Clear weather greets kickoff of lucrative lobster season

A group of fishermen forced to scramble after a fish plant fire destroyed thousands of kilograms of bait are among those who joined the chase for lobster in the lucrative fishing grounds off southern Nova Scotia.

Conditions were calm and clear early Tuesday morning as 1,700 lobster fishing crews from Eastern Passage to Digby left wharves to dump their traps.

Among the fishermen pulling away from the government wharf in Eastern Passage was Tommy Henneberry, who lost bait in the recent Capital Seafoods fire. Fishing for lobster is in his blood. His father was a fisherman and now Henneberry has been lobster fishing for over 40 years.

"Oh you never stop, I'm only halfway through my life," said Henneberry. "I'm just getting warmed up."

Gear, bait lost in fish plant fire

Henneberry and several other fishermen lost gear and bait in a massive fire that destroyed the Capital Seafoods fish processing plant in Eastern Passage less than two weeks ago.

The company was able to help some of the fishermen find bait so they could start the season with the rest of the fleet.

For the first time in Eastern Passage a breakfast was organized to mark the beginning of the season. Along with a quick feed, fishermen also received a blessing.

"Protect our fishermen during this fishing season and give them a bountiful catch," said Father Johni Mathew, the pastor at St. Andrew's Parish.

As the Eastern Passage fleet pulled out and made its way past McCormacks Beach, dozens of people waved flashlights and a bagpiper played a tune.

Boats heading out to sea were loaded down with traps stacked on back. Some boats carry as many as 375 traps, each weighing between 25 to 30 kilograms.

So-called Dumping Day is considered the most dangerous time of the season as traps are tossed into the water from a moving boat. Fishermen have to be careful not to be caught in ropes attached to the traps or they will be pulled overboard. 

Weather to make for a 'miserable haul tonight'

Poor weather delayed the start of the season in lobster fishing areas 33 (Halifax to Baccaro Point) and 34 (western side of Baccaro Point to just below Digby) from Monday to Tuesday morning.

Before his traps were even set in the water, Henneberry was already keeping an eye on the forecast and a storm expected to hit on Wednesday, just when fishermen will bring up their first catch.

"It's going to be a miserable haul tonight when we go back out there," said Henneberry, who isn't allowed to haul traps until after midnight.

"It's calling for snow and rain but we got to go early because they're calling for the bad weather."

Friends and family of the Eastern Passage lobster crews say the Capital Seafoods fire made for a stressful time but it hasn't ruined the season.

"They are so very lucky because it could have been a lot worse," said Marina White. "But they're all getting out, that's the main thing, they all pulled together."

The lobster season for areas 33 and 34 will run until the end of May.