The Benefits of Rising Early

"Do you see that rainbow?" Said the Captain pointing towards an enormous rainbow on the horizon.
"Yeah, biggest one I've ever seen" I said.
"You gotta get up early to see this kind of shit."

Radio Conversation

"What's the price at Joe?"
"I'll let you brace yourself."
"Alright, go ahead."
"two dollars."
"Jesus Christ!"
"And yet they still can charge $25 for a Lobster dinner."
"It's awfully expensive butter."

Watson's General Store

After a long day of fishing the Captain and I were headed back to the wharf in the skiff. There was a small pleasure boat on a parallel course with us. They appeared to be heading to the neighboring wharf.

When we were close enough to the wharf I leaped out to tie up the skiff. I glanced around for the small boat and saw it about 25 feet away, the driver waiting for someone to see him. Taking advantage of my quick glance the driver shouted:
"Do you know where Watson's is?" I shrugged, unable to describe the location of the fifth generation general store. I turned to the captain and pointed at the boat:
"They wanna know where Watson's is." I said.
The Captain turned towards the boat and said: "It's down there by those traps"
"What?"
"It's down by all those stacked traps." yelled the Captain.
"Thank you" they shouted as the rounded they wharf and headed towards the stacked traps.

As we walked down the wharf the Captain sighed and shook his head: "I don't know why they couldn't find it. It's only been there for 300 fucking years."

Learning the Lingo

An unexpected challenge of my new job is learning the local dialect. I am only able to understand about 25% of what's being spoken, I'm speaking of a place that is only 20 miles from where I grew up.

To aid rookie sternman on the coast of Maine, I've decided to compile a list of everything I have been able translate.

I was bagging bait when the Captain yelled: "Scott Will." I turned to see the captain pointing at the stern of the boat, where a buoy had snagged. So, the first word is "Scott."

Scott (skot)
To be caught.
The buoy scott!
The buoy is caught!

I'll post more when I can understand more.

The Perfect Music for Hauling Lobster

Luckily, the Captain listens to the local classic rock station (WBLM). I have come to realize that some music is perfect for hauling lobster.

So, rather than attempt to explain perfection, I will simply embed.

A taste of Bilge water

At 3:30 this morning I awoke to pouring rain. My rain gear is on the boat, the boat's anchored out, how am I going to stay dry?

4:45 at the pier. A momentary let up in the rain, I would be able to head out to the boat and put on rain gear before the rain started back up. It appears I will stay dry today.

I met up with the captain, and we walked down the pier. He sat down in the stern of the small skiff and fired up the outboard. I untied the bow and jumped into the skiff. We headed directly for the boat. He steered alongside the boat and leaped aboard, leaving me in the skiff.
"Take the skiff back Will" He said.
I made my way to the stern of the skiff, grabbed the outboard and carefully wiped all water off of the seat before sitting down. I put the outboard into gear, and gave it a little gas. That's when I saw it. The bilge pump had been turned on, spraying water directly into my path. I only had time to issue a "ahhhshit" before I was doused with bilge water.

4:50 on the pier. Soaking wet, waiting for the lobster boat to pull alongside. Not gonna be a dry day after all.

Lobstering

I just finished my first day of work yesterday. I have a few observations to make about lobstering.

1. It is very fast paced.

2. It begins very early in the morning.

3. I'm surprised that lobsters haven't been made into a black and white Sci-fi movie.

4. It pays well.

I'll post up details when I've had more than a day of experience.