Two Thursdays ago, I decided it was time to pull out my lobster traps for the season. I knew in advance that I had other commitments to attend to, so it made sense to haul them onto dry land until they get dunked once again next March.
The season in my management area concludes on Sept. 8 and even though it will reopen on Nov. 26, at that point my Rock Water will have been pulled out of the water for a few months of well-deserved winter rest.
Much to my surprise, when looking at my logbook I saw that my lobster catch was better than expected this year. Two years ago, after 16 trips to the lobster grounds, I trapped 115 lobsters. This year, in 12 trips, I retained 130 keepers. A much better success rate.
Still, my lobster landings going back to 1995 are down, and that’s no surprise. Lobsters in our local waters have been on a downswing for decades.
Even more disturbing, according to my log, is the downward spiral of juvenile lobsters and egg-bearing females caught in my traps. The decline has been severe over the past 20 years. This year alone, I only trapped a few undersize lobsters, or eggers. It’s a troubling trend that does not bode well for the future.
Back in the late 1990s, there were well over 300 registered commercial lobster fishermen on Long Island. As of 2023, there were fewer than 50 and probably fewer than half of them are actually engaged in the fishery on a full-time basis. The tide has turned for many who once gained a solid income from the tasty crustacean.
Over all, America’s lobster fishing business has dipped in catches while grappling with challenges including a changing ocean environment and new rules designed to protect rare whales.
The lobster industry, based mostly in Maine, has had an unprecedented decade in terms of the volume and value of the lobsters brought to the docks. But members of the industry have also said they face existential threats from proposed rules intended to protect the North Atlantic right whale and from climate change, which is influencing where lobsters can be trapped.
Maine fishermen’s catch in 2023 fell more than 5 percent from the year that preceded it, and the total of 93.7 million pounds of lobsters caught was the lowest figure since 2009, according to data by the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Still, my modest catch this year was most welcome. I was able to share it with many friends and have an abundance of lobster meat vacuum-sealed in the freezer for future dinners when the weather turns cold.
On the local fishing scene, the action has morphed into late summer mode.
And for the most part, the fishing has been quite solid.
Those who focus on tuna, bluefin especially, continue to see tremendous action. As well, a few more yellowfins and bigeye tuna have shown up lately. Mahimahi are also mixing in. Offshore anglers have most certainly had a great season thus far.
Inshore anglers are keeping busy with nice catches of striped bass, bluefish, sea bass, fluke, and porgies.
The old salt Capt. Harvey Bennett, former longtime owner of the Tackle Shop in Amagansett, remains on the hunt for a few more baseballs and gloves that he wants to package off to underprivileged children in Cuba. “The response I got from those in Cuba in my first shipment this spring was overwhelming. But there are still a few kids there who can still use a glove and/or ball. It’s really sad to see how poor they are, but they are so beyond grateful for what they receive.” Bennett can be reached at 631-324-7770 or [email protected].
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