Search This Blog

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Sunrise/Waiting for the temp to go up

There was a pretty spectacular sunrise over the waterfront this past Friday. I was able to grab a few shots of it before I headed out scalloping for the day. It was a cold morning. I had to wait until 8:15 before I could head to the grounds. We usually start fishing at 6:30am. Town law prohibits us from starting any earlier. And the air temperature must be 28 degrees before anyone is allowed to fish. Salt water freezes at 28 degrees and the thinking is that if we were allowed to fish in temperatures less than 28 degrees, we would run the risk of the seed scallops we haul up in our dredges freezing and dying before they are returned to the water. When me the guys have to wait for the temperature to make it to 28, We usually pick a spot and raft our scallop boats up and talk about how bad scalloping has become. It's the same discussion every year. The Marine Department flies a red flag at the Town Pier. We choose a spot in view of the flag to raft up and have a gam. When the flag is dropped, we all charge out to the scallop grounds at full throttle.
Sunrise at The Boat Basin.
Sunrise at the Boat Basin framed within a scalloper's A-Frame.
Mac.
Ice in Shimmo Pond.
Ice in Shimmo Pond.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund.
Captain Bruce Cowan.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund charging out to the scallop grounds.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund charging out to the scallop grounds.
Carl and Jimmy Sjolund charging out to the scallop grounds.
Captain Bob Rank waiting for the temperature to go up.
Jimmy Sjolund waiting for the temp to go up.
Mike "Mac" McInerney and Chuck Stojack waiting for the temp to go up.
Chuck Stojack.
Mac waiting for the temp to go up.
Mac and Chuck.
Calm and cold harbor. Waiting for the temp to get to 28 degrees so we can start fishing.
Mac.
The Ruthie B.
Ruthie B a little after sunrise.
Sunrise over the Boat Basin.


Sunrise over the Boat Basin.
Buck Of The Week:
I got this old bruiser on my trail cam early one morning headed back to his bed for the day. 99% of the bucks I capture on my trail cam are nocturnal. They move between the hours of midnight and 5 or 6am. They spend every second of the daylight hours hiding in the thickest brush imaginable avoiding humans. Smart animals. Click on picture twice to enlarge.

11 comments:

Sharon said...

Another great series, Martie. Those sunrise shots are breathtaking, especially the Picture of the Week!

Sharon

Martie said...

Thanks, Sharon! It was a beautiful morning. 99.999% of the people on Nantucket never see what I see on a daily basis out on the water.

Richard said...

Why was that steel scallop boat in on such a calm morning? It's usually a breakdown or an injury.Hard to believe 30 years ago almost all of the scallopers were Eastern rigs and wooden ones at that,and many were still fishing after 30 or 40 years of hard use.I miss seeing them.

Martie said...

Not sure why that sea scalloper was here. She left soon after I took that picture.

Richard said...

Is the Ruthie B. abandoned or retired from fishing? it hasn't left the dock in ages.Is that a swordfish pulpit on the bow? The owner must be planning a trip to southern waters.

Martie said...

Not sure what is going on with the Ruthie B. Her owner is currently commercial bay scalloping. I think he's severely restricted on his days at sea now with all the new government regulations. I know she's due for a major haul out and repairs.

Dirck Van Lieu said...

Martie, very nice sunrise shot! It's good to see the scallop fleet. I usually don't get past Marine in the morning so I haven't been to the water in ages. Glad to see it here.

Martie said...

Thanks, Dirck. Glad to be of service. I'm down at the waterfront every morning. No need to drive past Marine. I'll document everything for you. ;>)

Dirck Van Lieu said...

I don't have to go scalloping, the gulls drop them on my truck. And on everything else at work. It sounds like gunshots on the metal roofs.

I'm so close to the creeks every day. I wish I could see them.

Dirck Van Lieu said...

Martie, as Nantucket's Waterman With a Camera, you have to keep us informed and entertained! We are looking forward to the February Picture of the Week...

Martie said...

Dirck,
I've been out of the waterfront loop lately although I am down there every day, several time a day. I'm just not taking pictures. I am very busy with my other interest which is deer. I'm spending a lot of time recording them and watching them. I promise to update the blog in the very near future. A lot of people are asking for an update. Stay tuned. I'll be back! Thanks for stopping in.