The sight of the five remaining Pigeon Cove Harbor groundfish draggers resting peacefully at their moorings frequently belies their work-day realities at sea.
If these vessels could only talk!
Their captains can and three recall either their worst day or stretch at sea during the Dec. 1 through March 31 inshore fishing period between closures. All of the incidents occurred last March under good weather and sea conditions.
"I hope to catch fish and also for everything to go smoothly without any disaster," said Dusty Ketchopulos, one of the captains from Rockport, explaining what he and his peers wish every time they leave the harbor, usually before daybreak, to go out fishing on grounds within 25 miles of Cape Ann.