Plymouth Harbor is a beautiful spot in the spring and summer. Want to go shopping? Take a walk along the waterfront and browse through the numerous shops. Hungry? Satisfy your appetite in one of the great restaurants. And when your day is through, you can relax on one of the wooden benches and take in an exquisite view as the sun sets over the harbor.
But if you have a sense of adventure that draws you to be on the water, you’ve hit the jackpot at Plymouth Harbor. There are so many options to choose from. Cruise to Stellwagen Bank to get a glimpse of whales at play. Go deep-sea fishing for cod and bluefish. Tour the harbor on a wine-tasting cruise. Battle pirates for treasure. See the harbor from an authentic, Mississippi-style paddleboat. Or learn about lobsters and how lobstermen earn a living. There’s something for everyone longing to be on the water.
Captain John Boats is a family-owned business that has been in operation for 62 years. With a fleet of four vessels, Captain John Boats offers the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art equipment for whale watching and fishing.
“If it’s on the water in Plymouth, we can do it,” Capt. Bob Avila, director of sales, said. “We charter our boats for just about any reason. We do a four-hour trip to Stellwagen Bank, where we guarantee a whale sighting. At Stellwagen Bank, we’ll see different types of whales, such as the humpback, the finback and minke whales. Our trips are narrated by a naturalist, who describes the harbor, the behavioral patterns of the whale, their feeding patterns and, on the way back, we do a hands-on type program. We have marine charts of the local waters, humpback baleen, whale teeth and different types of whale food in jars. It’s a very educational experience.”
For a special trip, book an all-day whale watch. This is a 10-hour trip offered at certain times of the year.
“It’s an adventure trip for birding and whale watching. We go to Stellwagen Bank and offshore towards Chatham,” Avila said.
Want to go to Provincetown, but don’t want the hassle of driving?
“From mid-June through Labor Day, we offer a daily cruise to P-Town. The boat leaves Plymouth Harbor at 10 a.m. and gets to P-Town around 11:30 to 11:45. Then, we depart at 4:30 and are back in Plymouth by 6 p.m.”
Looking for something different for your company function? According to Avila, Captain John Boats offers private charters for just about anything from bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, birthday parties and rehearsal dinners to company functions. Check out the Web site at www.captjohn.com for more information on the new spring schedule, pricing and information on the boats themselves, or call 800-242-2469 for reservations.
For a family adventure, try a pirate cruise with Lobster Tales. Owned and operated by Jean and Paul Quintal, Lobster Tales is the only activity on the harbor where you can battle pirates for stolen treasure. According to Jean Quintal, it’s a fun time for the whole family.
“Our pirate cruises are best for ages 4 to 11, but the whole family gets involved to take back the treasure,” she said. “The festivities start with face paint and pirate hats. Once on the boat, there’s a treasure map to plot the course to the enemy boat that has the treasure. There’s lots of music and dancing and celebrating once the enemy ship is captured. And it takes everyone’s efforts on board to capture the enemy ship. There’s real treasure, buccaneer brew, limbo dancing. Everyone has a good time, even the adults.”
After the enemy ship is captured, the crew hauls up a lobster trap.
“You never know what will come up,” Quintal said. “Everything that comes out of the trap, the kids can touch. There’s lobsters, crabs, moon snails and other things. We actually have a crab race with the crabs that come up.”
For a more educational experience, take a lobster excursion.
“This is a hands-on approach to lobstering,” Quintal said. “It’s educational and more in depth. It’s more focused on the lobsters, more of ‘a day in the life of a lobster fisherman.’ We give you information on what lobstering actually entails, how to harvest them. It’s an opportunity to learn about a unique way of life. It’s a nice way to do a field trip.”
For the adults, there are wine tasting cruises on Thursday nights.
“Pioppi’s sponsors these cruises. They are theme-oriented, and a perfect atmosphere to try new wines, and taste good food,” Quintal said. “And on Wednesday nights, we have an ice cream cruise. No matter what your age, everyone loves ice cream. It’s very casual, there’s music, you make your own sundae. It’s a nice way to spend a hot summer’s night. It’s fun. All our cruises are all about fun. We want you to have fun.”
Check out their Web site at www.piratefun.com for the spring and summer schedule and pricing.
If you want to try your hand at fishing, Wavelength Fishing Charters offers both full- and half-day charters seven days a week. A family-run business, Wavelength has two 31-foot JC boats that carry six passengers comfortably.
“It’s a great experience for a smaller group of people,” Nancy Hobson, of Wavelength Fishing Charters, said. “We also have shared charters if you don’t have a group of six.”
The species of fish caught depends on the season, Hobson explained.
“We usually catch cod in the spring and striped bass and bluefish in the summer. When the water temperature heats up, usually in July, the bluefin move in,” she said, adding that they catch both big tuna and small schooling tuna.
The boats usually head across the bay and fish off the coast of Provincetown and also go out to Stellwagen Bank, Hobson said.
“There’s a mate on board who fillets the fish and helps you with the fishing,” Hobson said.
For additional information, call 508-746-6749, visit www.wavelengthsportfishing.com, or stop by their booth on Town Wharf.
Ever ride on a paddleboat? Check out the Pilgrim Belle. An authentic, Mississippi-style paddleboat, the Pilgrim Belle offers a 75 minute harbor cruise, departing several times a day. There are sunset cruises daily, as well. Learn a little about the history of Plymouth Harbor, the Pilgrims, maritime lore and commercial fishing and lobstering.
Their Web site is www.pilgrimbellecruises.com or call 508-747-3434 for reservations.
Andy Lynn Boats is another charter fishing enterprise out of Plymouth Harbor. Owner Andy Costa is the captain of this company that has been in business for over 70 years.
“We are a 4th generation charter boat business,” Costa said. “We do more of the family kind of charters. Our six-to-eight-passenger sport fishing boat is great for taking dad out for his birthday, or Father’s Day. We’ve watched families grow and helped build memories over the years.”
But they do have a boat certified for 117 passengers, which can be chartered for large groups and family events.
“It’s an awesome experience from the moment you step on the boat,” Costa said. “Our deck hands are there to help you with everything from carrying your cooler on board, to getting you settled, to explaining how to operate the rod. They’ll teach you how to recognize the kind of fish you’ve got by how it feels on the line, and we’ll gaff and measure the fish you’ve caught. We’ll show you how to fillet it and prepare it for you to take home.”
You can call 508-746-7776 for reservations or visit their Web site at www.andylynnboats.com for more information.
