Captains often do gear work at night before steaming out to scallop grounds, which can be 10 hours or more away.
As we turn the corner on Thanksgiving — which boasts both turkey and seafood — and race toward Christmas, we want to remind readers that commercial fishing is a year-round enterprise. Just like the ocean is a constant, so are the Cape’s fisheries. This photo gallery of ports in the last months of the year serves as a reminder that the Cape’s Blue Economy is not seasonal.
Woods Hole in Falmouth serves both a commercial fleet and a scientific one throughout the year.
F/V Virginia Marie out of Sandwich, an offshore lobster and Jonah Crab vessel, traverses the Cape Cod Canal. Steve Kennedy photo.
Commercial fishing boats bring some color to the Hyannis docks on a grey fall day.
F/V Sea Wolf steams into Sesuit Habor in Dennis. Steve Kennedy photo.
The Midnight Our can be found in any season at Wychmere Harbor in Harwich, unless she is at sea.
Visitors still take photos of the commerical fleet from Chatham’s observation deck long after the summer is gone.
Shellfishing is a constant in Wellfleet.
The Cape is a safe harbor for local boats and others, including this dragger from Gloucester coming in to Provincetown. Steve Kennedy photo.