My View of Life on the Dock
Here is Peter Mondello offloading some newly built lobster traps.
Peter is the exception and not the rule as he builds all his traps himself. Most guys buy their lobster traps from a trap builder like Winchester Fishing Gear, Friendship Trap Company or Eaton Traps.
Peter and his brother Joe use a shop under their father’s cobblers shop across from Saint Ann’s Church to build new traps and repair broken ones.
Peter Mondello Readies New Gear, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Susie is a fisherman. She loves fishing. Recently she signed on to fish with Johnny “Doc” Herrick aboard The Dog and I. Johnny said that he’s never had a back man push him to fish harder than Susie has pushed him. She just loves being out there.
She also loves working with fused glass.
Here are some of her pieces (as always you can click on any picture and select “all sizes” to see the picture full sized and in greater detail)
Susie Byrd Fisherman Fused Glass Art, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Allison Wile is a lobsterman. She lobsters with husband Tim.
She says that she likes to go-go-go and get through hauling the gear in a hurry while husband Tim likes to take his time and find just the right spots to set back the trawls as to no set his trawl over other lobstermen’s trawls. That’s a pretty considerate way to go lobster fishing. Some lobstermen are considerate while others will set their gear on top of yours even if they know you are set in a spot. That is when lobstermen have to break out the knife and cut each other’s trawl lines to get their gear to the surface. It can deter a guy from setting back in that location and drive him away from good lobstering. It can also start mini lobster wars where no one wins.
Allison Wile- Lobsteman, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Tony Gross’ Messed Up Claw, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Reference this post for the background on how this happened by clicking this text
Tony Gross’ Messed Up Claw, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
I knew something was wrong when Tony’s wife Abby pulled up to the dock with his lobsters. Abby never comes down the dock but this day was different.
Tony Got his finger stuck in the hauler and it ripped the tip off. Not good.
Toby Burnham Pitchforks Fish Racks, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Toby uses bluefish racks for bait. it is cheaper than herring and stays in the bait bags longer.
Toby Burnham Pitchforks Fish Racks, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Here’s Stevie ready to tie the stern line tight as soon as the boat is lined up for offloading.
Stevie Aboard The Lady Jane, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Fisherman Tattoos- Trapper John, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Here’s Mikey and Ringo preparing to toss the lines to the dock and tie her up. There has been an influx of dogfish where they fish which makes a mess of the nets and creates a ton of work picking through them to get to the whiting.
The problem with the dogfish is that there is a 600lb per boat per day quota and if you load up a bag with 5000lbs that you have to throw back overboard, it just isn’t a whole lot of fun.
Many lobstermen believe that this quota on dogfish is hurting the lobster industry along with the large size limit on striper bass as these predators devour baby lobsters.
Mikey and Ringo Prepare To Toss The Lines, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Here is George, first mate on The Trapper John taking off his oilskins after a long day fishing.
George Taking Off His Oilskins, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
All baited up and ready to go lobstering. See the bait in the tote? That’s what you call dragger bait and is mostly comprised of mud hake, small whiting and herring.
Matt Ring Aboard The Stanley Thomas, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Chris Orsillo of the Trapper John’s other arm. The names Mia and Austin his two children.
Fishermen Tattoos- Chris Orsillo, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
One of Chris Orsillo (Trapper) tattoos.
The paw print is a bear paw. He tells me that Orsillo stands for little bear in Italian hence the bear paw. Then he has a claw dangling representing each one of his brothers and the two feathers hanging down represent his parents.
Fishermen Tattoos- Chris Orsillo, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Here’s Doug Opie, skipper of The Broken Arrow with his catch at our doors here at Captain Joe’s. Check out his faithful sidekick Cash in the back window making sure everything is in order.
Lobsterman Truck Series- Doug Opie, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
I think Mark forgot to take his meds this morning.
Busty Brancleone, originally uploaded by captjoe06.
Good Morning Gloucester 