Sea Kayaking Near Lobster Boats in Maine: Safety Tips for Paddlers on Working Waterfronts

Earlier this summer Osprey’s Echo partnered with Deer Isle Adult & Community Education to host a workshop on navigating working waterfronts. Here, learners got perspective from a sea kayaking guide and a lobsterman, facilitating discussion on how recreation and fishing industry can co-exist. Read this blog to learn more about safety tips for sea kayakers, including route planning, visibility tips, and proper etiquette for sharing the water.

Preparing as a Kayaker

The best thing you can do to ensure your safety on a working waterfront is to paddle with others, know your abilities, and leave a float plan (let someone know where you’re going). You should never go out in the water alone without telling someone when to expect you back; this way there’s someone to call for help if something goes wrong and you aren’t back when expected. Knowing your own abilities also minimizes risk of getting into a situation you can’t get out of alone.

The next step in preparing is to consider tides, weather, wind, season, and local events (e.g., Boat races). This step requires some research; NOAA and US Harbors are great resources for up-to-date information. You can also use apps such as Windy, Clime, and Storm Tracker. Low tide means shallower water, which can make it harder to get into the water and easier to get stuck. Wind can also make conditions more difficult to work with. Weather changes fast, so be sure to check for changes frequently. The town website is a good place to check for local events that may affect the amount of people out on the water. We’d recommend avoiding certain events, such as the annual Stonington Lobster Boat Races.

Before you can get on the water, you have to find a spot to access it. It is important to respect public launch sites, including overnight parking rules, and avoid launching from or landing on private property.  The best resource for exploring islands is the Maine Island Trail Association. This organization works closely with land owners to make certain islands accessible to the public, so long as we respect the land.

A Lobsterman’s Perspective: Dwight Staples on Sharing the Water

Dwight Staples is a local lobsterman and boat builder in Deer Isle. He came to the workshop hosted at Osprey’s Echo to offer some more insight on coexisting on the water. Important things to keep a lookout for are lobsterman patterns and key times of the day, minding summer vs fall times.

It can be hard to see kayakers from a commercial boat, especially in certain conditions such as glare, rain, and fog. You are even less visible from a fishing vessel’s “blind side” (this is often, but not always, port side). Be on the lookout for lobsterman’s buoys; if you can see their buoy colors, you can keep an eye out for where they’ll be fishing and steer clear. If need be, alert fishermen and larger vessels of your presence by waving, ideally a paddle with reflective tape, or sounding a foghorn/airhorn. Keep in mind that last-minute measures to avoid kayakers lead to lobstermen risking their own gear and/or crew.

Other things kayakers can do to avoid large vessels when near the harbor are to stick to shallow water (hug the coastline) when possible. When crossing channels, stay alert and keep your group as close together as possible, avoiding breaks. Outfitting your boat and gear with reflective tape can also help with visibility. Utilize VHF’s to communicate and stay in touch with lobstermen and other boaters.

Wrapping Up

The best thing you can do to ensure everyone on the water stays safe is to plan ahead and stay alert. Don’t be afraid to interact with other boats, just be considerate and respect their space. Looking for more information and updates on the area? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter?