June 30: Field Marine Science Course for Teachers!

Ok, so, there's still no sun, but there was no rain, either! Went out to the Isles of Shoals today. Once on the island, we discussed island formation, soil production, rafting of reptiles and plants that inhabit the island. We also discussed a rookery and classification and biology of two species of gulls on the island. During the hike to the other end of Smuttynose, we encountered a pair of goats that followed us out and back, our own embassadors! Back at the beach, we looked at the sand/shell mixture that covers the beach and the structure of different macro algae of the cove we were in. Tomorrow, lobster traps and otter trawls!

June 29: Field Marine Science Course for Teachers!

Had our first class today for teachers for professional development. Always changing with the weather, our plans WERE to go out to the Isles of Shoals today. But after a quick call to the captain of the Captain's Lady III, we realized a shore based lesson plan was in order for the day. Drove down to Sandy Point and had Gary guide us through the dunes, marine forest and estuaries for three hours. Nice. Got to see what the print of a fisher cat looks like. We had lunch back at the boathouse and discussed the geology of the area, energy pyramids and plankton productivity before ending class for the day. No, I didn't take any pictures. Tomorrow! I promise!

June 27: Charter

Had Adam Derosa and his charter on the boat today. First of all, lets talk fog. Seriously, is there anything more fun that NOT seeing anything all day? Once on the fishing grounds, we got into some fish IF you had a jig on. If you bait fished, well, lets just say the green eyed monsters were thick (aka dog fish). Here's a picture of the pool fish caught by Adam's wife Amy. Just got a call from him tonight and he's booked a bunch of charters for 2010. Lets hope they are on days I don't have to use the RADAR. See you out there!

June 25: Jimmy Buffett!!!

So after hauling nets and being on the boat all day, Kate and I packed up the black bug and headed to Mansfield to see Jimmy. Great show! Still can fill a house after so many years! He got rid of those clouds hanging over our heads for the past four days and brought some tropical weather to our neck of the woods.

Oh yeah, my cell phone does not do Jimmy any justice. While taking this picture I had to keep ducking from the falling beach balls!

June 25: BOAT CAMP

What IS that bright thingy in the sky??? Needed my sunglasses today. Discussed horseshoe crab ecology and their importance to some birds called red knots. Apparently, these birds migrate from Argentina to the Arctic in one season. Along the way, they stop off at JUST the right moment to feed on horseshoe crab eggs. Wow. Then, we headed out for some flounder fishing. But between the big, rolling waves and numerous aircraft overhead-- three helicopters and a jet-- the only thing biting were skates. We came into Plum Island Point to do some sandeeling. Got about 20 gallons of eels, mostly small but some were really big. Just really nice to be at the beach in the sun after so many days in the rain. I wonder what caused all this sunshine?

June 24: BOAT CAMP

Sooooooooooo, the weather might be bad and the whole fleet is tied to the dock-- except us. In the morning, we discussed the formation of Jeffrey's ledge and upwelling using Google Earth, then discussed striped bass and their population decline and comeback. We jumped on the boat at 10:30 in the morning and anchored up SHORTLY after that for a little bass fishing on the incoming tide. Yikes! Fish were hungry! For 7 anglers, we caught and released 35 schoolies, a keeper flounder (Yes, in the river), and put one 14 pound keeper bass in the cooler for diner. Before we cleaned it, we discussed the external and internal anatomy of the fish and used its scales and digital microscopes to figure out how old it was. To end the day, we handled and discussed the animals in the touch tank. Nice day. Need some sun soon.

June 13 Charter

Took the boat back to where we were last weekend to hopefully do the same thing. We did, sort of. We got them in the morning, nice market cod, all on jigs. But the tide turned and things shut down after that. Moved around a bit mid morning, came back the area in the afternoon and picked a few more. Not a bad day and everyone went home happy.

June 7 Charter

So, at 4am, we put all the fishing gear back on the boat, added 10 fishermen, and headed east to fish where we were yesterday. That was not so good. Picked 6 fish right away and then the tide changed and everything shut down. Moved around a bit and then the captain of the F/V Sara Rose told me to just stop and fish where we were. We all quickly changed to jigs and put 30+ fish in the boat. Average weight was 25 pounds, but the charter boated a 54 lb, a 52 lb and several 40 pounders. Mine could not be weighed, because it topped the scale past 50, so we figure it was a 60+ pounder. Big thanks to Sara Rose.

June 6: Night Trip

Scrubbed the boat stem to stern and took all the fishing gear off. Added some tables, wine, captain's chairs and A LOT of good food and left the dock at 6pm with 18 people bound for-- no where! Took a nice cruise upriver to see the bald eagles, then moseyed down river to the mouth and back. Good food, new friends, nice night.

June 6: Charter

We left the dock at 7am under really cold conditions; east wind, overcast, 3ft roll. Anchored up SHORTLY after that. From 8am to about 11:30am, the fish were rabid! Three or four at a time, mostly haddock, big haddock. Some cod. It shut off with the tide turn and we went hunting to other locations to no avail. We picked a few more but it was nothing like the morning. Most went off the boat with four or five, a few with eight or nine. Pool fish was a three way combo between a cod, wolf fish and a haddock-- each nine pounds.

June 4: Afterschool Trip

So we didn't have15 people like yesterday, we only had 12. Hauled the other 5 lobster traps and caught more shorts and one keeper! We gave that one away to one lucky boy for supper. Made a 10 minute tow with the otter trawl and bagged a half dozen baby fluke, some flounder, a lobster, two crabs and five gallons of sand dollars (we couldn't count them all). Weather was the best we've had all spring!

June 3: Afterschool Trip

Well, Kate said we only had 4 kids on the books for today. Maybe the possibility of rain kept people away. But when 3:30 pm rolled around, 15 people came down the ramp! No rain, light winds and happy kids. Pulled five of our 10 traps. Caught 4 throwback lobsters-- one was the littlest egger I've ever seen! We also tested a bottom sampler. Gonna need more work because we didn't catch any bottom. Gonna haul the other five traps on tomorrow's trip and make a tow with the otter trawl. See you out there!

May 31: Charter

Went to southern Jeffreys with a charter of 15 people today for some groundfishing. Forcast was supposed to be light winds out of the southwest. We dropped anchor at 9am and started in on haddock and cod right off the bat. Things were looking good till someone put the brakes on things at 10:45. Total shut down. Moved several times to different locations and different depths to find some hungrey fish We picked a few, but it was much slower in the afternoon. Oh yeah, those light winds out of the southwest was really 20 knotes or better out of the southeast. Great job.

May 30 in the pm: Birthday Party (aka mackerel fishing!)

We got back to the dock from our boating class at 2pm and loaded it right back up again at 2:30 with 14 kids to go mackerel fishing and then enjoy pizza and cupcakes in the Boathouse. Winds were light when we anchored up off the coast and the macks showed up 1o minutes later. The dust settled an hour and a half later with a dirty boat, happy kids and 75 fish in the cooler. Nice ride home. Pizza and cupcakes were good, too!

May 30 in the AM: Boating on the Merrimack.

Had 10 people participate in our Boating on the Merrimack class that is run through Newburyport's Adult Ed program. Great morning discussions as we discussed basic boating skills, buoys, and a digital tour of the Merrimack River. Yes, I will post the powerpoint to Boatcamp.org this week! After our lunch, we all took a turn at the helm traveling first upriver by our winter home at Merrimar Yacht Marina and then down to the mouth. Along the way we saw seals, kayaks and a lot of boaters enjoying the river. We have openings for our June 20th class. Sign up! Hope to see you there!

May 27: After School Program

We went out with two, count 'em, two kids plus Kate, Jack and Cody under north east winds and overcast skies. Kids had a ball moving, baiting and watching us deploy our traps to a "secret" location that is just bug infested! Gonna haul 'em next week. Winds will be light with just a hint at T-storms. There's room on the boat so call Kate and sign up as we haul our catch, test out a bottom sampler and MAYBE make a tow with the otter trawl.