Chatham Fish Pier; Here Comes The Fish – Slideshow

CHATHAM – The seals and seagulls near the Chatham Fish Pier competed for a view of the fishing boat, Jack Tar bringing in fish. Just as we did. We all had our reasons.

Chatham Fish Pier

For the seals and seagulls, there was hope and perhaps the knowledge from day after day of hanging out here that sometimes fisherman catch things that people don’t want to eat. Plus, a fish that is meant to be kept with all the others could possibly fall in the water by mistake. It’s a you-never-know-what-you’re-going-to-get buffet for these animals, all competing for the same spot at the table, which is wherever the fish falls.

Meanwhile, we like fish too.

A seagull photobombs a picture of a seal.

As the Jack Tar tied up, we had a delicious fish sandwich and watched an occurrence that seems virtually as old as all of humanity − fishermen returning from the sea with their catch.

We left the fish pier on this beautiful 78-degree day in the middle of July, and headed over to Lighthouse Beach, where we saw another fishing boat coming into Chatham, being chased by seagulls. Seals were sure to be nearby, or at least waiting at the fish pier.

So as we sat on the beach, digesting our fish sandwich and pondering the scene at the fish pier, we felt enormous gratitude for those on the Jack Tar, and all those bringing in fish from the waters off Cape Cod.

As we left Chatham that day, we  couldn’t help but wonder whether the seals and seagulls, surely sticking around, aren’t simply smarter than us.

More Cape Cod Wave Fishing Stories

For more photos from across Cape Cod, please see Scenic Cape

– Please like us on Facebook.

— Brian Tarcy