We're back from PEI safe and sound. Since you are all interested in fish on this forum, here's a recap of my summers fish related activities.
May and June are lobster season. It's expected you go down to the dock about noon as the fishing boats come in and buy your lobsters directly from a fisherman. I usually got a 5 gallon bucket, 15 pounds or so, of canners for $4.00 a pound every Monday. The early cold water lobsters are the best of the season, sweet and full.
This salt water speckled trout I caught off the pier as I was waiting for my lobster fisherman to come in. As these sea run trout spend time in salt water they lose their typical colours and spots and appear mostly just silver. Two weeks back in fresh water and the vibrant colours return.
A five gallon bucket of bar clams yields enough meat for fried calms, clam chowder and clam sashimi. Most of the fun is digging them as cleaning them is a pain in the butt. Tradition dictates that you do this when visitors are staying over. You also have a choice of steamer clams, razor clams, quahogs and mussels.
Every year I go out on a charter boat with company a few times. For $40 a head it's way cheaper than operating a boat yourself. And safer, as the ocean is a whole other kettle of fish (pardon the pun) weather and wave-wise. Cod are the targeted fish and usually you come away with a good feed. It makes a nice evening cruise for the wife as well.
And here's where I shop for halibut. When the season is on, just wander down to the pier and buy a filet, side or a whole fish. This year's rate was $10 a pound for filets. Some good. I like it blackened .
The ubiquitous mackerel. As the summer continues, the mackerel become more plentiful closer to shore. By August into October casting from a dock or pier will get you fish. Sometimes though, they are mysteriously elsewhere and you may have to wait for the schools to forage by again. When they are on, you can catch a lot. When it's worthwhile, I'll spark up the smoker and do enough to last for a week or so. The wife likes them raw with a bit of wasabi and sauce.
Most brook trout in the streams are of a smallish size, but every so often the sea runs will appear and it's a new ball game. These I caught in a stream 6 feet wide with my 6' 3wt fly rod. They still have a silver hue, Both the large and small ones are delicious.
There's a recreational ground fish season in Aug/Sept when you can catch flounders (which is filet of sole) off the dock. They make a great boneless filet and are tasty-mild in flavour. The smelt were in around too, and we kept a few just to try them out. All interesting fish.
Add to that oysters, steamer clams, hake, and more lobster, then a bucket of blueberries, it's a foragers paradise. This year I didn't go for bluefin tuna, but next year's a different story. Gotta dream.
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