All things Homarus Americanus

shemandr

shemandr

.
Jan 1, 2006
7,588
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Our Rotary Club does a Lobsterfest fundraising event every summer. We are hearing some shocking prices for Lobster this year. I thought I'd check with the only former Lobsterman I can ask, if the prices really are that high. Also, what's up with the increase. I think someone posted that with the economic downturn many former tradesmen where lobster fishing. For a while I guess prices dropped. Has overfishing depleted the stock? Others say there has been a die off like something we had in LI Sound fifteen years ago. Give us an update please.
I don't begrudge the fisherman their just pay. But I would hope we are paying them and not the middleman.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
shemandr said:
Our Rotary Club does a Lobsterfest fundraising event every summer. We are hearing some shocking prices for Lobster this year. I thought I'd check with the only former Lobsterman I can ask, if the prices really are that high. Also, what's up with the increase. I think someone posted that with the economic downturn many former tradesmen where lobster fishing. For a while I guess prices dropped. Has overfishing depleted the stock? Others say there has been a die off like something we had in LI Sound fifteen years ago. Give us an update please.
I don't begrudge the fisherman their just pay. But I would hope we are paying them and not the middleman.
Click to expand
Price is a bit higher than last year but not a whole lot. I just bought 120 pound to pound and a quarter bugs (lobster bake on Sunday) for $4.55 pound but keep in mind I am in Maine and buying over 100 bugs right from the co-op with no middleman...
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
Maine Sail said:
Price is a bit higher than last year but not a whole lot. I just bought 120 pound to pound and a quarter bugs (lobster bake on Sunday) for $4.55 pound but keep in mind I am in Maine and buying over 100 bugs right from the co-op with no middleman...
Click to expand
that's cheaper than shrimp down here headless jumbos are going for 5.00 in biloxi
 
pateco

pateco

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Aug 12, 2014
2,207
Hunter 31 (1983) Pompano Beach FL
Maine lobster is cheaper in South FL than Florida Lobster. 1-1.25lb Maine chix cull (single claw) were only about $8-$9/lb last time I looked.
 
shemandr

shemandr

.
Jan 1, 2006
7,588
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Yikes. Our supplier is talking over $25/lb. I'll post when I learn what we will actually pay. We are buying 700 or so. You would think we could get a better price. But our event is coming and a reliable supply at too high a price is better than no supply for tickets we have already sold. I fully understand that it is totally different than buying from a co-op of the fishermen. There's the handling of the little guys in cold storage, transportation, licensing issues etc. And, we're talking about live lobsters - not frozen. But, it's useful to know that while prices are up, it's not THAT much. Maybe we need to push back on price a bit. I always suspect these stories we hear from the suppliers about the hardships in Maine are a way to get the price up.
 
sea_casper

sea_casper

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Jun 28, 2005
440
Hunter H33 2004 Mumford Cove,CT & Block Island
Take the ferry to New London, Shop-Rite there regularly has them for $5.99 (now), call & place an order and see how many you can get.

shemandr said:
Yikes. Our supplier is talking over $25/lb. I'll post when I learn what we will actually pay. We are buying 700 or so. You would think we could get a better price. But our event is coming and a reliable supply at too high a price is better than no supply for tickets we have already sold. I fully understand that it is totally different than buying from a co-op of the fishermen. There's the handling of the little guys in cold storage, transportation, licensing issues etc. And, we're talking about live lobsters - not frozen. But, it's useful to know that while prices are up, it's not THAT much. Maybe we need to push back on price a bit. I always suspect these stories we hear from the suppliers about the hardships in Maine are a way to get the price up.
Click to expand
 
B

brazenarticle

.
Jul 8, 2012
137
Catalina 36 MKII North East
On Friday (7/29/16) I was quoted $7.50 a pound for live Maine lobsters (1 1/2 pound lobster per person cooked and delivered to the club) in northern Maryland. A friend from Maine found $6 a pound but we'd need to transport and cook.
$25 a pound ? - YIKES!
 
shemandr

shemandr

.
Jan 1, 2006
7,588
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Yeah, that number was quoted at a pre-event meeting. We'll see what the actual number is. I will post it for the edification of those following this thread. I will let our committee know about the prices I've seen posted. We still have to buy from a licensed NY purveyor or we don't get our Health Department permit to serve food.
 
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