Lobstering

Our boat is named Spitfire. She is 31 feet long and has a beam of nearly 11 feet. The boat also draws 5 1/2 feet of depth. 

These measurements are very important for the way I fish my traps. She travels very close to ledges & beaches as well as outside in deep waters. In general, these measurements are very important to fishermen as different ocean bottom is important to the catches which also relate to seasons.

The boat is diesel powered. These engines have the required strength to pull the weight of many traps when moved about and also when the ocean becomes rough. She has all the modern electronics, depth sounders for finding the correct bottom in the proper seasons as lobster move from hard rocky bottom to soft sandy bottom at different times of the season. There are also electronics like radar for finding your way about in fog as well as radios for necessary communication. She is also equipped with heavy duty stainless steel hydrolics for hauling gear.

I believe that fishing for lobster is a serious art form. There are many people who catch lobsters, but there are not many who seriously fish for them and are considered lobster fishermen! To catch many lobsters (that is, to fish full time) means working at least 9 months of the year. Catching them first offshore in winter, miles from the beach, then following them slowly inshore in warmer weather, towards the beach either in sand or rock bound areas, then back offshore, is a task and much more. Knowing all these phases including the molt or shed, how & when they travel is interesting. My background includes Marine Engineering which has helped me understand these creatures immensely. And has also guided me in working & understanding the complexities of my boat, engine & electronics as well as the lobster. Understand that most lobster fishermen come from areas Downeast in Maine and learn everything from their fathers and families.  I had the opportunity to learn from an oldtimer who lived near me and fished for lobster all of his days.  This man knew just about everything there is to know about these creatures and taught me this knowledge. What luck!

I really started in the 1960’s with a much different boat, wooden traps (rather than the wire traps we use today) and no electronics with the exception of radio & compass. However, these types of discussions could be arranged by other means if you would like to communicate with me. As you may have noticed, I tend to ramble.

- Capt’n Dave

This is how she sits in our yard when we bring her in during the roughest of the winter months.

Buoys are how we find our lobster traps. Each lobster catcher has a different buoy – different shapes, colors, etc. My colors are day-glow yellow and orange. They have been since 1972.

Biddeford Pool, home of Spitfire. Nice place to go to work, right?