Jess' Lobster Facts

Lobsters are a specialty here at Jess' Market and we know our way around lobsters here. Just to let you know, are lobsters are absolutely in their freshest form, weather that be live, freshly cooked "clear" meat for immediate use in our temperature-controlled case, or flash frozen "clear " lobster meat for later usage. Our products are guaranteed for peak freshness!

I personally know the lobstermen that provide Jess' Market with their catch of these interesting (and tasty) crustaceans. And I know what it is to go out for lobster myself.

The life of a lobsterman is not an enviable one...the hours are incredibly long and the work is very dangerous as well as hard. For most lobstermen, the day begins well before the sun is up. Their day starts with fueling the specially made boat that they use...and the boat requires a lot of fuel! Also at the beginning of the day these men and women take on the bait that they need to replenish their traps and other supplies that they might need (like food and water) for their day. The lobster boat itself is of a unique design...it has what is referred to as a "planing" hull. At low speeds it had the maneuverability to go in and out of rocky areas with a measure of safety and control, but at speed the lobster boat "planes". The font part of the hull has a rather deep "V" shape that helps it maneuver in tight places and the rear of the hull is basically flat so at high power this craft can move at quite high speeds. As the speed of the boat increases, the front of the boat (bow) comes out of the water and "planes" across the water

The boat is generally between 25 feet long and might be as long as 45 feet in length. Most of the boats that are larger are powered by marine 8 cylinder engines or are basic automobile engines that have been adapted for use on the water. A lot of boats run "straight stacks" without mufflers and can be quite loud. And on a lot of boats, the stacks run up through the cabin. The stack set-up like this is good for warming cold hands. Lobstermen here in mid-coast Maine go out year-round. Even in January!

Most of the lobsters that are trapped are put back in the ocean. Maine has very strict laws governing what may be kept and what lobsters must be released. The lobsterman that takes lobsters that are unlawful are fined a significant sum, and their boat may be impounded by the warden. And anyone in the wholesale to retail chain of the lobster business found with illegal lobsters are subject to severe fines and forfeiture of equipment. Jess' Market does not accept lobsters that are illegal.

When lobsters are taken from the trap, it's like putting your hand in a box of live vice-grips. I know lobstermen that have lost fingers taking lobsters from traps. Suffice it to say, the lobsters that are shipped from Jess' Market can be dangerous if not handled appropriately. The lobsters that you receive from Jess' will be very active.

When the lobsters are taken from the trap, they are "banded" with strong rubber bands. Sometimes you might see wooden plugs inserted into the base of the claw. Do not remove the bands or plugs...they are there for your safety!!!

I use all of the lobster in my prepared recipes. There is plenty of meat in the claws, knuckles, and tail. There might be significant meat in parts of the body as well as in the legs too. The red material in the tail section is called the "roe" and is used often in prepared recipes. And the greenish material at the junction of the body and tail is "tomalley" and has a very unique "peppery" taste used in many recipes.