Category: Fishermen Profiles

A couple of days ago this fresh faced youngster came in the office looking for a job on a lobster boat.

Frank usually handles these requests because I hate to go to bat for an unknown and put them on a lobsterboat.  Inevitably about 20% of these guys off the street work out.  When they don’t work out I feel like I’m the asshole when said greenhead doesn’t show up to go lobstering and the skipper looks at you like it’s your fault because you recommended him.

Well Frank asked the greenhead if he had any previous lobstering experience and he told us that he had gone a couple times on an inshore lobsterman’s boat.  Inshore lobstering aboard a boat that only hauls 100 or so traps a day is entirely unlike lobstering on one of the hard core lobstermen with big boats and serious drive.  So he didn’t have a whole lot of experience but he looked clean cut and not a druggie and seemed like he had a desire to learn the trade.

So one of our best lobstermen and also one of the most hard core, Tuffy had been looking for a second backman to complement the ever reliable Nate.  Tuffy goes HARD.  It’s not a boat ride around the inner harbor and back to shore for Tuffy.  He’s going deep and hard and through the winter in the worst of elements.

Well of all days to be initiated into the world of hard core lobstering, this poor unfortunate soul got indoctrinated today.  In this weather, 25-45 mile per hour north west wind.  Not fun.  It was pouring rain this morning when they pulled up to get bait and when I saw the greenhead aboard all I could think about was how fucked this kid was going to be today (and not in the good way).

I mentioned to Frank that the “new kid” was on Tuffy’s boat and he rolled his eyes, knowing that the kid is in for a long day.

So fast forward to a few minutes ago.  A few bolts of thunder sounded off and the rain was coming down in sheets so Frank decided to call Tuffy to see how they were doing out there.  Tuffy said the greenhead had been puking all day long even while he was putting herring into the bait bags.

Tuffy also added “I like bringing new guys.  It means I get to eat their lunch.”

I can just picture Tuffy laughing at the kid, saying “Hey kid, you gonna eat that?”

When the kid shakes his head no, weak and a faint color green he’ll rip the brown bag that the greenhead packed off the dash and tear into his peanut butter jelly sandwich.  Laughing the whole time.