KAYAKING: A fabulous description and fabulous photos of a fabulous paddle in fabulous Cobscook Bay

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Cobscook Bay/Lubec

Underwater scene on Pope's Island.

Scalloper (?) at Cobscook Bay

Basics: State Launch off South Edmunds Road, Edmunds TWP. Lots of parking, outhouse, paved ramp, dock. Launch 11:40 AM Finish 3:40PM, High 3:40PM. 9 miles.
State Launch/dock on Washington St, Lubec. Limited parking, there is a second lot though. No facilities. Launch 8AM, Finish 11AM, Low 10:30AM

Cobscook Bay looks like a tiered cookie display, two curved thin layers of water with a divided stem up the middle. Through that narrow stem runs enough water to give the area a 22 foot tidal range. With all that water flowing through, it is no surprise that at the biggest squeeze point, Reversing Falls in Pembroke, the current can reach over 10 knots.

A few years ago we paddled Cobscook Bay just after low tide, delighting in the variety of seaweed and sea life exposed by the massive tide. I spotted a sea cucumber and a young flounder caught in a tidal pool. This time though, I thought we might try high tide, allowing us to explore the edges of the bay.

My preference is to paddle narrow sections on an incoming tide, that way, if I do run into trouble I should be pushed back to my start. Reversing Falls is the worst of the squeeze points, but a look at the chart shows it is not the only narrow area. I think it is also important to launch from an all tide ramp, which means avoiding the ramp in south Whiting Bay which is surrounded by acres of mud at low. We used the ramp off S. Edmunds Rd.

Read the entire fabulous article and see all of the fabulous photos here: http://penobscotpaddles.blogspot.com/2010/09/cobscook-baylubec.html

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Title	Cobscook Bay, Maine
Description	Surveyed in 1836 under the direction of Lt. Col.S.H.Long. this unique map shows the Cobscook Bay surrounding Falls Island. This appears to be about as far up on the Maine coast as you can get. A very rare map.
Maker	Lt. Col.S.H.Long
Year	1836

Photo Credit: http://www.rare-maps.com/details.cfm?type=maps&rid=1570820&CFID=14807169&CFTOKEN=30539413   This item is for sale at $115.00

Concerns About Rockweed Harvest In Cobscook

Rockweed Harvesting - Ascophyllum nodosum is a vital keystone species that provides a home for all kinds of marine species and it is a major contributor to the primary productivity of the area as well. Some folks are concerned about the harvest while others feel that a "sustainable" harvest is possible. Opponents are concerned about the opening up of Cobscook Bay. Cobscook and the Head Harbour Passage area form an important "ecological engine" that feeds the Bay area and the northern part of the Gulf of Maine. If you are concerned you can sign a petition here.