Episode 75: Anthony Capriccio: When Sanctuary Meets Survival: Who Gets To Use The Sea

Paradise looks peaceful from the cliff, but step onto a towboat in Monterey Bay and the picture changes fast. We sit down with captain and small business owner Anthony Capriccio to explore why he chose Santa Cruz over everywhere else, how he built a life around boats, and what really happens when the ocean stops cooperating. From routine jumpstarts to midnight salvage, from towing grounded hulls to dragging dead whales offshore with NOAA’s coordinates, Anthony shows us a working bay where risk, responsibility, and rescue live side by side.

We get honest about the paradox at the heart of this coast. The National Marine Sanctuary keeps oil rigs out of the skyline and tide pools alive for our kids, but regulations also squeeze commercial and recreational fishers, charter operators, and the marine trades that anchor harbor life. We talk salmon closures shaped by distant rivers like the Klamath, sardines that vanished and returned, and bluefin booms that blur the lines between harm and natural change. Balance becomes the watchword: protect what’s irreplaceable without locking people out of the water entirely.

Anthony’s story is equal parts family and craft. He and his wife chose Santa Cruz for its redwoods, beaches, and the kind of afternoons where two boys chase starfish along the jetty. He chose towing because it demands preparation, problem-solving, and calm under pressure—progression, not competition. If you’ve ever wondered what the bay looks like from sea looking back at land, or how sanctuary, safety, and small business can coexist, this conversation pulls back the curtain with hard-won clarity and heart.

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