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Guests from Florida to Japan Join Lobster Fishing Boat For An Early Morning Haul
(While Seeing The Fleet of Lobster Fishermen, Mackerel, Seabirds, , Coastal Caves and Seabirds)
You are on a Cape Breton the pier at 4:20 am. You’ll have a thermos of your favorite morning beverage—hot tea or simmering coffee.
Captain Merrill MacInnis and crew will already be on the boat ready to sail.
Off you go and cruise along the Atlantic coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Cape Breton, connected to the Nova Scotia, Canada mainland by the Canso Causeway, was rated the most beautiful Island off continental North America (and the 4th best Island in the World_ by Travel and Leisure Magazine in 06).
As the sun comes up over the Atlantic, you look at the Island and coastline and agree that Cape Breton, at that hour in early June, is about as beautiful a spot as you can find anywhere.
As you see the coastline from the fishing boat, you appreciate the jagged cliffs, some sandy beaches and rocks which ships have crashed into and left remains at places off the coast called Wreck Cove.
No worries on this trip because Merrill MacInnis and his family have been off this coastline fishing lobster, snow crab and in bygone days cod, for the last 80 years. His boat the Cape Briton is 46 (checking) feet, has a crew of 3, including his (27) year old daughter Amy and an experienced first mate named Donny.
You’ll go to a marked territory and the Captain will slow the boat. The traps bear the MacInnis “markings and there are big colored signs on the shore that mark the boundaries of each territory. With winches Amy and Donny will bring up the lobster.
The lobster are sorted and some thrown back. Rubber bands are put around the claws.
It’s often calm on the water, between May and July at this hour and you get a great perspective on the coast, see the massive rocks and seabirds and even some caves.
The Captain explains how territories have been marked on land for the last 85 years, since his father and grandfather were out in much smaller, slower boats. The reason for these territories is to prevent overfishing and to keep the peace between fishermen.
A Presbyterian minister devised the system and for the most part the peace is kept. Other area fisherman have disputes and families don’t speak again for years, if ever. About 9am it’s time for “lunch.” The Captain enjoys a lobster sandwich. You may take that beverage and whatever you’ve brought, lobster too if you are so inclined. Once the traps from the “territory” are emptied, you cruise to “
Some days you’ll go further out to where he’s laid some nets. There, you help haul in mackerel, nets and nets full of them. That’s bait for the next days’ fishing.
You head back in around 10:30am. The lobster are sorted into the bigger ones---“market lobster” and somewhat smaller “canners”.
All are delicious when we build a fire on the beach and fill a big pot with seawater. The water seems to take for ever to boil as we watch it, so we remember to unpack potato salad and salad and take some cold beers and pop out of a cooler. There’s also some crab and mussels we brought as an appetizer. It’s been a long day, lots of good sea air and views along the coast, plus the laughter aboard the boat. On the beach, we taste the fruits of our labor after a long, adventurous day.
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