Captain Ahab's harpoon

[capt.ken m]

I've been digging on this lot on the way home from work. Today I found this harpoon tip. Not sure if it's old, conflicting info on the net. Also found this tag , not sure what it is off of. Let me know if you have any ideas. Cool stuff though. Thanks for looking.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[btjbtj]

That is one mean looking relic! Congrats. ~Lisa & John

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on some neat stuff

 

[Scrappy]

Modern tip. I used to harpoon Giant Tuna and Swordfish with harpoons with the same tip. I believe I used to use Aftco brand tips. Look it up.

Great find!

 

[DetectingGodlikeOnOlympus]

That's a great find. I would rather dig that than 10,000 filthy pennies.

 

[gunsil]

Scrappy is correct, modern swordfish/tuna harpoon tip. You can see them on the TV series "Wicked Tuna" and like Scrappy I once hunted those fish with these. We call them "darts" in New England.

 

[against the wind]

Very interesting hunt and finds.
Congrats

 

[ScubaDetector]

Poor fish. So it is used to harpoon a fish. What is used to tune a fish?

That would be a unique find for sure

 

[Scrappy]

Scrappy is correct, modern swordfish/tuna harpoon tip. You can see them on the TV series "Wicked Tuna" and like Scrappy I once hunted those fish with these. We call them "darts" in New England.

Where did you run out of? I worked out of Newburyport, Manemsha, and Montauk. Sometimes up to Grand Banks on long hauls. And yep, darts we call 'em!

Never again they say.

 

[Dirtwisher]

And I as well, but only as the last means to secure them after getting them to the boat on rod and reel (like on the show). One trip in October many moons ago, twilight was approaching and we were just about to hang it up and head for the barn empty-handed when we got a report of a good pod of giants a couple miles south of where we were. We decided to give it one last try and dumped our last 50 lbs of chum in about 5 minutes, triggering a 680 pounder to take one of our baits. After an hour fight, we had the fish to the transom and stuck it with the harpoon. When the fish was hit, he went straight down, snapping a 130 lb class rod in the process, as well as the line. All I had him by was the harpoon line, which was getting ripped from my hands as he descended. He and I played tug of war for 15-20 minutes, me bent over the side with my hands almost in the water. Afraid that the harpoon was going to pull out of the fish's side, I yelled to my father-in-law to rig another dart. We didn't have another harpoon line (almost as thick as clothesline) to tie a new dart to, so I told him to tie it to the end of the parted line dangling from the reel. He's a surgeon, and I figured he could figure out the best way to attach it, but it was now dark and he was frantic and couldn't thread the line through the hole in the dart. I told him to cut the crap, slow down and get it done. That did the trick I guess, because he got the dart on the line and fastened it to the end of the harpoon shaft. As I got the fish up, he stuck it with the second dart. No sooner had he done that when the first dart pulled out! All we had him by now was a dart on monofilament line coming directly off the spool of the reel. Luckily, the fish was pretty spent by this point and we were able to get a tailrope on him. I can honestly say, the 40 mile ride back to the harbor that night was one of the best boat rides I've ever had. Thanks for bringing that memory back into my head!

 

[Scrappy]

And I as well, but only as the last means to secure them after getting them to the boat on rod and reel (like on the show). One trip in October many moons ago, twilight was approaching and we were just about to hang it up and head for the barn empty-handed when we got a report of a good pod of giants a couple miles south of where we were. We decided to give it one last try and dumped our last 50 lbs of chum in about 5 minutes, triggering a 680 pounder to take one of our baits. After an hour fight, we had the fish to the transom and stuck it with the harpoon. When the fish was hit, he went straight down, snapping a 130 lb class rod in the process, as well as the line. All I had him by was the harpoon line, which was getting ripped from my hands as he descended. He and I played tug of war for 15-20 minutes, me bent over the side with my hands almost in the water. Afraid that the harpoon was going to pull out of the fish's side, I yelled to my father-in-law to rig another dart. We didn't have another harpoon line (almost as thick as clothesline) to tie a new dart to, so I told him to tie it to the end of the parted line dangling from the reel. He's a surgeon, and I figured he could figure out the best way to attach it, but it was now dark and he was frantic and couldn't thread the line through the hole in the dart. I told him to cut the crap, slow down and get it done. That did the trick I guess, because he got the dart on the line and fastened it to the end of the harpoon shaft. As I got the fish up, he stuck it with the second dart. No sooner had he done that when the first dart pulled out! All we had him by now was a dart on monofilament line coming directly off the spool of the reel. Luckily, the fish was pretty spent by this point and we were able to get a tailrope on him. I can honestly say, the 40 mile ride back to the harbor that night was one of the best boat rides I've ever had. Thanks for bringing that memory back into my head!

Nice story. Funny thing about giants is some have a wicked bad attitude. Yours sounded like a meanie.

 

[dts52]

You guys have brought back some great memories of runs out to the canyons. Nature at her best, at least until the weather turned nasty... then some of the scariest conditions! Taught me deep respect for those Coast Guard troops who went out in that stuff to look for souls (usually fools) in trouble. God bless them.
HH
dts

 

[Trezurehunter]

That harpoon is a cool looking find.

 

[jude061]

Cool find. I believe they were also referred to as "lily darts" here in Gloucester. I went sticking once, with no luck.

 

[Ahab8]

I don't recall losing that? But since it's got my name on it I suppose it's mine. Some great stories from this post and a neat find. Wish it was the old one that was stuck in the White Whale

 

[ScubaDetector]

Nice story. Funny thing about giants is some have a wicked bad attitude. Yours sounded like a meanie.

YOU would be a meanie also if you were stabbed with a harpoon and still alive!

 

[Dirtwisher]

True that, lol

 

[Tommy G]

Old or recent, the harpoon tip is pretty cool find. The tag reminds me of those I used to see on older model tractors. Congrats on the finds!

 

[gunsil]

Where did you run out of? I worked out of Newburyport, Manemsha, and Montauk. Sometimes up to Grand Banks on long hauls. And yep, darts we call 'em!

Never again they say.

Edgartown!! Small boats 32 footers. Mostly Cape Cod waters. Did you work for the Larsens out of Menemsha? I'm off to Menemsha for a month fishing vacation come October. Sadly you are correct, there will likely never be swordfishing in our NE waters again, no more sword boats out of Edgartown or Menemsha, a few guys still chase tuna with harpoons, but all the big draggers and longliners are gone from the Vineyard as well as all the big stickboats. Long pulpits are a thing of the past there.

 

[Scrappy]

Edgartown!! Small boats 32 footers. Mostly Cape Cod waters. Did you work for the Larsens out of Menemsha? I'm off to Menemsha for a month fishing vacation come October. Sadly you are correct, there will likely never be swordfishing in our NE waters again, no more sword boats out of Edgartown or Menemsha, a few guys still chase tuna with harpoons, but all the big draggers and longliners are gone from the Vineyard as well as all the big stickboats. Long pulpits are a thing of the past there.

LARSONS IN MANEMSHA!!??!! YOU WATCH YOUR MOUTH!!! Just kidding...

No, I worked with Donald and his father at POOLE's fish, right next to there. POOLE's was the original, LARSONS crashed the party. Larson's...never!!! Lol