When in doubt, haul it out...

 

The window of possibility surrounding the motives of Irene has gotten smaller and smaller as the weekend approached.  Either I leave my lobster boat on the mooring, or haul it out and leave it in the boatyard for the duration of this storm.  My gut kept saying leave it down to dance, but my logic kept suggesting that I just get it out for simple peace of mind. 

So I went through my gear over the past several days and brought my vessel out of the Gulf of Maine so that Irene can do now whatever she pleases.  Inconsistency with the meteorologists and the general poor lack of updates on my traditional waves of information made for the decision based on relief not fear.

Enjoy your storm for all those reading on the East Coast...

Better photo of the blue lobster and other things...

So I got a few emails wondering if I had read Rabid's blog entry on how to take good pictures and avoid the bad ones simply because the photos I snapped quickly of the blue lobster weren't so nice.  So in response to those who challenged my pictorial abilities, here you go and you can thank my wife for the photos... Have a good day peeps... 

Blue lobster...

One in a million, and I've been witness to a few... But I haven't encounter several million lobsters...

My dad caught this blue lobster today while I was offshore with a buddy of mine...

Congratulations Dad!!!

Got lobster???

Last Friday I went out with my buddy Craig to help him cut through his gear so that we could get rolling earlier on our two family camping extravaganza.  In about four hours time, 250 traps were tended and a double top secret number of lobsters were in the live well.  However, this monster returned to the deep as part of the oversized monster club.

Below is a quick video of us getting out to the gear at O Dark Thirty.  I hope the video quality is somewhat decent.

I had run through my gear in 3 days and chose to let it soak as the softshell run has slowed in my area.  Even though I have run my own boat for about ten years now, it's never a bad thing to get back in the stern and work with another captain.  On Tuesday, I should be going to with another buddy offshore while I let my inshore gear soak again.  In addition, I've got around 100 traps up as the school year quickly approaches.

Here's a video of my other buddy, Big Daddy, who is first mate on Craig's lobster boat.  All of us grew up together, and for some reason it always ends up with one of us screwing with somebody.

It's super, it's red, and it's a hawk...

I guess it really isn't red, but it did make for a somewhat cool title...

After several years of lusting, reading, researching, and contemplating, I pulled the trigger figuratively and literally speaking on the newest addition to the Downeast Duck Hunter arsenal of dismay...

The Ruger Super Redhawk has been on my wish list for some time and with the recent passing of my mother, I decided that life's too short to put things off and got in touch with a friend who has an FFL.  Several days later, the little gun in .44 magnum arrived and is patiently waiting for it's day in the sand pit.  In addition, I'm in the works getting ready to order a Burris 2X7X32mm handgun scope to use this firearm chasing a whitetail.

I had tangled with the idea of getting this gun chambered in .454 Casull but those rounds are just more expensive than I want to pay.  In addition, I've already got a hefty amount of .44 magnum rounds for my Ruger Deerfield so the choice circled around back to ground zero.

The Rabid Outdoorsman has already proclaimed that he's ready for some blasting during our next rendezvous in two weeks, we'll see how well he makes out.  As for me, I'm planning on bringing ear plugs and a monstrous cardboard box.  Should be a good time.

Take care,

The Downeast Duck Hunter

Baxter's Originals gives me the tools to smoke like the pros...

Another summer special like the lobsters, striper bass, and blueberries in Maine are the mackerel at the end of July and early August.  Two of my students found me on my mooring cleaning after a days work and informed me they were heading down the bay to "pound" the mackerel.  The very next thing out of Andrew's mouth was, "Mr. B, you want any?" and my reply was a quick and enthusiastic "YES"...

You see I had a plan...

I had been awarded a bag of Baxter's Original Peach smoking chips, but never indulged in the finer aspects of smoking my own barbecue.  So today, I soaked up the peach chips, threw them under the racks in my Weber propane grill, and put eight boned out mackerel out for some fogging...

In all honesty, for my first time trying this type of endeavor, the smoked/grilled fish came out fantastic and the combination of smoke & sea salt seasoning made for a culinary wonder.  Immediately I ate several fish and left several for my wife who loves smoked mackerel more than her husband...

Much appreciation needs to be given to Mike Baxter of Baxter's Originals for providing the smoking chips and Trey Luckie of Brave Eagles Hunt with Antique Brownings for his first ever giveaway.  This truly was a perfect blend of one of Maine's bounties and Georgia hardwood.  I look forward to using the rest of the chips and certainly future patronage with this fine small business...

I certainly endorse Baxter's Originals as a  Downeast Duck Hunter thumbs up product!!!


Have a great day,

The Downeast Duck Hunter