PROVINCETOWN — A Barnstable Superior Court judge last month ordered the North Shore owner of a 70-foot sea clam boat to pay $7,500 in docking fees and obtain a permit […]
Fisheries
STATE OF THE HARBOR
Shellfish Propagation Strategies Reap Promising Results
Insights from research on how to keep clams ‘happy’ and where oysters might grow
WELLFLEET — Sometime in June, a fleet of pickup trucks rumbled into the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot and met for a handoff. Their drivers were “not making a drug deal,” […]
THE DREDGE REPORT
Shellfishermen, Scientists Study Wellfleet’s Goo
‘Black custard’ isn’t toxic, but it can be perilous
WELLFLEET — Chopper Young was working on his oyster grant one day when a shrill note pierced Chipman’s Cove. Stranded in the mucky tidal flats was a woman in a kayak. […]
WHARFINGERS
The Lagasses’ Marina Deal Required a Harbor Walk by 2019
Pier Corp. board members question using public money to help get it built
PROVINCETOWN — When Chuck and Ann Lagasse bought Fisherman’s Wharf in 2016, the Chapter 91 license they secured from the state required them to construct a harbor walk on the […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
When East Winds Pummel Our Harbor
It’s time for those who have boats to rethink readiness
The Provincetown waterfront once again took a severe beating from a coastal storm which, other than Hurricane Bob, was probably as intense as any coastal storm we’ve experienced in recent […]
THE DREDGE REPORT
Race to Rescue Oysters From Dredge’s Path
Silt would put Chipman’s Cove’s ‘tremendous’ oyster crop at risk
WELLFLEET — When the dense sea lettuce in Chipman’s Cove cleared up a few weeks ago, Nancy Civetta and Johnny “Clam” Mankevetch of the Wellfleet Shellfish Dept. strolled through at […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
A Look Back at the Quirks of the Season
It’s time to haul out and sharpen our hooks for next year
It’s that time of year once again. Charter boat captains are doing all those little projects on their boats that there was no time for in season. Boats are beginning […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
On This Waterfront, We Get It. You Can’t Do It Alone.
Of bluefish, tuna, mola molas, and the colorful characters who define the season
Fall is looming, as the days get shorter and the air and water temperatures drop a little more each week. September can be a tremendous month for fishing here. It’s […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Weathering the Weather and Keeping On Fishing
This is the new normal; it’s time to start adapting
In a summer of relentless storms, the latest to hit the waterfront was what remained of Hurricane Ida. This one came racing up the East Coast and packed a much […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Bluefish and Blue Crabs, Too
There’s also bonito out there, and a chance at more stripers as they migrate south
Happy days are here again. Bluefish are still solidly in our area, and catches have been fantastic. Can we officially declare the five-year bluefish drought over? I don’t think anyone […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Henri’s Wallop Is More Financial Than Physical
Boats haul out, but squid, bluefish, and dolphins are here
The summer of big storms continues, with our first named storm rolling into the Provincetown waterfront over the weekend. Henri was initially predicted to hammer Cape Cod, but its sharp […]
SHELLFISHING
Temporary Moratorium Imposed on New Town-Owned Grants
Wellfleet Shellfish Advisory Board asked to recommend uses of HDYLTA Trust flats
WELLFLEET — The select board imposed a temporary moratorium on aquaculture grants on town-owned flats off Indian Neck on Aug. 16, pending a review by the town’s shellfish advisory board. […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Bluefish Reign, but Hypoxia Threatens South End of Bay
A major factor is lawn fertilizer raising nitrogen levels
As the water heats up, the bluefishing just keeps getting better and better. I recorded some extraordinary surface water temperatures last week: 77 degrees in the harbor, and 75 degrees […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Stripers Are Scarce, as Blues and Squid Take Their Place
Capt. Tom Smith pulls a relic from the ocean floor
We have fallen into what used to be the normal summer pattern, but which we haven’t seen here in eight years: striped bass have all but disappeared in our local […]
HDYLTA
2 Years Later, Planning Starts on Those Indian Neck Tidal Flats
Some call for balancing interests of shellfishing, boating, and upland owners
WELLFLEET — More than two years ago, town meeting voters bought 254.5 acres of shellfish flats for $2 million, with half the money donated by select board member Helen Miranda […]
