Highliner Carl Sjolund

Carl Sjolund has been commercial scalloping for a long time. Well over 50 years. There is nothing he doesn't know about the industry. He has forgotten more about scalloping than I will ever know about it. I have only been commercial scalloping for 30 years. I'm a rookie.. Carl is one of the very few highliners in the fleet. He gets his limit before anyone else. He's fast. I remember back in the early 80's I was scalloping in my boat alongside Nelson Joyce. Nelson used to fish out of a big old grey Novi boat. He eventually bought a 24' Chesapeake Classic. In any event,  we were scalloping one day late in the season in the middle of First Bend. We spotted Carl going home early with his limit of scallops. Nelson looked over at me and said "I couldn't get my limit that fast if someone put them in my boat for me." I'll always remember that day. Carl has seen it all through the years. Good years, not so good years and years where there were hardly any scallops around. He never complains. He goes out every day, gets his limit, opens them and has a good year every year.  He knows that every year is different and that if you work hard, you will get your limit. A true highliner.

Here are a few pictures of Carl out scalloping in the harbor back in January-

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February 9th Northeast Storm

We had quite a blow here last night and today. Not very much snow but a lot of wind. Anywhere between 70 and 90 mph. I went down to the waterfront during the storm to check on my scallop boat and take a few pictures-
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Flooding at the waterfront 2 hours before the high tide.

Finger piers under water 2 hours before the high tide at Straight Wharf.

A sinking scallop boat.

Old North Wharf under water two hours before the high tide.

Old North Wharf.

Tree down. East Polpis Harbor.

A very rough East Polpis Harbor.

A frozen salt spray encrusted house on the waterfront.

Icy Waterfront/Straight Wharf Work

Sorry for the delay, folks. I've been struggling for a long time with severe cataracts in both eyes. It's hard to lurk around the waterfront and take pictures when you cannot see well. In any event, I had surgery done on one eye which has made a world of difference in my vision. I'm able to get back out on the waterfront and resume taking pictures. We have had some serious cold here the past week. I haven't seen it this cold for almost ten years. The harbor and sound has started to ice up. I remember the last time we had any ice in the harbor was back in 2004-2005. I'm hoping this cold weather will help the scallops get healthy and grow for next season. Right now they are very small and unhealthy. Work has started on Straight Wharf. Frank Balester and his crew is busy replacing all the decking on the wharf. They are starting at the A&P end of the wharf and will go all the way to the Rope Walk. Never a dull moment down at the waterfront.