Nick Tharp

Nick Tharp is the owner/operator of the F/V First Light. He grew up fishing and exploring the Santa Barbara Channel.  An avid waterman, he has honed his skills through fishing, diving, surfing and lifeguarding. 

After exploring a land based profession, he found his way back to the water as crew on a black cod boat and has never looked back.  Nick is very active in the fishing community, participating in a variety of tagging programs, sustainable fisheries (deep set buoy gear), and he is also MREP certified. 

He is currently fishing lobster, rock crab, halibut, seabass, tuna, and ground fish and all seafood caught by the F/V First Light are hook-and-line or trap fisheries.

Nick is a father to two young daughters that he raises with his wife, Jess, in the Santa Ynez Valley.