Scallops or Not

We are in the last week of January, with everyone still talking about the weather.

January has been warmer than usual. The air temps have been about 10 degrees above the usual average. There has been no snow as of yet, which is almost unheard of. We are having some wind and plenty of rain.

No one is complaining, as everyone has been enjoying outdoor activities. There is nice weather for beach walks. If you are a snow bunny, you will have to take a trip north.

Fishing news has been quiet: The only boat out was the King Cod from Center Moriches. It found a handful of codfish, but it was not promising. We will have to wait as the winter progresses.

If you went to the fishing show at Ward Melville High School on January 15, you likely were pleased, with lots of tackle to purchase. The next show is the Route 110 Fishing Flea Market at Camelot Hall, 585 Broadhollow Road, Melville, on January 29. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 — free for children under 12.

We have all been waiting for the studies that have been going on for several years pertaining to the collapse of the local scallop population. According to the reports, it was concluded that higher water temperatures contributed to a reduction of oxygen in the waters.

We know that global warming has been an issue, but the Northeast summer water temps are increasing three times faster than the global average. This also has caused the decrease in the local lobster population. It looks like the waters to the east, such as Nantucket, are okay for now but will face a similar fate.

It will be devastating to think that we will have very few scallops in the future. There are still a handful of boats on the bay looking for scallops. A couple of bushels is a good day. I can remember when you could get 10 bushels in an hour or two! They still remain in the $40 to $50 a pound range, when you can find them.

I am impressed by the number of local bald eagles we are seeing. Daily visits to Sag Harbor‘s Upper Cove and Sag Pond are the norm. Along with all the waterfowl and songbirds, it has been a good winter for the birdwatchers.