“It’s a Delicious Life, by the Seashore” – Elle Jarvis (H. Cole Club, Founder)
Note from the Author: As a conservationist, salt water enthusiast, and one who appreciates great food – I highly recommend H. Cole Club Lobster Charters; and, quite frankly, anything Elle Jarvis cooks (her coleslaw is hands-down the best I’ve ever had). Seriously, book a charter through H. Cole Club – you will not regret it and there are still charter tickets available for August 25th!
On a warm, late summer day with little cloud cover, we boarded the Fishing Vessel (F/V) Kestrel, a classically styled lobster boat moored in the South River against a beautiful salt marsh backdrop. With little haste, the Kestrel’s Captain Pete Mason and Sternmaid Cara Delaney welcomed us with open arms, showed us around the vessel, and informed us about the state of the lobster fishery and what it is like to have the ocean as “their office.” Before we got too deep into the conversation, Captain Pete urged us to grab an ice-cold Whale Watcher session IPA (Stellwagen Brewing Co.) from the cooler – once I cracked it and the foam trickled down the can, I knew immediately that Captain Pete and I were going to get along like two old friends.
Once introductions were made, the Kestrel was fired up and we motored along the South River, Captain Pete ensuring to keep a commentary going on local landmarks, as well as where one could have significant luck pulling in a keeper striped bass. We chugged along the 4th Cliff Military Base and admired the lookout tower, and then took a sharp left towards Scituate Harbor. We admired the beauty of Scituate Light from a distance, until another lighthouse came into view after a short time. Minot Light, which is approximately one mile off shore was built in 1860 by the Army Corps of Engineers upon a rock foundation and is quite a sight to see (just make sure it is with Captain Pete as the Minot Ledge area has several rocks!). It is wonderful to have so much history in our backyard and an appreciation for the local mariner tradition. As we turned and drove around Minot Light, the Boston skyline came into view.
After taking some pictures of the crew with Minot Light as a backdrop, our stomach’s starting to grumble, we decided to dig into the chicken boxes Elle packed us. An incredibly tasty cold fried chicken lunch accompanied with homemade coleslaw (which I need the recipe for), watermelon with mint and feta cheese, and a homemade biscuit – the food was incredible as well as comforting, just what we needed to “hit the spot” before hauling traps for our early evening clam bake dinner experience on the “Spit.”
Captain Pete called us over to the bow (front of the boat) as he showed us how to haul lobster traps from a trawl system. He slowly pulled up to a buoy and stern-woman Cara quickly grabbed one of the buoys and swiftly placed the rope into the trawl contraption (it is a mechanical pulley that hauls the traps). We hauled about 15 traps and got 12 lobsters, throwing back any that were too small or notched and identified as female egg-layers, as Captain Pete stressed this is incredibly important for the lobster industry to continue and be robust. Several members of the charter hauled traps, measured the lobsters, and banded the bugs’ claws. Once we were finished, the lobsters were placed in a salt water tank, and we bee-lined it for our final destination, the “Spit.”
We headed back towards the mouth of the North and South rivers and, now being low tide, motored toward the spit of beach (i.e., the Spit) that was slowly appearing each minute as the tide receded. With enough beach now showing, Captain Pete moored in the North River channel and taxied us, the coolers, and of course the lobsters over to the beach where a beautiful spread had already been setup by Elle. While she steamed the clams, corn, potatoes, and lobsters (with real sea water, mind you) all of us grabbed some ice cold beer and swam in the river while the smell of clams, lobster, and corn wafted over the surrounding expanse of beach. Without haste, Elle called us over a few minutes before the food was done and we ate “cavemen style” crushing lobsters, shucking clams, and pouring vast amounts of butter over potatoes and corn – and, most importantly – eating with your hands accompanied by great people, great vibes, and great beer.
With all of our bellies full, we watched the sun slowly fade into the horizon and started to reminisce about what a wonderful day and experience we all shared together.
As we left the Spit, I looked around and did a quick mental inventory on all of the guests. Everyone was happy and laughing. Some people had a pint, others had two. Captain Paul, Cara, and Elle all had smiles on their face watching the satisfaction of the guests and friendly banter as we headed back to port. I watched the remaining slice of sun get covered by the horizon, and reflected on a beautiful day on the water where we started an experience as associates, and ended it as friends.
As Elle often opined on the trip, I do tend to agree – it is in fact, “A Delicious Life, by the Seashore.”
