Being on Fran Marcoux' email list is great! I saw that he added a scallop charter and called right away.
For those who might be interested: Fran Marcoux, Cape Ann Charters Inc. (Boat: Daybreaker, at Cape Ann Marina, Gloucester, MA), (508) 873-8339, franm52@aol.com
I've been on several scallop dive charters with Fran Marcoux, so I had high hopes for a good harvest. But when I asked where he would be going, he said he'd like to try a NEW area.... Uh, oh. I've tried "new areas" in my own boat and I know a good haul is definitely NOT guaranteed.... But, then again, fresh, unpicked beds are wonderful thing.... I rushed to sign up!
This charter was going to be super convenient, as I was already in the area on vacation, so it wouldn't be the typical 16-hour dive day, including the 5 hours travel time.
It would be a weekday afternoon charter with mild seas and sunny, pleasant weather. Perfect! For a change, Fran would also be able to dive, as two divers had to cancel the night before. We would have plenty of room with only four divers.
It didn't take us long to motor several miles from Gloucester Harbor to Fran's "NEW" areas in the Salem Sound. Fran briefed us on the depths (40 to 60'), the lay and nature of the bottom (gravel and silt, sloping gradually from 40 to 60'), the direction and speed of current (moderate current) and the most promising areas for beds. Without delay, all four divers, including Fran, got into the water. A diver could go in any direction he chose and the boat would come pick him up wherever the diver ended up. Nice plan.
All divers got scallops on both dives!
Dive Report:
Dive 1- In around 3pm, max depth 62', water temp 48*F, mild current (about 3 inches per second), vis about 20-30', moderately silty gravel bottom, bottom time of 55 minutes. Scallops were abundant at first, then became more scarce halfway through the dive as the depth increased and the bottom became more silty. Loaded 2/3 of a big bag which turned out later to yield 4lbs of scallop meat.
Dive 2 (different location)- In around 5:15pm, max depth 46', similar conditions as first dive, bottom time of 82 minutes. The dive started poorly with NO scallops for first 10 minutes and only a dozen over the next 40 minutes or so, then it quickly got better until it became a veritable GOLDMINE! I got the vast majority of my take in the last 20 minutes of the dive! Was often seeing 4 or 5 at one time in the good vis! Before I knew it, I completely filled my big catch bag (about 20+ gallon size) plus 1/3 of another big bag (my "Wishful Thinking" bag). (The take from this one dive would later yield 6lbs of scallop meat!) Low air FORCED me to leave the bottom with scallops STILL IN VIEW! ARRRGH! Ran my air so low, I couldn't quite get my whole 3-minute safety stop.... Unfortunately, being able to still see scallops always tempts me to overstay....
Pics follow.
Dave C
Fran Marcoux (next to ladder) talking with friends at dock, while a diver preps.
Fran pulls in his lift bag and scallop bag.
The haul after the first dive (everyone got a good amount of scallops).
A smiling friend beckons....I smiled back....
A close-up portrait: Sure looks beautiful to me!
My 2nd dive was very productive. While catching my breath, I snapped a shot of my big catch bag which the GOLDMINE quickly filled! After that, I got to deploy my "Wishful Thinking" bag....
Divers were spread over about 3/8 of a mile, but all had individual flags and were picked up by the boat soon after surfacing.
Nice dive boat. Easy ladder to climb. Fran's son, Matt, is at the helm.
I'm tired, but real happy with a good haul! Almost as good as the "good old days"!
This is just the scallops from the first dive! We more than doubled this pile after the 2nd dive! It was a good day for everyone!
For those who might be interested: Fran Marcoux, Cape Ann Charters Inc. (Boat: Daybreaker, at Cape Ann Marina, Gloucester, MA), (508) 873-8339, franm52@aol.com
I've been on several scallop dive charters with Fran Marcoux, so I had high hopes for a good harvest. But when I asked where he would be going, he said he'd like to try a NEW area.... Uh, oh. I've tried "new areas" in my own boat and I know a good haul is definitely NOT guaranteed.... But, then again, fresh, unpicked beds are wonderful thing.... I rushed to sign up!
This charter was going to be super convenient, as I was already in the area on vacation, so it wouldn't be the typical 16-hour dive day, including the 5 hours travel time.
It would be a weekday afternoon charter with mild seas and sunny, pleasant weather. Perfect! For a change, Fran would also be able to dive, as two divers had to cancel the night before. We would have plenty of room with only four divers.
It didn't take us long to motor several miles from Gloucester Harbor to Fran's "NEW" areas in the Salem Sound. Fran briefed us on the depths (40 to 60'), the lay and nature of the bottom (gravel and silt, sloping gradually from 40 to 60'), the direction and speed of current (moderate current) and the most promising areas for beds. Without delay, all four divers, including Fran, got into the water. A diver could go in any direction he chose and the boat would come pick him up wherever the diver ended up. Nice plan.
All divers got scallops on both dives!
Dive Report:
Dive 1- In around 3pm, max depth 62', water temp 48*F, mild current (about 3 inches per second), vis about 20-30', moderately silty gravel bottom, bottom time of 55 minutes. Scallops were abundant at first, then became more scarce halfway through the dive as the depth increased and the bottom became more silty. Loaded 2/3 of a big bag which turned out later to yield 4lbs of scallop meat.
Dive 2 (different location)- In around 5:15pm, max depth 46', similar conditions as first dive, bottom time of 82 minutes. The dive started poorly with NO scallops for first 10 minutes and only a dozen over the next 40 minutes or so, then it quickly got better until it became a veritable GOLDMINE! I got the vast majority of my take in the last 20 minutes of the dive! Was often seeing 4 or 5 at one time in the good vis! Before I knew it, I completely filled my big catch bag (about 20+ gallon size) plus 1/3 of another big bag (my "Wishful Thinking" bag). (The take from this one dive would later yield 6lbs of scallop meat!) Low air FORCED me to leave the bottom with scallops STILL IN VIEW! ARRRGH! Ran my air so low, I couldn't quite get my whole 3-minute safety stop.... Unfortunately, being able to still see scallops always tempts me to overstay....
Pics follow.
Dave C
Fran Marcoux (next to ladder) talking with friends at dock, while a diver preps.
Fran pulls in his lift bag and scallop bag.
The haul after the first dive (everyone got a good amount of scallops).
A smiling friend beckons....I smiled back....
A close-up portrait: Sure looks beautiful to me!
My 2nd dive was very productive. While catching my breath, I snapped a shot of my big catch bag which the GOLDMINE quickly filled! After that, I got to deploy my "Wishful Thinking" bag....
Divers were spread over about 3/8 of a mile, but all had individual flags and were picked up by the boat soon after surfacing.
Nice dive boat. Easy ladder to climb. Fran's son, Matt, is at the helm.
I'm tired, but real happy with a good haul! Almost as good as the "good old days"!
This is just the scallops from the first dive! We more than doubled this pile after the 2nd dive! It was a good day for everyone!
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