I'm a little behind on Bugs and Bass 2010. And not ready to start anytime soon. Let me tell you why.

The USS Coalman is a Norton and was built in 1972 in Hampton, NH. She is #14 of approx 50 boats built. Mr Norton sold his patten to the Eastern Boat Company.

The years had begun to take their toll on her deck, transom and cuddy. I had a desicion to make this winter, buy a new boat or have the USS Coalman restored. I chose restoration.

Here are a few posts I did this spring.................

04-17-10

Today is the day. The USS Coalman is going into dry dock for a makeover. After 38 years on the seacoast with 13 of those years with me at the helm it is time for some TLC. Our list includes a new deck, new cuddy, new wheelhouse and a strengthening of the transcom.

I have looked at purchasing another lobster boat. But I don't need to mortgage to follow me for another ten years. So it is time to put back into the Coalman everything I have gotten out of her.

If you see the blue Norton on Rte 236 in Eliot. ME Please pause and salute her long and about to get longer life. She was built in Hampton, NH in 1972 hull # 14 of approx 50 boats built and is one of the models for all the Eastern boats you see on the water today.

Thank you USS Coalman for toting this fisherman through calm and high seas. I can't wait to get you back to your home water.

The Bayman



04-21-10

She has been a good friend to a lot of striper fisherman.
















This is one of my favorites.



05-23-10

One down. Two to go.

On the way back from camp yesterday I stopped in to see how the USS Coalman has been progressing. I was not disappointed. Miliner Marine has done a great job. It is down now to cosmetics and a paint job.

Thanks Dave. You are right, I like the looks of my "new boat".

New deck and cuddy housing.



The transom is now four layers thick marine plywood with glass between each layer.



Rear view, The center hole in the cuddy is for my wheel house box. The other side is where my new cuddy door will be.



Give me another month and I will be OTW.

06-19-10

The USS Coalman came out of the body shop. One down two to go. Two being the mechanics, motor, control and helm. Three being cosmetics, fish finder, radio light, etc. I am really happy with the results.

New deck and transom.



New deck.



New wheel box for the helm and controls and new cuddy face.



New splash boards.



And a big pile of debris.



One down. Two to go.

I'll keep you posted.

Keep em coming. Like restoring an old gun. Always nice to see the before and after.

That restoration has probably saved a lot of bugs and bass

Lookin Good Coalman !!



GOBLN2

Went flounder fishing with a friend this morning. Wicked low tide when we got to the boat. Take your pick.



I liked this set up. There were a couple dozen live macks in this guys car hanging off the dock.



The silversides were thick in Sagamore Creek.



We anchored up on the Maine side of the Piscataqua River. We caught flounder right away but no keepa's. Our chum line produced a mackerel. My flounder fishing suddenly came to a halt. A circle hook accompanied the mack on its new adventures. But the mack was big and the bass could only worry it.

As worms we running slim we went outside to try a new spot. The mackerel fleet was anchored up at 2KR.



Our new anchor was in front of a field of dreams.



I ended up letting the mackerel go when we called it quits. We had a good morning with flounder, pollack, mackerel and sculpin on our lines.

Oddfish would have been proud of us.

I found this picture in my camera from my fishing trip with Captain Dan 07/03/10.

This fish was the only one boated in six hours of fishing. We had lots of nibbles but the bass were finicky.

Dan said I finessed this fish to bite. I love the sunrise shining through its fins.

She still swims.

Teamed up with Captain Andy this morning for some striped bass fishing in Great Bay. No fish were harmed in preparation for this post. We released them all to be caught again.

Then honey hole produced the first fish of the day. She was all of 40".



Same fish Wilson style.



Don't ever let anyone tell you eels don't work in the day.

Captain Andy





Man it was hot out there. Both in heat and in fishing.



The last fish of the morning. A fat 34".



We boated five stripers and lost a couple more. Captain Andy had a striper cow on for a short time but lost it in the battle. I sure would have liked to have stolen that stripers picture.

The Great Bay lived up to the title of my play land today. Thank you Captain Andy for having me.

The bite is on.

As we left the Squamscott River at 1745 the schools of small bait fish in the water made it look like the wind was blowing.

In 1.5 hours of fishing we had 5 stripers on board including two keepers. We lost twice as many bass to missed strikes.

Look for the bait. Live eels rule.

The sunset was a




We made it back to the dock with no light to spare.

Great report...hard to let the old boats go untended , especially in salt water...nice fish...but where are the "bugs" (which I assume are lobster?)

GN, Boat is still in dry dock. Hoping to have a dozen traps fishing in a couple weeks. I have a freezer full of bait I need to get rid of to make way for the fall turkey and deer harvest.

08-21-10
It was 49 degrees when we met at the dock at 0515. The mist rising from the Squamscott River told me Fall is on her way. The changing water temps and the shortening of day are putting a new face on Great Bay.

Our first stop was Adam's Point. We didn't have any takers on our eels. I think for two reasons.....
1. We hit AP at dead low. No water movement, no drift.
2. The POGIES are here!!!!!!

While fishing the Rock Weed Beach we watched 3 to 4 inch bunker (baby pogies) being harassed on the surface. We could also see and hear slurpies. We saw "torpedo" size bass cruising the flats on water too skinny to follow them. So our trip to Fox Point was slow watching for any signs of a wake from pogie schools. We saw none.

As we got down to business at Fox Point the striped bass soon started coming on board. Great Bay isn't known for the size of bass she gives up. But more as a nursery to younger fish. Our saying is it takes ten shorts to a keepa. And we lost a couple eels to bluefish when our drifts put us in 20' or more of water.

The sun was our enemy this morning. As soon as her rays strengthened and we started shedding clothes and changing eye wear the bite turned off. At about that time we saw Captain Acnes who informed us that right behind our drift they had just witnessed a school of pogie bunker.
Knowing this was the bait of the day we went flats hunting. We saw a couple swirls as the bass took the pogies in shallow water but never enough sign to actively throw a snagging hook.

I informed Joe that this afternoon I was going to a cookout and the host had asked me for a striped bass for the grill. Although I rarely keep striped bass her offer of chilled Sangria had me listening to the drag as each fish was hooked.

When I heard Joe's drag "sing" I could already taste the limes. Thank you Joe for your generous cookout gift.



My boat should be in the water for the Pease Air Show next weekend. Just in time for the clam and oyster seasons.

I'll end with this...... Please don't try to duplicate this on GB. As we got to the trestle these 250 + pound guys were on there way out into open water.

This is a death wish on GB. One wake or wind swept roller and you are swimming. Note no life preservers worn.



And I don't care how "FAT" I look while wearing my flotation Rickski and Ray.

The wait has been worth it. The USS Coalman is parked in my driveway and has a launching date set for this coming Saturday.

I need to grease the prop and shaft, change my lower end oil, install new spark plugs and mount my fish finder. Other than that she is ready to go for the short season we have left.

This could not have been a better summer to have the work done. I needed a break. I have been lobstering in the Great Bay every summer since 1995. Tending a trap line is a commitment.

So is mentoring to a yellow lab. Not to mention all the fun we have had together this summer at camp.

But there can be no more excuses. Both gentlemen who worked on my boat did the job 110%. While not the quickest guys in the business their patience shows in their work.

So there will be a new sheriff on the water this weekend. Please keep you eyes out for the blue Norton with two people lounging in lawns chairs. That will be Mrs Coalman and myself watching the Blue Angels performing at the Pease Air Show.

After a pre trip inspection in our driveway dry dock



The USS Coalman left Exeter on an incoming tide.



There was a large smile on my face as she came to plane on the Squamscott River.



There was quite a flotilla assembled when we arrived.



Good thing Joe and Kim saved us a parking spot.



This was Bay's first visit to her namesake.



It didn't take long for Great Bay Babe to test the water. She went for a visit.



My two best friends.



Our view of the show was spectacular. The sun and wind to our back and the runway on the horizon.



















And by far my favorite short video. Double click in the picture and..............TURN IT UP!!!!!!!!!!

Click on the link and remember TURN IT UP!!!!!!!

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/ ... yflyby.mp4

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/ ... =Flyby.mp4

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/ ... terjet.mp4

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/ ... erjet2.mp4

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/ ... pplane.mp4

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/ ... oingup.mp4

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/ ... angels.mp4

And again by far my favorite no matter how many times they fly over us.

http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/ ... Angles.mp4