The Fisher Girl

Here is a picture of Captain Dan’s lobster boat the Fisher Girl. Captain Dan acquired his fishing boat in 1999 after beginning fishing in 1994. The boat is named after a picture the Captain saw of a girl enjoying a day on the beach.

Lobster Fishing with Crate to Plate

Want to fish with a real Maine lobsterman? Go sailing with Captain Dan on the Fisher Girl and learn the trade that has made Maine famous!

Sailors will live the true fishing experience as they navigate the rocky coast picking up traps. Watch eagles sunbathing on Flat Island while learning to haul traps and pack bait bags. Discover a harem of seals laying on a rocky key while emptying traps and banding lobsters.

Sailors will experience the beauty of ocean life while becoming an expert on all things “lobst-ah”. Learn how to correctly pick up a lobster, the difference between a hard and soft shell, or even how to “V-notch” a hen. Guests will practice the same environmentally conscious lobster procedures that have been a part of Maine life for over 100 years.

So join Crate to Plate and Captain Dan on a fishing adventure and discover Maine’s lobster in a whole new way!

For more information on how to schedule a tour with Captain Dan, please visit the Crate to Plate website.

Meet Captain Dan!

Crate to Plate may have begun in November 2009, but Captain Dan’s relationship with our lobster friend actually began in 1994.

A long time ocean lover, Captain Dan has been sailing since 1979. After graduating from college, Dan moved to Florida to start work in the corporate world. Six years later, Dan got his Captain’s license and began sailing around the world delivering and servicing yachts.

On a routine sail to deliver a boat, Captain Dan ended in up in Maine. Upon seeing the state’s beauty and possibilities, he decided to stay in Vacationland to discover the Midcoast’s rocky beaches, island speckled coast line, and its most famous export—lobster.

Deciding it was time for a career change; Captain Dan embraced his new state’s specialty and began lobster fishing in 1994. A self-taught fisherman, Captain Dan steadily grew his business to include over 800 traps located around the Northport coast.

Today Crate to Plate offers customers a full lobster experience including boat tours for those who would like to learn Captain Dan’s famous trade or the harvest of one of his many traps. Check out the Crate to Plate site for more information on Captain Dan and his lobster friends!

Lobstering with Captain Dan

We have had an unbelievable summer. The weather has been consistently sunny and in the 80’s since May. It’s been so good we didn’t have our normal fifth season, mud, this year. Whether it has been the long hot days, the calm seas or a secret of Mother Nature our catch has been very good. We normally throw back as many as we keep. Not this year; for the most part there were consistent catches of 5 – 6 lobsters in each trap, most averaging 1 ¼ to 1 ½ lbs per lobster. Now we did see a brief slow down with the approach of hurricanes Earl and Igor. But the threats were more than the impact and the lobsters are returning.

It is important to note at Crate to Plate your catch is lobsters not pounds. A half season harvest of 20 – 30 lobsters is 30 to 45 pounds. That is a party. So come see us. Fall may be upon us, but it is still a great time to put on your boots, roll up your sleeves and join Captain Dan on the Fisher Girl. There is nothing like the first hand experience of hauling up a trap. Come see how lobster are caught and more importantly sustained.

Image by Annie Higbee of imagewright, on behalf of Meandering Maine.