be weighed, it is finished exactly when they tell me it'll be finished, in the size packages I request, and they make it effortless in loading into my truck for the drive home.
If you've never tried Five Star, you owe it to yourself to give them a try.
Simply put, THE BEST!

 

From Tony E.

I've been using 5 Star for several years now. Having worked in the seafood industry I know their work is top notch! Whenever taking any fishing trip that's the place to go. They always go above and beyond and do it with a smile.

 

Chad N.

Do not look any further for your fish processing needs!! Long range fishing is not a cheap hobby and I wouldn't trust my catch to anyone but 5 Star. The product I received back from them after my 8 day last year was second to none, wahoo and yellowfin that was delicious months after I returned home. I've been using their service for 5 years now and have never had a problem. In fact, I have personally witnessed Sarah and her crew go above and beyond to accommodate customers with special requests regarding their catch. They have a immaculate facility which is conveniently located next to the landings and right off the freeway. Don't make a choice you will regret latter, use 5 Star!!!

 

Jim K.

As a long range fisherman for many years, I've tried all the fish processing operations and have found Five Star Fish Processing to be heads and shoulders above the others in terms of quality of their finished product and especially, their customer service. I would highly recommend them to anybody in the San Diego area who needs their fish cleaned, fileted, vacuum sealed and even shipped elsewhere. You will be most happy with the results and enjoy eating your fish year round after Five Star has done their magic to your catch!!!

 

Scott R.

Five Star are simply the best fish processors around. I have been fishing Long Range for many years and have been using Five Star since 2003. Before Five Star, people had to settle for sub-par fish processing. Sarah and Melanie always make sure that everything is perfect. With Five Star I can count on an excellent product. I know there will be no waste, quality packaging and excellent smoked fish.

 

Darren F.

Five Star gets five stars... for being a proud sponsor of our non-profit senior center. For the last five years, they have donated fish (that we would not normally be able to afford) so that we can throw the most amazing fish taco parties. The fish is fresh, put on ice, and packaged professionally. It's still frozen when we receive it. They do an excellent job of processing & packaging fish for delivery. It's nice to know that big companies care about little companies. We'll send pictures of this upcoming taco party.
Thanks again for all your support!

 

C.C

five stars for five star!
we send our anglers to five star for their excellent service and products. no request is too much for sarah and melanie (and their staff). your satisfaction is their job #1 and they deliver!
searcher sportfishing

 

From ARV

5 Star Fish Processing is hand down the best quality and service.
Shoot Sarah an email a couple months before your trip just to give her a heads up. She likes to plan as much as she can. Tell her what fish you'd like to keep and how you will want them.
They'll be at the docks when you get back. They'll help you weigh your fish and they'll load them up while Sarah or Melany writes you a receipt.
You can pick them up same day if you like. Depending on who else comes in at the same time it can take anywhere from a couple hours to several. But they've got a nice big lounge with comfy couches and a tv and magazines if you have nowhere to wait. They're a couple minutes from the landing and right by the freeway.
I let them take their time and cut it and freeze it and go get the fish in a couple weeks. They'll usually be ready in less than a week or so, and they will hold your fish until you can get there. One time Sarah found a bunch of fillets my friend never picked up after A YEAR! She called me and asked if I wanted to come get them.
The cut and packaging quality is awesome. On average, I have 2 or 3 small packages come unpacked out of about 200# of fillets! And I'm still eating fillets that are a year old and they taste terrific.
Hard working bunch of folks that are on to of their stuff and do a fantastic job planning, managing, and customer servicing!!

 

From Tom Y.
Santa Barbara Outfitters
May 10, 2009

As a Long Ranger for OVER 10 YEARS, I have used many different
processors at the docks, and have many disappointments in so doing.

HOWEVER! in 2003 or 2004, I came across Five Star Processing and oh
my God, am I one happy Fisherman.
At that time, I was living in Buelton, CA. and I had to get back home
for business as I had Hunting client's the very next day and I couldn't
stay to have my fish processed and given to me on the spot.
Here's the kicker. One of their driver's, brought the fish to my
HOUSE! I tipped the guy a HUGE sum for this FANTASTIC service.

Shortly after that, I moved back to Missouri, and went on another long
trip. Those BEAUTIFULa, hard working and talented Women,
from Five Star, met the boat at the docks, and I had already filled
out my paperwork onboard the boat on our way home.
I simply gave these awesome Women the paper, my credit card number and
was in my truck, headed home.

I asked them to hold my fish for 2 weeks as I was burying my Dad the
day after we arrived in port. No worries.
I made it back home to Missouri, Five Star called me 2 days later,
told me EXACTLY what flight my fish was
on and I met it at the airport in St. Louis, MO.
I got the fish home, unpacked it and it was in pristine
condition............................again!

So, if you are looking for a FANTASTIC processor, I strongly suggest
Five Star. If you just want your fish handled,
use the other's at your own expense.

 

From Samantha C.
May 4, 2009

"I heard you on the radio and I didn't get a chance to call but I just wanted to tell you that the smoked wahoo I got is the best I ever had. Your recipe is the perfect blend of smoke,salt and sweet and the meat is moist without being mushy. Most others make theirs too salty or too smokey and dry. Yours is just right so I hope you never change the recipe. I'll be back for more next time I go Long Range. Cheers... Craig" Feb. 15, 2009

"Thanks again for all of your help with this, you are the first person to really give me good information on this whole process. Hopefully we will be able to go on a long range trip one day, and we will be able to use your services! My boyfriend and his family have chartered with H&M Landing multiple times in the past, but his family lives in Bakersfield, CA so they have never had to fly with their fish before. I will pass on your excellent customer service to them so maybe they can use your services in the future also. "

 

From Mike, Carol and Mark T.
Jan.13, 2009

"Dear Sarah and Melanie,
We just wanted to let you know that we picked up our fish at the Idaho Falls airport this afternoon and it arrived in great shape! All of the fish was still frozen rock solid and the packs were clean and labeled well. We grilled some of the YF tuna this evening for supper and it was superb. As you know we had a complicated order with varied product (YF tuna, wahoo, dorado, cod and whitefish) divided up and shipped to two different locations. Everything was done perfectly with excellent communication. You folks are the best.
Thanks for your great service! If you ever need an endorsement feel free to use us."

 

From Ray
Dec. 12, 2008

"Sarah, just want too thank you for the fantastic service I received from you and your great crew. Not enough words to discribe the condition of my fish. Thanks for being there for us"

 

From David
Dec. 8, 2008

"Just picked up my fish at the airfreight office everything was like clock work.....wahoo, tuna and yellowtail all perfectly cut and sealed still frozen solid....Sarah and her crew are just the best. Life is good.... finding a great fish processor is like finding a great mechanic or great plumber...LOL"

 

 

From Danny H.
Aug.26, 2008

"Once again 5 Star has met and exceeded my expectations. You said you could not get to my order until after noon. Only to find that I was on my way home, fish processed and safely sealed on ice/dry ice for my trip to northern Nevada. Yes, we all arrived in Dayton, Nevada safe and sound fish now in the freezer. Thank you again for your fast, efficient work ethic. Keep up the good work."

 

From George B.
July 16, 2008

"Hi Sarah,
You will get all my return business. I received the 35 lbs. of smoked fish on Monday and it is excellent.
I am very pleased with the quality and care you took with my order and your prices are reasonable for
the service you provide. I was surprised how much you got out of the two fish. Feel free to use me as a
reference anytime and I will definitely spread the word to my fishing pals. I hope you have a great day and
Thank You for the excellent service. "

 

 

From Anthony F.
Jan. 24, 2008

"I just wanted to give Kudos's to you about 5 Star. When we returned from our Tiburon trip, it was of course just before the Christmas Holiday's. Due to a crazy work schedule for me at Disney I would not be able to pick up my fish until after the first of the year. Which Sarah at 5 Star said would not be a problem, just call when I knew of the actual pick up date. My wife and I went down on January 14th to get my fish, and while they loaded up my coolers, I stayed at the car with my wife, (she didn't care for the fish odor from the plant, go figure). When we got home, I discovered only my yellow fin had been loaded, but no yellowtail! I e-mailed 5 Star and that evening I received a reply from Sarah and she said they would investigate and get back to me. Well, later that same evening, she replied back, found my missing fish and before she realized that I live in Long Beach had actually volunteered to drive my fish over to me. So, instead she sent it UPS Tuesday for a Wednesday delivery. Because of the mix-up, Sarah also said she would include some smoked Albacore and smoked yellowtail for me to try. The package arrived on Wednesday and as promised included the extra smoked fish!!! Now that is what I call customer service!!! So the next time I fish with the American Angler I will of course choose 5 Star for my fish processing needs. As a side note, all of my fish was packaged in convenient sizes and the packaging appears to be of the highest quality."

 

From Anthony G.
October 19, 2007

I wanted to write a short note thanking everyone from
5 Star Fish Processing for aiding in the processing
and shipping of my fish. I am very thankful for the
professionalism I received on the phone during the
numerous times I called your business. Everyone was
more than willing to answer all of my shipping and
billing questions without irritation or haste. From
the time you were at H7M Landing receiving the fish to
the final arrival of my fish at Southwest Airlines
Cargo Department, I was extremely pleased with the
high quality of service that you provided. I am
certain with the excellent standards you all have as
individuals as well as a business, you will be very
successful. I can guarantee all individuals in my
group, and everyone we speak to about planning a
fishing trip to San Diego, will only process the fish
through 5 Star Fish Processing.

Again, thank you for the excellent job you all did,
and good luck.

Sincerely,

Anthony G

 

 

From Mike Nichols
Executive Tackle Charters
San Diego, CA
July 14th, 2007

I was told about Five Star about five years ago by one of the boat
Captains I use for local Charters, Ernie Prieto, MV "Chubasco II"
I am a local fisherman, I have fished and worked many boats from 1959
to the present. I have many friends in all walks of the fishing
industry. I am a Scientist by trade but I have been a rod maker and charter
master as a side job to fund my some 78 long range trips over the past
45 yrs. I have used a work associate who has a fish processing
business locally. He is a friend and does pretty good work. However,
I have been disappointed in his results in the last few years. Bags
not sealed well, lost fish, fish spoiling quickly, etc. I therefore decided to
try Ernie's friend Andy's "Five Star". Well, what a refreshing change.
Hard working, very sweet folks, especially the great duo of Sara and Melanie.
They have always been absolutely super helpful, and very courteous to smelly
old fishermen (including this old fisherman!) The girls are so refreshing and
competent, a great greeting party for us when we get off the boat.
Their wonderful smiling faces and get it done attitude are really
appreciated after a long trip.
Best part is the resulting packaged fish. The condition of the fish is
excellent, especially since the advent of RSW on the boats.
2 years ago I caught some Bluefin and had Five Star process it. My
little woman hasn't liked Bluefin in the past, she thought it was
"fishy" tasting. Well, this time when I B B Q'd it, when wanted to
know what was this "incredible" tasting fish? When I told her
Bluefin, she said, " Wow, I'm not giving any of this to the neighbors!!"
And she was right. In June this year, we found some Bluefin still left in our
freezer from last year's catch, processed by Five Star. It had no freezer
burn because of the quality packaging. We tried it, it was very good.
Hard to believe it lasted that long. A testament to the attention to detail
while packaging, by Five Star.

I would like to thank Melanie personally for her assistance to me after
I returned from my 7 day on the Q-105, june 16, '07. I was hurting
badly due to severe Lumbar disc degeneration and Spondylolisthesis
(displacement of a vertebra out of the spine line). This condition
requires surgery, the pain that day was severe. Melanie moved all of my fish, weighed
them, and I didn't have to move an inch, just pay, sign, and go home.
When I picked up my fish later, Sara and Melanie loaded the fish in my
coolers and muscled the coolers into my vehicle. Not just pretty faces, strong too!!

My thanks to Andy and the girls for putting in that extra effort for
me, while I'm on the DL.

If you need a reference, ask anyone to call me at my business #
858.509.1242.

 

Bill Davis
Reston Virginia
April 2007

Dear Sirs,

I received a fish order earlier this week at IAD airport and wanted to
send a great big thank you to your staff especially Melanie. From the start
she provided me with regular updates and complete information on when,
where and how my fish was being handled. If I had known how economical and
easy your crew was going to make the whole process I would have shipped home
three times as much fish and given it away to my friends and
co-workers.

I've grilled Tuna and Wahoo for my neighbors and family this week. It's
delicious and I look forward to enjoying it for the next couple of
months.

You provide a great quality product, great service, and skilled
communicative people - a rare combination indeed.

Thank you!

 

Hidetaro Kashima
Chicago, IL
October 2005

"I wanted to drop a letter to thank you for the excellent job that you and your staff have done in delivering my fish. I have been using your company for the last three years and have always been impressed with your product. This year, however, I was a bit concerned b/c I needed my fish to be delivered to Chicago, IL. My anxieties were due to the fact that I had never had fish shipped trhough air cargo. But, like you've always done before, I received my fish as promised and in perfect condition.

Andy, I just finished eating my Ahi and I must tell you that it was "ono" (Hawaiian for "delicious"). Thanks again for a great job, and I look forward to seeing you again next year after my long range trip."



Gary Goerz
June 2003

"I caught my first albacore in 1969. I have no idea how many tuna I have caught since. The June 6th trip on the Royal Star was my ninth long range trip.

I have to admit that I viewed your new fresh fish processing procedure with a healthy amount of skepticism. However we caught so many albacore that I had nothing at risk to try the new process. Five Star delivered the results this morning and we had it for dinner tonight.

I have never tasted albacore like this. I had wondered with all the fish we caught what I was going to do with it all. Now I know. Hoard it!

Congratulations on the new method. Those sushi chefs really do know what they are doing. Thank you.

PS: Do with this note as you wish. If anyone questins that this note was unsolicited have them give me a call."

 

Refrigerated Salt-Water Storage Serving Up Fresher Fish; New Process Benefits Anglers
Thursday, October 2, 2003
Bill Roecker

FAMILY TRADITION - Three generations of Seraspes can be found at Five-Star Processing: Grandad Lauro, son Andy, and six-year-old grandson Charlie.
Photo by: Bill Roecker
What may be the biggest change in five or 10 years has come to San Diego’s sportfishing industry, and the beneficiary is the angler.

Fresh-caught tuna, yellowtail, dorado, and other species can now stay that way for as long as a week instead of being frozen hard as a nail in a brine-spray tank. For most of us, fresh equals better. Added to the fresh equation is a new fish processor, specializing in fresh fish.

“This is huge,” sportboat skipper Tim Ekstrom said. “This is a far better grade of fish to take home. This will make a difference. We learned how to do it [on the Royal Star] when we were in Panama.”

What’s huge is RSW, or refrigerated salt water fish holds. RSW has already changed the way the long- range fleet goes about keeping fish and will likely affect the day and charter fleets as well. It isn’t new, but it’s an idea whose time has come. RSW is almost as old as California commercial fishing.

Here’s how the whole approach to RSW works on the Royal Star, which has been employing the method longest.

After the “fresh tank” has been readied (it usually serves as a live-bait container on the way to the fishing grounds), rubber mats are placed over the stern deck, where most fishing takes place. The mats cushion the fall of the fish, preventing bruising. The rubber also cushions the feet of the anglers, who say they like the improved comfort and footing.

Fishing begins, and tuna or other species are gaffed aboard on the mat and humanely dispatched with a brain spike to prevent thrashing. Then they’re gilled, gutted, and put down gently into the fresh tank. The chilled seawater in there keeps them at 29-to-32 degrees.

Back at port, the fish are unloaded (again, gently) into slush ice bins that the new Five Star Fish Processing team brings to the dock. The bins are rolled up to the truck, and they go to the nearby plant at 2836 Sherman.

Anglers can accompany their fish to the plant, where a lounge with TV and a stereo system, creature comforts, and a viewing window into the cutting room await.

Anglers relax; the fish go from bin to cutting table, then the vacuum-packer in a few hours at most. Then the processed fish is claimed, stowed, and packed off on ice by the anglers who caught the fish. They take it home and eat, can, or freeze it.

RSW is also changing the way fish are processed. A local family of commercial fishermen and their state-of-the-art packing plant is changing the way sportfishermen and long-range anglers keep and eat their fresh tuna, wahoo, and yellowtail.

Three generations of fishing Seraspes can be found almost any day at Five-Star Fish Processing, on the corner of Sherman and Pickett, near Rosecrans Boulevard and I-5. Granddad Lauro Seraspe put in some 50 years as a commercial fisherman and now works a little for his son Andy Seraspe, one of the company’s two owners.

Andy Seraspe also had a career as a commercial fisherman, specializing in crab, shrimp, and lobster. Andy’s boy Charlie is only six, but he likes working with his dad and can already do some chores, like pack and rack the smoked fish. He likes fishing too.

The three Seraspes were all in the plant recently, after putting in a morning at Fisherman’s Landing, taking on tuna and yellowtail for processing.

With Andy’s partner David Fosbinder, an ex-roadie who now runs the office, the plant was fully staffed, except for a couple of professional fish cutters.

Processing is what the business is all about. Working with never-frozen fish from chilled seawater holds on sportfishing boats isn’t new. It’s been around for years on the East Coast and on some Southern California day boats. But the application is, um, fresh.

Anglers who don’t want to wait for processing can have their fish shipped, said Andy Saraspe. “We can cut and wrap,” he said, “and pack and ship fresh or smoked fish by air or ground.

“We don’t sell fish,” he emphasized. “We only do processing. If it needs to be frozen, we have a freezer room at 15 degrees. We have a refer room that keeps fish at 32 degrees. Our smoker handles up to 300 pounds of finished product, after we put in 600 pounds of fresh.

“It’s a state-of-the-art smoker, a Koch. We have over 5,000 square feet of space here, with the truck bay and the cutting room and upstairs storage,” he said.

Andy Saraspe may be a lucky fisherman. He not only has a clean, nicely and cleverly appointed processing plant and a loving family, but also he has a great notion.

The idea to put better fish on the plates of long-range fishermen seems likely to find a permanent place in the hearts of the same anglers. After all, they enjoy the best fishing the world has to offer. Why wouldn’t they want the best fish to eat?

It should be pointed out that the other fish-packing services permitted to operate at the sportfishing landings are also offering same-day services.

Anglers and sportboat owner-operators alike are giving RSW fish high endorsement.

“I ate some bluefin from the fresh tank, and it was unbelievable,” said Royal Star angler Jim Barber Aug. 23 at Fisherman’s Landing. He was just off a six-day trip with skipper Tim Ekstrom.

“My wife said, ‘Don’t give away any more bluefin.’ And boy, is it easier to process at home! It even freezes better.”

Writing aboard his Royal Polaris on a five-day trip skipper Frank LoPreste made recently noted, “The day started off on the slow side; however, we did have some very good fishing in the afternoon. Our passengers caught plenty of albacore in the 25- to 40-pound class. We hooked a couple of the larger bluefin tuna but managed to catch only a 40-pounder.

“This is also our first trip doing the refrigerated salt-water fish, for those who want to take some fresh fish home,” he said. “Some of you might have noticed that we now have a carpeted deck so that your fish don't get beat up and will stay in beautiful condition. We are planning on having our RSW system working perfectly next season. Meanwhile, we have the highest praise for Randy and Tim of the Royal Star for innovating a system which is the best thing that has happened to this industry in many years.”

Red Rooster III skipper Andy Cates said, “We just ran the fresh [RSW] tank. The fish comes out so nice we’ll run all of our short trips for fresh fish exclusively from now on.”

Judging by the speed of the “fresh” concept’s acceptance, next summer season may see as much as half the long-range fleet’s catch come dockside in pristine culinary condition: no thawing; just cook and eat.

Five Star Fish Processing

3826 Sherman Street * San Diego, CA 92110 * 619-299-9996

fivestarfishprocessingservices@yahoo.com

Five Star Fish Processing
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