About
Meet the Cates Family
Isabel and Ethan started lobster fishing with their own licenses and boat at age 8. When they are not in school they work on their lobster boat, the Coastrider, a 24’ fishing vessel. Their current college paths will take them away from the fishing industry as a full time pursuit but they will always remain connected to Cutler Harbor. When they are not lobstering, Isabel is studying for a career in business at Messiah university and enjoys hosting lobster fishing tours. Ethan is pursuing a career in videography while continuing his high school education and enjoys filming the natural beauty that Cutler has to offer. Charlene is currently the CSO of Machias savings bank and enjoys the incredible summers in cutler. She does not however enjoy the winters in cutler so she is angling for opportunities to expand our hosting capabilities in a second and warmer location!
It’s In Our Roots
The Cates family settled in Cutler in the early 1700s. Robert Cates and three other men came from Wales, England and landed in Newburyport Massachusetts. They made their way up the New England coast and settled in Cutler. Fishing in those early years was for subsistence only but the last six generations of Cates family have all fished commercially for lobster and other types of fish. More recently the Cates family line has branched out into other ocean related businesses including building a dock, buying and selling lobsters, and getting Captain’s licenses to provide sightseeing trips. Two members of the Cates family members earned their captain’s licenses in 2005. There are approximately 12 – 13 Cates members currently fishing in Cutler.