Family Scallop Season A Bust

My waterfront informants have reported to me that the first day of family scalloping season did not go well at all. The rumor is that there are no scallops to be found. One scalloper went to Moneymoy and it took him two hours to get two scallops. This is no surprise to me as there was no seed last year. I was told that there is a lot of seed around which is very good news for next season. If it lives. Hopefuly these preliminary rumors are false and I will update later with better news but for now, it doesn't look good.

BUCK OF THE WEEK:

I set up one of my trail cams in the middle moors and had some very good luck. This nice little 6-point came by the cam one night. Note the lack of brow tines on the animal.

Autumn At The Waterfront

We finally have our island back. It was a particularly tough summer for the locals. The rudeness displayed by most of the visitors around the island was out of control. It was the worst I have ever seen in the 46 years I have lived on Nantucket. I have spoken to several other people and they all agreed with me.

In any event, most everyone is gone and the island is breathing a huge sigh of relief. I ventured down to the docks recently and was surprised how quiet it was there.

Mike Allen's new boat. He built this himself.
Another of Mike Allen's boats with ducks on her swim platform.
T/T Nantucket Lightship motoring out of the Boat Basin.
A Golden on the deck of a Sportfisher. Boat Basin.
This friendly cat has been a fixture around the docks for several years.
A mega-yacht docked at a mostly empty Boat Basin.
Mega-yacht. Boat Basin.
Belle on her daily cruise around the harbor.
A mostly empty Boat Basin.
Belle motoring back to her slip in the Boat Basin.

BUCK OF THE WEEK:

I named him "Big Seven". I have been following him and photographing him with my trail cams all summer. Look at his neck. And it's not even the rut yet! I'm hoping to get a shot of him coming out of velvet but he is very elusive. Smart old buck for sure.

Nantucket Lightship

The Nantucket Lightship made a visit here recently. I spotted her yesterday at anchor in the chord of the bay. She made her way into the harbor and is now up near First Point on her anchor. I took my boat out today to have a look at her. She looks great!

BUCK OF THE WEEK:

I've been following a bachelor group of bucks all summer long. I observe them every evening. There are three of them. I'm almost positive there is a set of twins in the group. They are about the same size and they never leave each other's side. They are always together. Recently I set up one of my trail cams at their location. One of the twins was very curious and checked out my cam. Deer are very curious creatures and investigate anything new in their environment.

Here are the twins together taken by my digital SLR camera (not a trail cam)

Interesting Boats In The Anchorage And Mooring Field

Every summer I make it a point to cruise though the general anchorage and mooring field a few times with my boat. If you are a fan of boats like me, there is always something new and interesting to see there. I visited the anchorage and mooring field today and took note of a few old girls there.

Not sure what this vessel is. I'm thinking she may be some sort of swordfish boat??


Not sure what she is but she looks pretty salty.
A nice double ender. I've seen her here before.
Red Head. I believe she's a River Queen boat.
A beautiful Hans Christian.
Hans Christian.
A nice American Tug. Note her dummy stack.
The big girls Med-moored at the east face of Straight Wharf.

Look Out!!! Hy-Line. Main channel.

BUCK OF THE WEEK:

Last winter I spent four days cutting a path through the thick brush deep in the eastern part of the island. It's a third of a mile long. At the end of the path, I set up one of my trail cams to document the deer in the area. I have had some really good results at that location. It's very private. The deer are not bothered or pressured in any way. I placed my new Bushnell trail cam in there all last week set to video. I was pleased to get this nice buck on video when I went in and checked the cam. I will be documenting him further with my cams. I'm interested to see what he looks like when he comes out of velvet. I think he has some potential.

Random Shots From Moneymoy

This time of the year I spend a lot of time at Moneymoy. It's a great location to keep an eye on the waterfront and catch the last light of the day. It's also a great place to grab a few shots of the sunset.
I was at Moneymoy this evening. It felt like fall. Summer is nearly over. Another 5 weeks and we will have our island back. I'm looking forward to it.

Not sure if this is legal. It's a fence a homeowner built to keep us unwashed off "his" beach at Moneymoy.
Dune restoration???? The closest dune is 5 miles from this location. Just another attempt to keep us unwashed away from the beach at Moneymoy. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here.

BUCK OF THE WEEK:

I set up one of my trail cams in a different area of the island than I usually set my cams up in. A place entirely new to me. The second night my cam was there I got a big buck on film. He looks to be an 8-point, possibly a seven. It's hard to tell because his right side is starting to palmate. I believe I can see an 8th point forming. This is a nice buck by Nantucket standards. Note the curved brow tines. I will be documenting this big guy with my trail cams. It will be interesting to see him when he comes out of velvet. He still has about a month and a half of antler growth at an inch of growth per day.