Went here once, on a "leaf peeper" road trip with the grand parents. Breathtaking scenery. Best part was the $5 lunch special at some hole in the wall north oh Bangor, 12 steamer clams and a huge lobster tail. It was 1985 though.
Yeah, we get lots of leaf peepers. They'll be here soon.
It was down to 31° last night and the colors are starting to appear. I'll get pics for y'all when the time comes.
LOL We actually (depending on which one you go to) can get lobster rolls at McDonald's.
I'm not kidding.
They're actually good - and made with large chunks of lobster. There's quite a bit of lobster in them and they're really not expensive. I think they were less than $10.
Now...
Here's the secret.
Go to the bar on the coast. Look for a bar that has no tourist plates in the parking lot.
Find the man that looks tired.
Buy him a beer.
Be really interested in lobstering.
Buy him another beer.
Go outside and smoke a joint with him.
Buy him another beer.
Keep talking about lobster.
Ask him where the wharf is.
Note the directions.
Ask him about 'boat price.'
That phrase is the exact phrase you want to use.
Bribe him with more beer.
Remember his name.
Keep drinking.
Go to the wharf the following day.
Wait...
Keep waiting...
The boats return and they're stuffed with delicious lobster.
Go to the dock.
Go down the dock.
Look hopeful.
Tell man on boat that the guy you met told you about 'boat price.'
That's the code word.
Use their name 'cause they won't be there - they got drunk the night before.
ROUND THE BOAT PRICE UP!
Boat price is the wholesale price. Round it up.
They're happy to make extra dollars, don't mind filling your cooler, you can add seaweed to keep 'em alive for the drive home, and you get delicious lobster at a few bucks a pound.
The last time I did this, I paid $1.75/pound (estimated) for soft-shell lobster.
You'll want to get a couple of 'boat price' sources. They don't mind - I've been doing this for years. I go down with a couple dozen coolers and put on lobster feasts, usually three or four times a year.
The code word is 'boat price' and the lobsterman's name.
Tada! Delicious lobster at wholesale price. Only tourists pay retail for lobster.
Once you're "in" then you don't have to worry about it anymore. They're not making less money by selling it to you - they're making a little more.
Avoid the heavily touristy areas, but somewhere like Bailey Island works. Just go out to the last island you can drive to, take a right on the only real road you can take a right on, and go around to the other side of the inlet. You can fake it and say that "John" said you could come down here and get lobster at "boat price."
The first time you do it, they'll maybe look at you funny. They'll still let you buy delicious lobster.
And, definitely get two (or more) places to get boat price. Only insane people have just one 'boat price' lobsterman. This is important enough to have a backup!
Mmm... Delicious lobster! I think I maybe paid $2.50/lb for hard shell lobster the time before that. They may have a scale right there - but if they don't then they'll just eyeball 'em and give you the benefit of doubt.
And, finally, always round up. If it's $1.75/lb and you get 20 lbs, give 'em $40 - and you're still making out like a bandit.
Shh! Don't tell too many people 'bout the 'boat price' secret. Not that it's a major problem - but that you'll end up with damned tourists making a line at the wharf and you'll have to wait longer for your delicious lobster!
New sub. It's called Maine.
I shall use it to tell you about Maine. You can also use it to tell me about Maine. It's a pretty broad category, so I can post more stuff and have it be topical.
I see Maine through a different set of eyes than most, 'cause they're my eyes and I can't borrow eyes from a neighbor. I'm an "import" or "from away." I'll never be a Mainer, no matter how long I live here. I wasn't born here. I could have moved here within hours after my birth and then spent the next 80 years here. I'd still be 'from away.'
However, enough booze has resulted in me being given the title "Honorary Mainer" - many times. (We drink like fish here.)
So, I will share Maine through my eyes. As you can see from the picture, it's pretty awesome.