Lobster Count

Tommy and I pulled the traps tonight and came up with five keepers and eleven shorts  Some of the shorts were borderline.
~
That's one keeper lobster for every two traps that we pulled.  I'm no marine biologist, but sixteen lobsters  in one ten trap haul seems like a lot.  Especially given that there are dozens of other traps in competition with ours.
~
The sea bottom around Marblehead seems  to be crawling  with these delectable criitters which taste so good when steamed and served with drawn butter.
~
If we maintain this ratio, we will harvest abount 10 lobsters per week and over 100 lobsters over the remainder of the summer.  I'd estimate that over 2000 keepers will be taken from Marblehead waters this summer by recreational and commercial lobstermen.
~
Can the fishery sustain this???  Like I said, I'm no  marine biologist.  But my guess is that these crustaceans are holding their own.  And as long as the regs against taking shorts, bigs and females are honored, there will be enough to go around for the time being.

Doug Maxfield said...

2:1 thrown back vs. kept...you ol' sea farmer you. Just keep tending your crop until they're big enough for the pot.