Masters of the Harbors: Local Harbormasters Share Their Favorite North Shore Boating Areas, from Prime Tuna Fishing Spots to Peaceful Marshlands Perfect for Kayaking - Northshore Magazine

“Masters of the Harbors” highlights how local harbormasters on the North Shore balance public safety with their own favorite boating destinations, from tuna fishing grounds to sheltered areas suited for kayaking. The story notes that Newbury Harbormaster Sergeant Jim Velonis waves to everyone, describing it as a daily routine while emphasizing that harbormasters’ primary duties include assisting vessels in distress, educating boaters on safety rules, and responding to rescues and medical emergencies. It profiles five harbormasters and their preferred waters. Paul Hogg, Newburyport harbormaster, fishes off the North Shore for striped bass and tuna, including areas such as Joppa Flats, Jeffreys Ledge, and Stellwagen Bank. Bion Pike, Manchester-by-the-Sea harbormaster, outlines routes involving Salem, Gloucester, Cape Ann, and Maine waters like Penobscot Bay and Pulpit Harbor. Velonis points to the Parker River and Plum Island Sound marshland for slow travel and wildlife viewing, and to a local sandbar near Ipswich Bay.