Addison Ames

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Age: 67
Years lobstering: 56
Buoy colors: safety yellow and white
Boat: 30’ H&H Marine
Boat name: MYSTERY
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At 67, Addison Ames has been fishing with his brother, Donny, for well over 50 years. The two started together in a leaky rowboat when they were 11 and 12, respectively, and have been fishing together ever since.

According to Addison, there’s never been any competition between the brothers as far as who got to be the captain and who worked in the stern. When they first started hauling together, one would captain the boat for the first half of their traps, then they would trade for the second half. “One day,” said Addison, “I just decided I’d stay in the stern.”

The Ames brothers used to fish from June through Thanksgiving, and then fill in on other boats during the winter. Now that they’re a little older, they go from July 4 through October, and they don’t do any winter hauling.

”When the weather is nice, there probably aren’t many places better on Earth to be than on the water,” Addison said.

Born in his grandfather’s house, Addison has lived on Vinalhaven his whole life “so far.” He strongly considered joining the military or going to college after high school, but Nixon ended the draft and college was expensive, even then, so he decided to stay home and fish.

“My whole family’s here,” he said. “The whole island still feels like a family to me. Although, it’s changed on the island now, there are too many fences going up. But we haven’t lost it yet.”

- Kris Osgood