Mack Attack

Riverport, NS

July 27, 2013

One of my better hauls of the summer....reminds me I should hit the wharf again to see if there are any Fall run mackerel around.

Riverport: Kraut Point Wharf

Kraut Point Wharf

Riverport, NS

July 31, 2013

Every time I head out to the wharf for some mackeral fishing, I often wonder about the origins of the name.  I guess it's either kraut, as in sauerkraut or it's kraut, as in Sgt. Rock shouting, "take that, you dirty kraut!"  Hopefully the former and not the latter.  

Newfounland: Hard as #$@&

Trout River, NL

June 19, 2013

Nothing says thug like a fishing wharf/wharehouse....who knows, maybe they meant 'tug life'?  That's how it's probably pronounced on the rock, right? ;-)

Newfoundland: Bonne Bay Particular Lenticular?

Woody Point, NL

June 16, 2013

Have I captured an elusive lenticular cloud? 

Looks like it could be, Gros Morne is nearby which might be the source of the unique conditions required to produce these gorgeous clouds.

What say you, readers?  

Newfoundland: Tickle Point

Tickle Point

St. Paul's, NL

June 20, 2013

After a pleasant stroll through coastal wildflower fields, Anglican and Catholic graveyards and sheep pastures we came upon this small collection of fishing shacks that were ripe for photographing.  I'm sure it's a popular spot for photo op's, but finding the access to 'Tickle Point' is not easy.  For some reason, the sign which explains the area is only accessible once you are on the trail, not at the beginning nor at the end.  Puzzling.

We found old rusty bus seats arranged around washing machine fire pits.  Rusted snowmobiles sat beside rotting lobster traps.  I'm glad we got photos before the THICK bank of fog rolled in.  She was some tick.

Newfoundland: Green Point Boat

Green Point, NL

June 21, 2013

It was a windy 'ole solstice out at Green Point that day.  On the plus side, the gusty winds kept the bugs down so we didn't mind.  

I overlooked this photo on my first pass of my Newfoundland snaps, but I'm glad I rediscovered it.  I love the clouds and white caps as well as the random stop sign leaning up against the fishing shack.

Ice Fishing in Sherbrooke, NS

Found this ice fishing video via http://novascotiafishing.com/
According to my fishing buddy, looks like the odd tommy cod gets thrown back into the hole.
Fishing gear used: Gibbs Minnow with a #2 Big eyed Hook with a snap swivel attached to the jig and the hook.
Now if only we could get some consistent ice conditions, I'll be trying my luck fishing for smelt once it's safe to venture out on the ice!

Cod carcass graveyard

Tapper's Cove Wharf

Torbay, Newfoundland

Aug. 12, 2012

This was a sight to behold, hundreds of filet-less cod bodies laying underwater beside the wharf.   I half expected to see legions of crabs and other underwater scavengers crawling over these cod remnants.  Oddly, not much activity down there...at least, not any I could see from the wharf.

Most folks fillet their haul at the wharf and chuck what remains in the water.  I understand why, just imagine 15 cod rotting in your compost bin for 2 weeks and you'll see why folks fillet at the wharf and not at home. 

The Boys

Tapper's Cove wharf -- Torbay, Newfoundland.  Aug. 12, 2012.

August 12th was the last day of Newfoundland's recreational food fishery, so it was quite a busy day at the wharf with everyone and their dog trying to get their boat in/out of the water.  

Lots of fishers and non-fisher onlookers were hanging about, waiting to see who would bring in the biggest cod of the day.  Mine weighed a mere 6 pounds, though I did hear (but did not see) of 20 pound specimens...

What lies beneath: Illex illecebrosus

So, I managed to land my first squid last night!  Turns out it is a Northern shortfin squid; aka Illex illecebrosus.


I think it was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time.  Getting it in the boat happened rather quickly so I can't recall exactly 'where' I got it with my mackerel jig.  I think it was likely in the non tentacle end (is that the head or tail?  Neither?).


Once it was over the gunwhale, it squirted ink all over the inside of the boat and in the bucket where we stuck it to try to contain that black self defence liquid.


After I arrived home, with the help of a youtube 'how to clean a squid' video, I managed to clean and cut up the tube.  Then, I tossed it in flour and quickly fried it in some hot olive oil.  You'd be hard pressed to find squid fresher than that!

Last feed of local asparagus, first feed of fresh mackerel

Sad to see the end of the local (read = Lun. County) asparagus, delicious as always.  


SO EXCITED to have my first feed of fresh mackerel.  Tastes even better when you catch 'em yourself.  Mack attack is ON!

Riverport wharf: at night

Four second exposure
F/6.3
ISO 400


I love how it makes the boat in the background look like a toy, very unreal.  Man, the water was still that night!  Caught a couple herring too. ^_^

Fresh Lobster

Spotted on Riverport a week ago, on my drive back from the wharf.

You know you live by the shore when....

Ah, the rites of spring; Large item pick up day has arrived.  It's later than usual this year, I guess I was one of the few who got the memo.  Folks have been putting out their large items to be whisked away, by men who walk with a limp, for about a month now.   Along the shore, a common item to be discarded is the icon of coastal living; the lobster trap.  


This isn't something you are likely to see along the roads in New Germany, let alone in Bridgewater or even Lunenburg.  But as you get closer and closer to the villages and hamlets where people actually fish for a living, you begin to see more and more fishing gear on the side of the road.  Metal lobster pots, wooden ones (which further up the shore would be sold to tourists), buoys and other nautical goods are on offer.


I'll save my comments on large item pickup day for another time, let's just say I have been thoroughly enjoying the show.   If I have my way, you will be seeing my new show, "Lunenburg County Pickers" in the near future.  Stay tuned!

A beautiful day in the neighbourhood

I had to act quickly to get a shot of this local fisher returning to the wharf.  I didn't realize that I'd captured the nice 'c' shape of his boat's path towards home.  Spotted in Lower Rose Bay, or whatever this place is actually called.  >_<

Mo' monochrome mackerel 2011

Mo' monochrome, mo' problems? Hopefully not. Please let me know if you are sick of my monochrome shots. ^_^

As you might have guessed, this is a shot of some fishers at a local wharf, filling their buckets with mackerel from the Spring/Summer 2011 run . Delicious!

For those that are interested in learning more about mackerel, check out this informative National Marine Fisheries Service article.

A feast fit for a king!

My first 12" mackerel of the season, grilled to perfection. Drooling....again.

School's out?

Ha! Not a chance...the wharf rats (myself included) are still hauling in the mackerel hand over fist.

Turns out my shots from last week are a treasure trove for grayscale/monochrome conversions. I lucked out with the profile of the guy's face on the right, I hope you enjoy it too.

I have cropped and updated the shot from yesterday's post. Thanks to everyone for the feedback, I appreciate it!

Mackerel run 2011 continues

For those of us who have ventured out to the local spots, we have been rewarded with buckets full of mackerel over the last week or two.

Here's a grayscale conversion of a shot from last week, just as one lucky fullah was hauling one in....

Spring mackerel run 2011

Evening mackerel action at a local wharf. The spring/summer run is happening!

This crew of fishers was spotted on a recent foggy evening.

The sun lit up the fog like a huge lightbox. I did a bit of a levels adjustment to make them silhouetted. More mackerel pictures to follow...