While striking out on Sluggos from a S Maine jetty last night, I witnessed a suprising catch: a 10 lb lobster caught on a mackeral chunk! The hook was in the crusher claw at the "thumb" joint. The young Cambodians who caught it asked for advice, I said I'd throw it back as I'm sure it was not legal to take. However, the 4 young Mainiacs said they'd take it if the other fellows didn't want it. Sure enough, into the bucket it went and off the jetty! I did get a couple of pics and will post those when I get home and near my camera cable

ps: I did get a fat 37 inch beauty 3 nights ago from this same jetty! No pic sadly.

nice size lobster, but yes, illegal to take that way if they didnt have a permit.

Do the bass up there seem heftier than usual?

ive hooked small lobsters right off Fan Pier. Speaks volumes as to how far the inner Boston Harbor has come.

Wow. Very cool. But they shouldn't have kept it. Last year in a big storm off Maine beach a lobster trap had washed up about 50 yards out on a sandy beach. At low tide I pulled it to shore. 2 large lobsters. Let em go near some rocky shoreline.

Wow. Very cool. But they shouldn't have kept it. Last year in a big storm off Maine beach a lobster trap had washed up about 50 yards out on a sandy beach. At low tide I pulled it to shore. 2 large lobsters. Let em go near some rocky shoreline.

You're lucky the owner of the trap didn't see you do that. Your body would have been dumped off some rocky shoreline.

Yeah ... keep away from those lobster traps, no matter how tempting and vacant a beach seems ... I once watched two guys in a 19 or 20 foot Mako patrolling the shoreline collecting traps that had washed up on the rocks ... some of them could have been theirs, but probably very few were, they had more than a dozen in their boat when the left the stretch of shoreline I was fishing ...

... but as far as catching lobsters on hook and line ... I found the CCC to be quite productive for lobsters while fishing eels ... took two nice keeper sized lobsters back to back while TDF was taking bass ... let them go since I do not have a license at this time to keep them ...

... but as far as catching lobsters on hook and line ... I found the CCC to be quite productive for lobsters while fishing eels ... took two nice keeper sized lobsters back to back while TDF was taking bass ... let them go since I do not have a license at this time to keep them ...

All the jigging and everything else I did at the canal last year, never snagged a lobster - just starfish, muscles and whatever those angry little fish with the small teeth are.

You're lucky the owner of the trap didn't see you do that. Your body would have been dumped off some rocky shoreline.

Yeah ... keep away from those lobster traps, no matter how tempting and vacant a beach seems ... I once watched two guys in a 19 or 20 foot Mako patrolling the shoreline collecting traps that had washed up on the rocks ... some of them could have been theirs, but probably very few were, they had more than a dozen in their boat when the left the stretch of shoreline I was fishing ...

... but as far as catching lobsters on hook and line ... I found the CCC to be quite productive for lobsters while fishing eels ... took two nice keeper sized lobsters back to back while TDF was taking bass ... let them go since I do not have a license at this time to keep them ...

In Massachusetts it's illegal to do either one of those things. First, you can't touch another person's trap--even if it washes up on your own property. You have to call the EPs so they can come and retrieve it. The trap is supposed to have the owner's permit number on it.

And even if you have a lobster license, the only legal method of taking them is by either trapping or potting, or by free diving. You can't keep one that you catch on a hook and line, and in addition, it's illegal to harvest lobsters by any method at night ;).

In Massachusetts it's illegal to do either one of those things. First, you can't touch another person's trap--even if it washes up on your own property. You have to call the EPs so they can come and retrieve it. The trap is supposed to have the owner's permit number on it.

And even if you have a lobster license, the only legal method of taking them is by either trapping or potting, or by free diving. You can't keep one that you catch on a hook and line, and in addition, it's illegal to harvest lobsters by any method at night ;).

Same for RI.

I got my permit this year, and forced myself to read the 20+ pages of regulations on them.
Nothing by night, even your own traps, they have a very hefty 1,000 fine for pulling a trap at night, even your own.

Very interesting post.I live in the middle of 2 casinos in Eastern Ct.
Huge Asian population.I also live amongst these people.They are like alot of immigrants in this great country of ours.Hard working,quiet,mind thier own buisness,and fish for food,not sport or recreation.
My point in this ramble of mine is these people are no different than most of our grand parents[if your pushing 50]
I do not know how the authorities can handle this problem.There is no funding.
I know this lobster was a freak catch but it reveals a real problem.I suppose we just have to wait for the next generation to become more "Americanized".In the mean time I personally will try to explain to them when I can,and hope they understand me.
I suppose we just have to accept this as good Americans.I want to know what you guys think.

To joe's point.

Some people will throw whatever comes out of the water into a bucket to take home. Some are ignorant of the laws, but ignorance is not a valid defense to any crime.

At one of my main freshwater spots, there is a family that I would see almost weekly and it didn't matter what they caught, it went into the white bucket - 6" bass, pencil pickerel or sunny, didn't matter. And this is after I tried to politely educate them on the regulations.

I have also been in the situation where the guy next to me was keeping a short striper at the canal. I mentioned something, he looked at me and said "no speaky engrish". Ok, that is very possible. I said, "I'll call the DEP and they will explain it to you." As I picked up my phone and started dialing, he amazingly understood what I had said and put the small schoolie back in the water.

So I'm not about to fall under the illusion that most of these people don't know what they're doing.

im also pretty sure any lobsters over 5 # also illegal to take in maine. but i could be wrong.

im also pretty sure any lobsters over 5 # also illegal to take in maine. but i could be wrong.

Well it would depend on the length of the carapace, but it was unlawful to take it in that manner anyways.

In Massachusetts it's illegal to do either one of those things. First, you can't touch another person's trap--even if it washes up on your own property. You have to call the EPs so they can come and retrieve it. The trap is supposed to have the owner's permit number on it.

And even if you have a lobster license, the only legal method of taking them is by either trapping or potting, or by free diving. You can't keep one that you catch on a hook and line, and in addition, it's illegal to harvest lobsters by any method at night ;).


I have a couple of friends that dive for them. They've seen some pretty scary stuff down there in the dark.

I have a couple of friends that dive for them. They've seen some pretty scary stuff down there in the dark.

If they're diving for lobsters after sundown, they're violating the law ;)

It is illegal to harvest lobsters by any method at night, in Massachusetts.

I'm pretty sure it's 10k minimum fine and up to 3 years for disturbing them at night in MA. I may be wrong though.

RI's 1-5k and up to a year if convicted. You think it would be easy to regulate the Bass a little stricter. That's some big ass fines if you ask me. I think people would think about it if they would be fined out the ass for a short fish.

Can ya keep'em as pets?

Well it would depend on the length of the carapace, but it was unlawful to take it in that manner anyways.

You might want to think about changing your avatar photo :(

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529328,00.html?mep

The last lobster I "caught" (snagged with a jig) in the canal was dead. It had that black stuff and rot holes on it.

That was 4 years ago.