Hague Shoals lies about ½ mile off the town of Hague. Here the bottom rises from a depth of 80 to 100 feet to about 25 feet. As we didn't have a bottom sounder and only a rough idea of where the shoal was (it is not very large) we searched for it by dropping the anchor searching for a shallow bottom. After about an hour we found it.
Steve and Dave were first in. They hadn't gone far when Steve located a large Danforth anchor in very nice condition. One lift bag later we continued our swim, anchor in tow. After some exploration of the top of the shoal we started swimming along the sides. The shoal sides are shear cliffs dropping out of sight into the dark water (given the shear drop and darkness, those with tendencies for vertigo may find this a little disconcerting). The rock is sedimentary, with pronounced layering and many white root-like growths attached to it. Bass abound and the area is littered with plastic lizard fishing lures. Dave was playing with his camera when Steve came across yet another anchor. Without a lift bag, Dave's safety sausage was pressed into service and soon Steve was towing a float, liftbag, safety sausage and 2 anchors with line and chain. And Dave was making a photographic study of an exhausted Irishman.
After towing the combination of floats and anchors, Steve and Dave got a new understanding of the term “sea anchor”. Steve and Dave surfaced about 50 yards from the boat which picked them up.
Barb and Emmett then dove the shoals. They swam the circumference and found a third anchor.
We doubt that we got all the anchors and given the popularity of the spot with fisherman and the number of rocks on the bottom, it won't be long before there are more anchors to salvage.
If you want to locate Hague Shoals, line up the house in the picture and head out bearing 305 degrees to the house. When the large flagpole on the island to the northeast bears 40 degrees you should be there. See the photos below:
Submitted by Dave Remling
