Giant Lobster Held For Ransom

1. akhan246
   January 24th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

   I'm getting hungry just looking at him.

2. Gauldar
   January 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

   If they get too old and big the flesh is too tough.

3. Gauldar
   January 24th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

   Reminds me of an article I read regarding all fishing humans have done over the years, and how evelotionary traits have been forced into their development. There have always been rules to throwing back the smaller (which some people assume to be younger) fish/shellfish, but with this happening there has been upto a 30% decrease in size over all these years. I hope we start throwing back the large ones and reverse the screw ups, but that won't happen any time soon, let along the time required for life itself to develop those changes.

4. Ali S.
   January 24th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

   Nyah, see! Fork over the money! Or, else the lobster gets it, see! Nyah! And just to show you we ain't messin' around...Jimmy...get the pot of water boilin' and the butter meltin'. Nyah!

5. GailW
   January 24th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

   "Throw it back!"

6. Ant
   January 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm

   Pinchy!

7. ted
   January 24th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

   I thought they already let it go. Or is this another one?

8. sw
   January 24th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

   this is another one. at least he's trying to raise money for the food bank, but it's cheaper just to buy the thing at market value to set it free

9. PJ
   January 24th, 2009 at 8:39 pm

   Just be sure to take off the rubber bands before throwing it back.

10. Kathy
    January 24th, 2009 at 10:04 pm

    To donate you have to visit the store. How many people live close enough that are interested in donating?

11. Luigi
    January 24th, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    I live in tiverton ri. My dad quohogs so I know about seafood. People have been donating

12. Adam Stanhope
    January 24th, 2009 at 10:59 pm

    The claw meat on massive lobsters like that is like eating a little bit of heaven.

13. Christophe
    January 25th, 2009 at 12:04 am

    Just make sure you steam it, not boil it.

    ... Hu?... What?... it's about releasing it?... Why?

14. Marilyn Terrell
    January 25th, 2009 at 2:24 am

    @Ant: love the Simpsons reference!

15. V.M.L.
    January 25th, 2009 at 2:30 am

    Aww...the animal rights activist in me wants to free that lobster. Poor thing.

16. Evilbeagle
    January 25th, 2009 at 6:42 am

    I would rather eat it, but at least this guy is using a gimmick for a good cause.

17. Adam Stanhope
    January 25th, 2009 at 8:32 am

    They used to throw the big ones back, too. I'm not sure how/why/when the rules changed about throwing the biggest lobsters back, but it's only been in the past 15 years or so that massive lobsters like this one have been available to purchase.

    One way of maintaining the lobster fishery involves rules that lobsters UNDER a certain size must be thrown back into the ocean. Also, if a lobster is caught bearing eggs OUTSIDE ("glued" to the bottom-side of its tail), the back of the tail is notched with a V using a hand-tool, and the lobster is thrown back. The V marks that lobster as a fertile, mating, egg-bearing animal. Any time a lobster with a v-notch is caught the lobsterman (or lobsterwoman!) is obligated to return it to the deep.

    As for throwing back all lobsters ABOVE a certain size... It was certainly a practice at least into the 1980s. It may have been voluntary - I'm not certain.

    Maybe Luigi the Quahog guy knows.

    I'm in coastal Massachusetts and my next-door neighbor is a part-time lobsterman.

18. Adam Stanhope
    January 25th, 2009 at 8:40 am

    It looks like the maximum allowed carapace length of lobsters is between 5 and 5.5 inches, depending on the fishing grounds:

    http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/octqtr/50cfr697.20.htm

19. Miller
    January 25th, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    I've had a few like this before. And as far as the meat goes. Its honestly not as tough as people think! Theres really little difference. Unless of course you over cook it. I'm assuming thats what people usually do

20. Lobster Vaws
    January 26th, 2009 at 2:33 am

    Save yourself Willie! Fight the Good Fight!

    We are Lobsters, hear us roar! (fyi - it's not just air escaping)

    Fight the Good Fight Brother!

    http://lobstervaws.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/mano-e-mano-no-lobstero-e- lobstero/

21. Lore
    January 26th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    I've never had lobster.... is it good?

22. Lore
    January 26th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    I've never had lobster.... is it good?

23. Lore
    January 26th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    I've never had lobster.... is it good?

24. Adam Stanhope
    January 26th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    Yes, it is.

    Yes, it is.

    Yes, it is.

25. Pete
    February 2nd, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    Hey folks,
    We released Wickford Willie today 2/2/2009 (there was only one lobster). This lobster was worth $1150.00 which was donated to the food pantry. Even though Willie did not get eaten he will feed many people, thanks to all who donated.

    Once again thank you,
    Pete
    Gardner's Wharf Seafood

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