Steaming Ahead

Let’s go racing boys!!

It’s the height of summer and that means the lobster boat races are going strong. So far this year we’ve had pretty good weather and good turnouts for the races, despite the high fuel prices. We even had a beautiful sunny day here in Jonesport-Beals, the fog capital of the world.

It's lobster boat racing season along the coast. MLA photo.

The Moosabec Reach races are on the 4th of July. It is truly one of my favorite days of the year. Loading up my friends and family on the ole Nancy Anne is a tradition that my father always loved and I am no different.

We usually have about 20 people with us — and with coolers, chairs and all the dunnage — it fills the boat up pretty good. People always ask me if I race with all those people on board. I absolutely do! I might be able to get a third or fourth place finish if I unloaded everyone, but what’s the fun in that? We even have Nancy Anne Racing T-shirts with a logo on back that says, “We may not be first, but sometimes we’re not last.”

At the start line I check out boats that I think I can beat. The start boat here lets me line up on his port side for our race. I’m the only one he’ll let do that because he knows I’m not a contender, just there to have fun. This year I almost made it to the end of the course before I got swallowed up by the wakes of the faster boats. I’m pleased to say we did not get last!

Some of these guys are very serious about the races. Watching them come down the course neck-and-neck with half of the boat blown out of water will fire you up. Seeing the big gas engine boats flying across the water at 60+ mph, then hearing the roar of the motor when they go by is pure adrenaline.

After our races we always head to Roque Island where there is a mile-and-a-half sand beach and the only way to get there is by boat.

This year for the first time the Moosabec Reach races were televised live on ABC Channel 7 in Bangor. A couple of announcers and a reporter were down on a boat. It was neat to watch the boats roar down the course on live TV. They did a great job and I hope they come back in the future.

We end up rafting up with friends who come down to enjoy the afternoon as well. There’s lots of conversation, music, grilling and a little boat-hopping to see people on other boats. There might even be an adult beverage or two. After that it’s back to town to catch the parade and then to close out the night we gather on my wharf to watch the fireworks. It truly is a special time in our little corner of the world.

Now the fun is over and it’s back to work. The only problem is that it’s the third week of July as I write this and we’re still waiting for the lobsters to shed. I guess there are a few outboard boats doing OK up in the river, but everyone else is starving. We’re hauling trawls for single digits. I hauled 60 triples this morning and I could still see the bottom of my tank!

It seems to be the same along the whole length of the coast. It’s like the good old days when lobsters wouldn’t come on until the kids were headed back to school. In those days, however, bait and fuel were not the price that they are now, but the price for lobsters isn’t far off.

I know that trading one dollar for another is not good business practice, but that’s what we seem to do until the run starts. The wear and tear on the boat, body and gear isn’t worth it if at the end of the day you’re just fishing to pay expenses. We run on volume and if the volume isn’t there it’s not really worth going. I know by the time you read this we’ll likely be knee deep in shedders. I hope we are. All I’m saying is that to fish as much as we do and to only make money for five or six months is kind of silly. Anyway, enough of that. The bugs are on their way and soon enough we’ll all be happy as clams.

In good news, Congressman Jared Golden’s bill to extend the pause on right whale regulations to 2035 is gaining momentum. Golden originally introduced the bill, but with politics the way they are these days he thought Republican Congressman Michael Lawler would have better luck getting it through. The Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee and has made it to the House floor. It will take time to know its fate, but it seems like it’s definitely headed in the right direction. This would give everyone more time to collect the data we need to fight against new rules.

And don’t forget to keep those notches. The Billion Egg Challenge is well under way along the coast. It’s a great way to bring attention to our conservation practices and build more public awareness of all that we do.

It’s go time, everyone. Catch ‘em up!