Despite a few precious bay scallops being dredged from Lake Montauk, the season has been a total bust just about everywhere on the East End since it opened in early November.
This marks the sixth consecutive year of incredibly poor harvests. Wash, rinse, repeat. It’s a sad story for those who pursue and consume one of our most savored local shellfish.
But up to the northeast, on the windswept shores of Nantucket, the catch for the same scallops that we treasure here has been robust since the season opened on Nov. 1.
According to Nantucket’s Natural Resources Department, there are more adult scallops in Nantucket Harbor than at any time since 2012. In that year, the tiny island’s commercial baymen harvested more than 18,000 bushels, well beyond what has been caught there in recent years. A typical bushel of scallops will usually yield between five and seven pounds of shucked meat.
But that’s where an unfortunate problem has unfolded on Nantucket. There are nearly 90 percent fewer baymen plying their trade on the water than there were in 1985. Back then, there were nearly 300 who held a commercial permit to harvest the tasty bivalve. What does this say?
In short, there are not enough people today to harvest the bounty on the harbor bottom, and this has developed into an issue of concern.
Last week the Nantucket Harbor and Shellfish Advisory Board agreed to increase the daily scallop bushel limit for the scant few commercial scallopers from five bushels to six bushels for the remainder of the season. Good news, right?
I look at this decision as both good and bad. It’s nice that scallopers can retain more of the popular bivalve, given how plentiful they are. It’s more money that will go into their pockets for the hard work they do. They greatly deserve it.
Yet, on the flip side, it’s sad to see that so many hard-working people have departed from the industry over the past few decades. There are fewer people today making a living working on the water, and not just on Nantucket.
As we’ve witnessed here on the East End, we too are experiencing a dramatic decline of those who rise at the break of dawn to put fresh seafood on our table. Increased restrictions and poorer catches have played a large part in the exodus.
But the largest factor is that it’s just too darn expensive for many people, especially younger folks, to live and work here, where the cost of living outstrips their income.
While a few local seafood shops are selling our beloved bay scallops, we should be reminded to support those here who work on the water and catch and net fresh local seafood, whether from a wooden skiff or stout offshore trawler.
As for fishing, you better act quick if you want to catch blackfish. The season comes to a close on Dec. 22. Anglers are allowed to retain four fish over 16 inches.
I’m scheduled to climb aboard a charter on Dec. 15 out of Montauk with some good friends. Hopefully the tog, and most importantly the weather, will cooperate that day. Fingers are crossed.
Squid heads, rejoice! The epic nighttime run of squid continues out at Montauk. Even a few whiting are mixing in with the catch. Now that’s old school fish we rarely see in the market anymore.
Party boats like the Ebb Tide II, Montauk Star, and the Viking Fleet have taken advantage of the copious amounts of calamari being landed under the luminescent lights that shine from above the main deck.
Best wishes to all this holiday season. Tight lines and following seas.
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Fishing tips, observations, and photographs can be sent to [email protected].