Had a good and BAD day!
Good in the sense that I beat my record haul for the traps I hauled today.
But it was also bad but could have been worse.
First off, I was in my 18 foot outboard alone today. At around 12:30 I was hauling down a shore and booking it. I had about 50 traps to go out of 300 and was only interested in finishing. I ran to my next buoy, grabbed it and the trap was hung down. I cut the wheel and throttled up to get over the trap and as I was turning saw a 30 foot boat running towards shore. Watched it for a few seconds before it crashed onto the ledges. I dropped the buoy and ran wide open to check on the guy. Seriously thinking that I would have to haul his body up from a trap he had just set. Nearing the boat I could make out someone on hands and knees in the floor. I got to the boat and he was very confused, still had the boat in gear. I got the boat out of gear and towed him off the rocks. I have never seen anyone have a swelling bump on their head as he did. When I first showed up he had three cuts on his face from hitting "stuff" when the boat ran aground. After towing him off the rocks and checking his bow he had a 6 inch circle that was at least two inches higher than any surrounding area. He still wanted to haul but I made it clear that he had to go home or I would call the Coast Guard to get him. He decided to go home and I ran to a boat not too far away that was running in to keep an eye on him.
He told me that his foot had gotten caught and knocked him off his feet. Then he couldn't reach the throttle or gear switches. Most of his injuries were from the crash I presume.
It wasn't good but could have been much much worse.
The only other time I have had that feeling in the pit of my stomach is when I told my father to check on another boat because I hadn't seen it move for awhile. We checked the boat to find noone. Hauled his traps to find where he left off baiting and didn't find him in the rope. Coast Guard searched for him for a couple of hours with nothing. A dragger pulled some bones that matched his DNA about a year after.
But it was also bad but could have been worse.
First off, I was in my 18 foot outboard alone today. At around 12:30 I was hauling down a shore and booking it. I had about 50 traps to go out of 300 and was only interested in finishing. I ran to my next buoy, grabbed it and the trap was hung down. I cut the wheel and throttled up to get over the trap and as I was turning saw a 30 foot boat running towards shore. Watched it for a few seconds before it crashed onto the ledges. I dropped the buoy and ran wide open to check on the guy. Seriously thinking that I would have to haul his body up from a trap he had just set. Nearing the boat I could make out someone on hands and knees in the floor. I got to the boat and he was very confused, still had the boat in gear. I got the boat out of gear and towed him off the rocks. I have never seen anyone have a swelling bump on their head as he did. When I first showed up he had three cuts on his face from hitting "stuff" when the boat ran aground. After towing him off the rocks and checking his bow he had a 6 inch circle that was at least two inches higher than any surrounding area. He still wanted to haul but I made it clear that he had to go home or I would call the Coast Guard to get him. He decided to go home and I ran to a boat not too far away that was running in to keep an eye on him.
He told me that his foot had gotten caught and knocked him off his feet. Then he couldn't reach the throttle or gear switches. Most of his injuries were from the crash I presume.
It wasn't good but could have been much much worse.
The only other time I have had that feeling in the pit of my stomach is when I told my father to check on another boat because I hadn't seen it move for awhile. We checked the boat to find noone. Hauled his traps to find where he left off baiting and didn't find him in the rope. Coast Guard searched for him for a couple of hours with nothing. A dragger pulled some bones that matched his DNA about a year after.
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My family from Boothbay Harbor were all fishermen or lobsterman. Lost my uncle and cousin on the "Kit" in the early fifties. They found the transom floating off Gloucester a few weeks later.
I hope tomorrow is a better day!0 -
I'm not familiar with the terms you are using. Are you crabbing ??
Doug0 -
Lobsterfishing on the Maine coast.
The guy was over 70 but not sure of his age. Just got off the phone with him. His wife took him to the local doctor who had the ambulance take him to the hospital for a scan to make sure his brain wasn't swelling or bleeding. He is going to be fine but sore for awhile. His boat has been hauled out, was leaking from damage to the bow. I knew the bow was damaged but it didn't appear to be leaking when I saw it.0 -
You did a very good thing,........hopefully it will be returned to you if you ever need it![;)] 0 -
A guy here in San Diego was in the water yesterday - in back of a boat - and the guy
driving the boat backed over him.
... a very bad day for both. Only the boat driver went home last night.
[:(]0 -
Danged good thing you was there Rugergunz. Bet he has a concusion. Dangerous occupation you are in, but I'm glad someone does it. I do like those little critters you haul up. Had an uncle that lobstered back in the 60s and before, so we always got lots of them. Wife and I are heading for Searsport Wednesday to pick up a few to munch on. 0
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