LUTHER BATES
F/V Singularity
Luther grew up in Chatham, MA and holds a BA in Economics with concentrations in Geology and Architecture from Cornell University. He self-financed his college education by shellfishing and through various scholarships. After graduation, Luther was recruited by a private equity firm as an options trader on the floor of the NYSE, but chose to go cod fishing instead. As fishery scientists improved the regulatory climate for Spiny Dogfish Luther set up a longline operation on his 22ft shellfishing skiff. He eventually purchased and currently captains the F/V Singularity, a 32 H&H boat, longlining for Spiny Dogfish off Chatham. His collection of original paintings and limited-edition photography is showing exclusively in his gallery in Harwich Port, MA, The Nines.
Aside from money, why do you fish?
I enjoy the mental challenge. Fishing is a puzzle, a game with countless variables and an invisible objective. It's much more strategic than "go out there and get the fish"; it's where to go, when to go, what to use, what color, what depth, etc. It's a process of identifying repeatable patterns through experimentation, deductive reasoning, and trial & error. It's highly scientific, and I find that incredibly interesting.
What's something about hook and line gear that you find interesting and the folks in the public may not know about?
Rule #1. Always set with the tide. East of Chatham the tides flow predominantly north and south. Setting the gear in the same direction as the tide is running lets the gear stretch out so the main line is taut. Setting against the tide can be disastrous, as the main line will pile up on itself without stretching out, resulting in major tangles.
