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End of Mays

Well the end of May is upon us and the spring fishing has been humbling. Reports from Southern Maine are bleak with 3/4 of a pound per trap and a strong showing of new shell lobsters which are only getting $3.50 a pound. Operating cost for many average $500 a day.

We get underway today after a week away from the gear and new hopes of a good few days of hauling. These are still lean times for fishermen and family.

Happy seas.

Bugs

The rare spotted leopard bug! Caught this fine looking lobster in 150′ of water yesterday in pen bay. Overall traps were coming up with a lot of lobster but few “counters”, legal sized lobsters. With such an unusually mediocre price and less than a pound of legal lobster a trap, many fishermen are concerned. Another year of low prices could turn the industry into a race of survival of the fittest.

While matters here in Maine are becoming more frantic, in Canada a wide strike is loosing fuel for holding out. Lobstermen in Canada have been in strike, trying to gain price for their product. They have a short 8 weeks season and time off the water won’t be gained back.

Something needs to change in this industry. Who is going to get behind it and help shape the direction?

Today, west winds 5-10kts, becoming south 10-15 with gusts to 25 this afternoon. Small craft advisory in effect from noon today through late tonight.

May 14th

4:00 am wake up- ready to go by 515. North winds 5-10, shifting to the West this afternoon. Today are fishing gear on a longer 6 night soak. Catch and price have been low so there isn’t a lot of incentive to get out right now. That won’t be enough to cool my desire for sea time though. Today the world seems wrapped in gray; clouds, sea and sky. Beautiful in a cold strange way.

Crazy Claw!

Another addition to the “freak book” section, this lobster was caught in Pen Bay last summer in 150′ of water. Catching lobsters with genetic alterations to claws may be a result of having lost that claw earlier in its life cycle and during the regeneration process, some type of mutation occurred to cause the radically strange growth to take place.

Take Em Up

Third of December (43 degrees out?!) and we are headed out across the bay towards matinicus to pick up a load of 80 or 90. This is going to mean coiling well over a dozen 50 FA warps. That’s 300 feet of rope all hand coiled. Thats good fun right there!

Giddy up!

B&W

10/25- angry sandy

Predictions for yesterday’s numbers were more right than wrong as our haul proved very mediocre. “A lot of measurin and not a lot of keepin” as one Penobscot poet phrased it this spring over the VHF. Traps were coming up with plenty of lobsters but majority were shorts and “notchers” (V- notched females). Many of the “counters” were females as well. A NE wind this morning and strong pulling tide will put us around the island to haul a gang of 200. Mostly singles. Giddy up go

Keep weather eye on Sandy, class II hurricane which just stomped all over Jahmaica yesterday. Shes headed north and seems all in a tizzy. Guy.

Be good, do well and happy seas!

Owls Head Dawn

Back to Pen Bay

Breezy North wind 10-15 w gusts to 20. Air temp 40, sea surface @ 58 degrees. Hauling out across towards Matinicus Island, home of pirates and swashbucklers.