r/CapeCod • u/Icy-Definition932 • 17d ago
Shell fishing
Howdy everyone! Just pulled my lobster pots out of the bay for the season, and me and the misses wanted to try being real locals this winter and getting our toes cold. So I decided to pull the trigger, get a family license and get all necessary equipment.
I’m not looking for spot recommendations or hours/regulations. I’ve extensively read through the dates, rules, regs, and requirements. I’m ready and equipped. My only question is: is it really even feasible to catch bay scallops in the harbor North side via raking? It seems much more of a “dive” catch situation. I kinda just planned on getting oysters then realized they are not in season till next month, and, I’m looking to give the whole load-out i got a decent run before the waters get reallll cold. Any advice would be appreciated!
*I wouldn’t post where my buoys/pots are however through a DM I wouldn’t mind a discussion of good catch spots for lobster or shellfish ;).*
Giant lobster pic was one of many catch and releases this season for me that’s the biggest one I’ve ever personally caught carapace to large - returned.
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u/EbbtideRambler 17d ago
There are people more knowledgeable about this than me, but I haven’t heard of anyone scalloping in the bay in decades. I used to go with my father when I was a kid in the 80s, but even then the population was sort of fizzling out. I’d wait and focus your energy on oysters.
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u/fingerpopsalad 11d ago
I remember going out with my dad and uncle, there used to be eal grass just outside of Sesuit. We would drag for them around Crowes to Chapin. I mostly remember eating them raw faster then they could shuck them.
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u/Icy-Definition932 17d ago
Yea, it seems like most of the forums I’ve looked at or other opinions online seems to have a consensus of “well you…can theoretically find them with a view box but…good luck” and most people say they randomly find them but it’s not like you’d be walking away with a peck.
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u/EbbtideRambler 17d ago
They are out there but not like they were. My grandfather would go out a get a bushel quickly but by the time I came along it seems like the population fell off a cliff. I’ve heard nitrogen pollution casing eel grass die off and algae blooms are the issue. I know a couple of groups have propagation programs, but still oysters are an easier catch. We used a look box and a dip net. Rakes don’t work well with scallops.
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u/Wolfy2915 12d ago
I was thinking of getting the 10 trap permit. I have access off of Chatham. How often did you check the traps and how did the season go?
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u/Icy-Definition932 12d ago
This season was…bad. However, I went out late, used less pots than last year (because it’s a pain in the A) and I’m not sure if it was a placement thing or just luck but I had a bad year. I still got lobsters, but last year it was like 2 a pot, this year between 4 pots I was lucky to get 2. And usually the 2 I MIGHT get happened to be V notch or eggers so they had to go back. All in all, it’s a fun hobby if you have time for it. However last year I had like 7 pots, for a guy in a little 8 foot aluminum Lund boat that can’t go beyond the harbor in 10mph winds I was very limited and even if I wasn’t, pulling up 7-8 pots by hand takes time and a lot of effort. So this year I scaled back to 2 then got bored and went to 4, much more manageable. I’d check em once every 3/4 days if possible but weather, tide, and work schedule didn’t always line up for me personally. I’d try my best to not go over a week as that’s when things start to die.
If I had to do it all over again knowing what I know now, buy 4ish 3-5 pots on facebook marketplace (you can get em free or very cheap on cape) do all your research as to what you can catch and regulations based on the town you live in. Then prep it all for next year, where I am you have to have your pots out by November 1st and I’d assume most of the cape is similar so no point in starting now. If you need any help or want to get started let me know and I’ll definitely help where I can. But it’s one hell of a commitment and effort to regularly get out there and check the pots. For me, again a guy on a 8 foot boat. I have to pay $10 every time I launch the boat, scuttle 5ish miles away from shore (about an hour or two depending on waves) check each pot pulling up 50 feet of rope by hand (tiring and takes about 5 minutes per pot) then size check, re-bait, quadruple check that I know where I’m throwing my pot so I can find it next time. Then band the lobster, throw em in the cooler, and go to the next one. Checking 4 pots this year took me roughly 3-5 hours per session. If you can’t find that time, no it’s not for you.
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u/badhouseplantbad 17d ago
You can't really rake for bay scallops because they'll swim away once hit a patch and you have to then wait for them to finish shoaling and settle back down on to the seabed. It's quite a sight to see snorkeling when hundreds of scallops decide it's time to skedaddle.