If Maine is known for anything, it’s their lobster, which should come as no surprise… they’re delicious, not to mention nutritious! But, as it turns out, there’s a whole lot more to enjoy about lobster which I learned on a recent lobster boat tour this Summer.
Read on as I share my lobster adventures in Kennebunkport, Maine, where my dad and I were taken out to sea by Captain Bob on Rugosa’s cozy wooden boat to learn about Maine lobsters’ origins, biology, even their “lobster love stories” and the lobstermen and women who make their living catching them.
I’ll also share what to bring, where to eat lobster and where to stay in Kennebunkport!
[This post was originally posted July of 2022. Updated Febuary of 2023]
In this blog, I share…
- What to expect from a lobster boat tour in Maine
- Lobster tradition
- Lobster fun facts
- Essentials to bring on your lobster boat tour
- Where to eat lobster in Maine
- Where to stay in Maine
This experience was made possible by Rugosa Lobster Tours. As always, all opinions are my own.
Lobstering, a Centuries Old Maine Tradition
If you’re not from Maine, the lobstering way of life may evade you but, to more than 4,500 hardworking lobstermen and women who risk their lives for the catch, it’s just another day out at sea.
Lobstering is a tradition that has run in families since the 1800s. So respected is this time-honored tradition that lobster families in Maine don’t have to pay a lease on the sea. Rather, they’re “grandfathered” in. Which means, everyone knows not to mess with Bob Jr. across the way. It’s an unspoken understanding.
Lobster is arguably Maine’s most valuable industry, bringing in over $700 million dollars every year. In 2021 alone, the commercial lobstermen and women of Maine brought in more than 108 million pounds of lobster. That’s a lot of lobster rolls!
The amount of danger involved in this trade makes the stakes high and they’re only getting higher. Lobstermen must return from sea with a minimum of 150 lbs. of lobster each day just to break even. Then there’s the increasing overhead costs such as fuel and plummeting dock prices by the pound which further add to the pressure. Not to mention, competition coming into Maine and rocking the boat, literally… You remember the game Monopoly? Yup…
I used to complain about the high price of lobster but after learning about all what people go through to earn a living and all that’s involved before the lobster gets to me, I appreciate lobster even more.
Lobster… You Either Love it or You Don’t
Growing up, my parents raised my siblings and I to appreciate all different types of food. As a result, this girl grew up into a foodie, eating (and loving) lobster. 😉
It was more than just a meal for my family, it was a fun way to bond – putting on bibs, cracking claws, the act of dipping lobster meat in warm, drawn butter. It was a whole experience.
Cracking lobster together is one of my fondest memories I have with my dad, who I brought along on this adventure in Kennebunkport with me! I knew no one would appreciate the lobster experience more than him. 😊
My Lobster Adventures in Kennebunkport, Maine
After moving to Maine at the beginning of the pandemic, I became more interested in Maine lobster and how the lobstermen and women catch them. So, when Rugosa Lobster Tours invited me out for a lobster tour in Kennebunkport this Summer, of course I had to say yes!
Having spent time in Kennebunkport’s adorable coastal town many times, I can honestly say that I’ve done just about everything there is to do. Or… so I thought!
As it turns out, there is more to Kennebunkport than lobster rolls and seaside strolls which you only know if you venture away from Dock Square, whose inviting display of boutique shops and restaurants tend to be a tourist trap.
All Aboard the Lobster Boat!
Walking out to the dock behind Nonantum Resort, I found Rugosa Lobster Tour who has the only wooden lobster tour boat in Kennebunkport. First order of business for the 1 hour 25 min. roundtrip tour? Lather up with sunscreen! Those rays are strong!
Of course, I couldn’t set sail on the Kennebunk River without taking in the surroundings first which consisted of a charming miniature lighthouse, American flags waving, sailboats and lobster boats. It gave me a strong sense of Americana. And just like that, I was ready for the lobster tour!
Once we got settled in, we were introduced to Captain Bob, former yacht captain, New Yorker and owner of the tour company (which I didn’t learn till after, he’s so chill). He would be steering our lobster boat out to sea while hauling the traps.
We also met Lauren, a bubbly New England marine biologist who would lead the tour, teaching us about lobsters while the Captain steered.
Setting Out to Sea
Pulling out of the marina, we set out on the Kennebunk River, which divides towns Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, leading into Kennebunkport Harbor. Eventually, we passed Colony Beach on the Kennebunkport side and Goochs Beach on the Kennebunk side. Everyone seemed to be out, enjoying the Summer weather after a brutal Maine Winter.
I was admiring the New England aesthetic, which never gets old, even after over a decade of being a New Englander. The shoreline homes have a distinct charm to them. Due to recent Maine laws that prevent future homes from being built so close to shore, these prized possessions are the last of their kind.
We also passed by the President Bush residency whose flag was raised which means they’re currently living there.
Lobster Boats
We passed a lot of lobster boats! Noticing they were devoid of lobstermen, Lauren explained that they set out before sunrise when the waters are calmer for lobstering.
Each boat has a buoy designated to them that, more than likely, have been passed down from previous generations. They act as an identification number.
A lobster boats’ sterns are wide to accommodate lobster cages (which are stacked). A Maine lobster boat is legally allowed to have 800 cages but many boats hold much less than that.
Maine Lobsters Up and Close
I loved how interactive the tour was. When Lauren came around to show us the lobsters up close, we were so excited. She even let us hold them and put bands on their claws (so they wouldn’t pinch us).
Lobster Fun Facts
- Since females choose to mate with larger lobsters who can protect them while they’re pregnant, the lobsters over 5 lbs. in Maine are thrown back so they can repopulate.
- You’ll find the best quality lobsters for eating toward the end of Spring (May to June) and Fall (October to November) when the lobsters are done molting and have grown a “new shell”, otherwise, they are “soft shell lobsters”.
- Lobstermen argue about the best places to catch lobsters. Some say sandy bottoms, others say rocky bottoms. Every lobsterman has their own luck.
- It takes 10 months for a female lobster to give birth to their child. Female Lobsters need to shed they’re skin and be let their shell down before they can procreate.
- Out of 100K, only about .1% of lobsters are born
- Lobsters started out as a poor man’s food, specifically served to prisoners. Guess the secret broke out!
- Maine’s gulf is warming faster than 99% of the Earth’s ocean which will make lobsters go further away to stay cold. This will create a rougher lobster economy, making the lobstermen work harder.
My Overall Experience on Rugosa’s Lobster Boat Tour
Overall, I had a great time on Rugosa’s Lobster Boat Tour! It was a great way to kick off Summer!
Even if you don’t enjoy learning about lobsters, you could sit back and enjoy the ride, which was very relaxing. It’s amazing to feel the breeze on your skin and smell the salty sea air as you ride out to sea.
While you may not get to taste lobster on the tour, you’ll have a very educational lobster lesson, holding them while experiencing the thrill of the sea where they come from.
Our guides were not only entertaining and informative but made us feel at ease, encouraging us to ask questions.
Book with Rugosa Lobster Tour!
Who is This Lobster Boat Tour For?
This tour is for people of all ages and interests. On my tour, there were couples, families and friends ranging in age from 8 to 60+, coming from all over the US.
The tour is 1 hr. 25 minutes roundtrip (around 45/way). A portion of the boat is covered in the shade. Sea bands are free to rent to help prevent sea sickness.
What to Bring on a Lobster Boat Tour
- Light jacket (gets windy even when warm)
- Hat (sell on boat if you forget)
- Snack (allowed on boat)
- Water (they only provide mini bottles)
Lobster Boat Tour Essentials
Where to Eat Lobster in Kennebunkport, Maine
After spending the afternoon learning about lobster, I had a craving. So, I headed across the street to Mabel’s Lobster Claw, which was delicious
What to Order:
- Lobster Meal
- Steamers
- New England Clam Chowder
There are also other restaurants in Kennebunkport if you’d prefer to have something else.
After lunch, I had a bit of a sweet tooth and took a stroll across Kennebunkport’s famous Mathew J Lanigan Bridge to Dock Square for a milkshake at Dock Square Coffee House.
Where to Stay in Maine
There are a lot of great hotel options on Maine’s coast ranging from cozy beach cottages and bed & breakfasts to sleek hotels and luxurious resorts.
Top Accommodations in Kennebunkport
- Nonantum Resort ** located at Rugosa Lobster Tour
- Boathouse Waterfront Hotel
- Kennebunkport Inn
- Hidden Pond
That’s a Wrap!
I hope you enjoyed my lobster boat tour adventures in Maine! Share it with someone who’d like it! For more blogs like this, subscribe to the blog. 🙂
Do you like lobster? Would you go on a lobster boat tour in Maine? Comment below!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like…
Fishing in Maine: A Great Fishing Trip in Rangeley Lake
24 Hours in Old Orchard Beach Pier, Maine
My Maine Maple Syrup Adventures | A Maine Maple Sunday Farm Tour
Who Makes the Best Pizza in Maine? | Try Maine’s 10 Best Pizza Places
Fact Check:
At Real Girl Review, we value truth and always strive for accuracy. Posts are updated regularly. If you read something that still doesn’t sound right, contact me at gv@realgirlreview.com. I will investigate the facts and make changes as I deem necessary.
Hi Jeanine!
Thank you for reading my blog. 🙂
What a wonderful tour, I love the fact the charter tags and releases…long life to Larry the Lobster
Hi Emily,
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog. I realize that people have their own opinions which I welcome even if they are not in line with my own.
While I share the same love for Maine and agree with your desire to protect its identity, I strongly disagree with your sentiment to not expose the state to tourists.
In 2020, I came to the state during COVID as an out of towner myself in the hopes of finding a safe place to protect my Lupus’ autoimmunity which put me at high risk. What I found was so much more than that.
The people and small businesses who I encountered were not only incredibly kind and welcoming, they were helpful when I needed information, assistance or recommendations. They were also grateful of my support of their small businesses. What would happen if tourists like me didn’t give their business?
What you must realize is that our state that we love so dearly can function as we like and be maintained because of the money brought in by the same tourists you wish to keep out. The state would not survive on the locals alone who don’t can’t always afford or have the time to eat at restaurants, stay at hotels or do activities which bring our local businesses money and support the fabric that makes up our communities.
Assuming you work/have worked in Maine, even your job is/has been affected by tourists in some way or another as well.
All this to say, we NEED our tourists. Especially after COVID’s negative impact on many businesses, big and small. Now is an important time more than ever for tourists to come check out the state.
It is my job as a travel writer and content creator to promote places for people to discover not just in Maine, but everywhere I encounter. My hope is that my readers are respectful when traveling to places I recommend and hopefully, they leave it the same way they found it. Of course, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t going to be people (whether my readers or not) that are disrespectful. We can only hope.
Note that I have respected the wishes of locals by not exposing the hidden gems that they have told me about and will continue to keep it a secret.
Again, thank you for your comment. Have a great day.
– Geeves
We don’t want this. Please stop exposing our beautiful state for tourists and out of staters to come and ruin.
Sounds like a fun tour