Daily Archives: September 24, 2016
Fisherman names his newborn son Andrew after the shrimp boat and crew that saved his life
A Murrells Inlet fisherman, who was pulled from the Atlantic Ocean by a nearby shrimp boat when his vessel capsized, became a new father Friday. And just as he promised, Adam Wiseman named his son, Andrew, after the crew that saved his life. “Baby Andrew made his entrance today weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces,” Wiseman said on Friday. “True to my word (I) named (him) after a shrimp boat!” Wiseman and Cooper didn’t have time to call for help, but the Captain Andrew – Georgetown’s oldest wooden hull shrimp boat, still in service after 48 years – was shrimping nearby when Wiseman’s boat went under. Crew members saw Wiseman swimming for a floating ice box and set out to save the sinking vessel and its men. Baby Andrew came into the world at 7:41 a.m. on Friday. Ten fingers. Ten toes. Big smiles on a lot of faces. Read the story here 14:03
So. You wanna be a “Wicked Tuna” Fisherman, eh? Stranded in Mattapoisett
Anthony Rhodes has had a rough week. The 22-year-old West Virginian was left stranded in Mattapoisett with $60 to his name, a skateboard and a 31-foot fishing boat taking on water. After watching “Wicked Tuna,” a National Geographic Channel show about Gloucester blue fin fishermen, Rhodes knew that’s what he wanted to do. Bringing his uncle, a mechanic, with him, and using funds from an accident insurance settlement, Rhodes came to Massachusetts in search of a boat. He found a reasonably priced 1972 fishing boat in good condition, got his commercial fishing license and had Brownell Systems tow the boat to Mattapoisett. Then things started to tank. Rhodes said small amounts of money began to disappear, but he assumed his uncle, who he didn’t want to name, may have sent some of it home to his family. Not knowing how to use the bilge pumps, the boat began taking on water, something was draining the batteries and the starters weren’t working. “We have no idea about boats,” admitted Rhodes. Read the story here 13:35
Celebrate the Legacy of Maine Lobster for National Lobster Day, Sept.25th 2016
Americans adore live Maine lobster and will order it for special occasions, fly it in from Maine, and have given it important scenes in movies. Nostalgia for Mainers’ gruff independence, isolation, and willingness to brave dangerous seas in pursuit of Larry lobster is ingrained in our nation’s psyche. Plying the open seas at the mercy of nature is just part of the mystique, but it’s also real and our respect for the hard work the lobstermen do is genuine. Maine lobster fishing is a 400 year old bit of Americana that is as authentic today as it was in 1605 when the first recorded lobster catch was made by Captain George Waymouth and his crew aboard the boat the Archangel. They cast a net just off shore of the island of Monhegan and were pleasantly surprised to have pulled up a generous haul of fish and many “great lobsters.” Read the story here 12:48
Governor Brown signs Whale Legislation, but the Enviros are never satisfied.
California Gov. Jerry Brown announced Friday that he signed legislation meant to bring down the record numbers of whales getting caught in fishing gear meant for Dungeness crabs, causing unknown numbers of the entangled mammals to drown or starve. The Democratic governor approved the bill that allows fishermen to collect abandoned and lost crab pots — the cage-like contraptions used to catch the crustaceans — in the off-season for a bounty, paid for by those who lost the gear. Crab fishermen joined environmental groups in backing the legislation after federal agencies logged 61 reports of entangled whales off the West Coast last year,,, Conservation groups have urged state and federal agencies to do more, including closing some areas with high numbers of whales to crab fishing. Read the story here 12:32
Marine Safety: Man-Overboard Device for Immediate Alert and Fast Response
Professional mariners know the life-threatening hazards of falling overboard, but may not consider how critical the recovery window is, especially with a moving vessel. Compact and easily carried on a PFD, the ALERT2 Man-Overboard Alarm System from Emerald Marine Products immediately sets off a piercing audible alarm in the wheelhouse upon immersion, and can even be wired to stop an engine and/or set a waypoint on a chartplotter. At its most basic, the easily installed ALERT2 Man-Overboard Alarm System consists of the AT101 Transmitter and AR100 Receiver. Combined, the reliable and proven system provides crew with the critical extra seconds needed for a successful, locally managed man overboard (MOB) rescue operation. Read the rest here 09:52
Fishing With A Glock 9mm Handgun Underwater? These Lionfish Don’t Stand A Goddamn Chance
The grey line that divides hunting and fishing just grew even murkier after these bros demonstrated how fun and easy it is to go fishing/hunting for Lionfish, an extremely invasive species in Florida, using a Glock 9mm pistol. Lionfish were never meant to make it to the Gulf of Mexico waters, and there’s some discrepancy on how the fish were first introduced but in general it’s suggested a few of the fish were dumped into Florida waters during a hurricane back in the 90s and that handful of fish multiplied like rabbits. And as noted in this video, a SINGLE Lionfish consumes 80% of a coral reef’s edible baitfish within 5 weeks of arriving on that reef. They’re a goddamn terrorizing nuisance! 2 video’s, Read the rest here 08:42
