#132 Eat Lobster in Maine

Lobstey

Until this past week I had never had the opportunity to travel to Maine but with a little bit of unexpected time on our hands Jim and I commandoed up the coast 6 1/2 hours and spent sometime drinking our way around Portland, Maine. It's quite an impressive little seafaring town. The sites are beautiful, the food scene is excellent, the shopping is fantastic and the lobster is more than plentiful. Jim and I agreed that we didn't want to half ass our Maine lobster experience by simply ordering a pre-made lobster roll or by getting some lobster poutine at a local pub. What we wanted was to catch them ourselves and then eat our bounty so we booked ourselves on a 90 minute tour on a Lucky Catch Cruise lobster boat.

Heading out of Portland into Casco Bay to catch us some lobsters!

Jim all geared up and ready to do some lobstering....chicken wing and all. (He had surgery 

two weeks ago for a torn rotator cuff with bicep tear....fun stuff people).

We stopped at 6 traps that Captain Tom had put out in Casco Bay prior to our departure. After we hauled the traps up we were taught how to measure the lobsters to see if they were keepers, learned how to band their claws, we were shown how to determine the sex, and how to bait traps. Capt Tom and his lovely crew showered us in additional information during the hands on experience including their breeding, molting, life cycle and how they enter the traps. They did a great job of making sure everyone was included and got to participate. 

Lobstey in a trap

Jim baiting the traps with herring with the help of Capt Tom

Measuring our catch (Doesn't it make you want to stick your finger in 

that open claw said no one ever)

Banding the claws which is super important as it keeps the lobsters 

from going all ninja on each other 

Jim's turn banding

We also brought up some crabs in our traps. We didn't get to keep those but it was fun learning about them and the kids on the trip had a blast sending them flying back to the sea. I was a little bummed we didn't pull up any gigantic starfish but watching seals swim around the boat totally made up for that. In addition, one of the other added benefits of taking the Lucky Catch Cruise is it gets you some of the best views of the bay. 

Crab with roe

Back to the sea!

View of Portland Headlight from the boat

Spring Point Ledge Light

You may be thinking going to Maine and eating lobster is like being that guy who goes to a concert and wears the t-shirt of the band he's going to see. Not true....because lobsters aren't t-shirts and they taste amazing. And like most foods the fresher they are the better. Which is why when we finished our cruise we bought two lobsters and then literally walked with them in our hands to The Portland Lobster Company next door and had them cook them for us.

Jim handing his lobster over to the Portland Lobster Company

My amazing lunch. 

Before and after

These lobsters were hands down the most amazing and delicious lobster I have ever feasted on. Let's be honest, lobsters that have spent hours or days in tanks will never compare to fresh caught and prepared lobsters. Not to mention we sat outside on the deck on a beautiful day jamming to music and downing a chilled bottle of wine while tearing apart our lunch. Jim and I both agreed it was the best four hours we spent in Portland and was an awesome way to put #132: Eat Lobster in Maine officially in the books. So if you ever find yourself in Portland, Maine and want to have an awesome time look up Lucky Catch Cruises and book yourself a lobstering experience. I highly doubt you will be disappointed.