Tuna Fishing in the Stellwagen Bank Area of Massachusetts Bay

As Laidlaw & Company managing partner, James (Jim) Ahern is an established financial executive with a focus on arranging financing for expansion companies in the health care vertical. In addition to his work at Laidlaw, James (Jimmy) Ahern is a boating enthusiast who enjoys fishing for tuna off the coast of Cape Cod. 

Bluefin tuna can be caught in several spots in Massachusetts as they migrate from early June through September. One well-known area is the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which encompasses 842 square miles between Cape Ann and Cape Cod at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. An underwater plateau, it reflects the same geologic processes that created outer Cape Cod, with ice sheets retreating following the last Great Ice Age. 

Above water until 12,000 years ago, the bank today harbors myriad sea life, including haddock, flounder, and cod, and is listed as one of the top ten whale watching sites worldwide. The sanctuary designation does not affect fishing. Rather, it protects commercial and recreational fishing activities through regulations designed to prevent the transfer of petroleum products, gravel mining, and the harming of terrestrial species such as turtles, birds, and mammals. 

Fishing enthusiasts have been known to catch bluefin tuna as little as three miles from the shore, with the largest specimens landed in the Massachusetts Bay each year weighing over 1,000 pounds.

Popular Tourist Attractions in Nantucket

As a managing partner with Laidlaw & Company, James Ahern raises capital for and advises public and private companies in the health care sector. When he isn't working at Laidlaw, James Ahern enjoys taking boat trips to Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. 

Nantucket has a year-round population of roughly 10,000 people, but tens of thousands of tourists and part-time residents descend upon the island in the summer. One of Nantucket's main tourist attractions are its fine sand beaches. The island's north shore beaches, such as Children’s Beach and Jetties Beach, are best suited for families because the waves are frequently low. Jetties Beach, meanwhile, is located near tennis courts, a skateboard park, a playground, and other recreational venues. Those looking to surf are better off visiting the south shore beaches of Surfside, Miacomet, and Cisco. 

For a respite from the beaches, visitors to the island should check out the Nantucket Whaling Museum, which features ancient whaling artifacts, including a sperm whale skeleton that hangs from the ceiling. The island also offers sightseeing and tourist activities in the form of numerous lighthouses, museums, mills, and performing arts centers. Visitors can unwind at the end of the day by visiting Cisco Brewers, where they can sample world-class beers, wines, and spirits.