Summer Fishing: The First Haul

Today was officially the first day of summer fishing. It was the first haul close to shore. While things were easier and the scenery was much more enjoyable, I'd forgotten how fast and furious summer fishing is.

We're fishing singles instead of pairs now, so there's less to do per buoy, but it has to happen afap (as fast as possible). There's generally less time. There's no hour-long steam out to the fishing site. As soon as we reach the mouth of the Harbor we're there. There's also no time in between buoys, since they are set closer together. And there is very little delay between gaffing the buoy and the trap breaking the surface, because we're fishing the shoals (shallow water) and the lines are short. In other words, there is very little time to rest.

There is also less thrill factor fishing this time of year, which I'm ok with after the most intense winter's work that I've ever experienced. Instead of catching huge, thrashing cusk, a puny little rock gunnel can occasionally be found in the bait bag. Gnarly spider crabs that resemble crustaceans out of the Bering Sea are replaced with baby rock crabs the size of your pinky toe nail. Not much of our summer by-catch is worth eating. My attitude towards summer marine life has changed considerably since my first summer lobstering.

The first summer that I fished with Cap, six years ago now, I was very excited by the new marine life in his traps. We caught some whelks that I was so fascinated by that I had to take them home and try eating them. So I steamed them up at my folks house. Those things were so rubbery that I couldn't even chew them into small enough pieces to swallow. That was the last time I tried eating whelks.

However, we did find some neat inedible marine life today. We caught fish representing all three primary colors: a brilliant red lump fish, a yellow/goldish sculpin, and another lump fish that was brilliant blue. Unfortunately, the idea of taking a picture of all three fish together didn't cross my mind until I had thrown them back. . .

Summer fishing is just different. I am straining to remember the ropes since the last time I lobstered with Cap in the summer was six years ago. I have to re-learn how to differentiate shedders from hardshells. The extremes are easy to distinguish: the very soft shedders will squish in your hands, the hardest hardshells are growing barnacles on their shell and have dark undersides to their claws. But it isn't all black and white. The hard shedders and the young hardshells constitute the grey area. Cap's test is holding the claw out straight so that the joints are locked and squeezing the claw itself. If the membrane between segments bulges with the movement of fluids inside the claw, then it's a shedder. This is a very subtle indicator, but it does work. We double band hardshells (2 rubber bands/claw) and single band shedders. It's important to differentiate since shedders are worth a dollar less ($2.75) per pound than hardshells ($3.75). Today Cap went through the lobsters that I designated as hardshells, picked out four and called the rest shedders. I have much to re-learn.

Despite the change of routine and lack of adventure, I am very grateful that it's summer. This is the time of year that is truly inspiring to me. My focus isn't distracted by numb fingers or lobsters freezing. We probably won't be weathering 10 ft seas this time of year. I am able to appreciate the beauty of my surroundings and indulge in a more social setting. Summer has come and I am glad of it.