Festival · Santa Monica

Off the Hook: a day at Santa Monica’s seafood festival

By Kyle Espeleta · Published October 23, 2025

A wooden board of plated seafood tastings at the Off the Hook seafood festival on the Santa Monica Pier

A band in white nautical outfits performing on an outdoor stage on the Santa Monica Pier at sunset, the Pacific Park ferris wheel and roller coaster behind, at the Off the Hook seafood festival — SANTA MONICA PIER — OFF THE HOOKA band on the pier stage at Off the Hook.

Vendor tents including Santa Monica Seafood and crowds at the Off the Hook seafood festival on the Santa Monica Pier at golden hour, the Pacific Park ferris wheel and roller coaster behind — SANTA MONICA PIER — OFF THE HOOKThe Off the Hook seafood festival on the pier.

A mermaid performer in a green tail posing in a giant seashell throne on the Santa Monica Pier at the Off the Hook seafood festival — SANTA MONICA PIER — OFF THE HOOKA mermaid performer at Off the Hook.

Close-up of a sesame-crusted crab cake topped with aioli and a microgreen on a palm-leaf plate at the Off the Hook seafood festival — SANTA MONICA — OFF THE HOOKA vendor tasting at Off the Hook.

Wooden risers of poke tasting boats with tuna, avocado, and crispy shallots at the Off the Hook seafood festival on the Santa Monica Pier — SANTA MONICA — OFF THE HOOKPoke tasting boats on the Pier.

A tasting plate of tuna tartare with avocado and crispy wonton chips at the Off the Hook seafood festival — SANTA MONICA — OFF THE HOOKTuna tartare with crispy wontons.

OFF THE HOOK — BRAND ACTIVATIONLong Drink activation at Off The Hook fest.

Off the Hook is Santa Monica's annual seafood festival on the Pier, and I spent the day shooting it — restaurant tastings, beer and wine vendors, live music, the oyster-shucking and eating competitions, and the crowd working its way down the waterfront.

The set covered the food, the vendor booths, the competitions, the music, and the crowd along the waterfront — the close-ups vendors and sponsors reuse, and the wide shots the organizer needs for next year's marketing.

Everything was delivered press- and social-ready for the organizer and vendors. Producing a festival, food event, or activation in Los Angeles? Tell me about your event, or explore festival and event coverage.

More from the journal