How would you go about using lobster tails as bait? Fish them like a clam???

I don't believe it's legal to use lobster for bait......

They use it every year at the mvy derby.....

Do tell...... Have you seen this firsthand? Who are" They"? The internet wants to know...

The guys who win! I guess its the best bait.... Hard to believe. The only reason this came about was because I was hitting the surf this evening and realized many lobsters had washed up on the beach and died. I figure its worth a shot.

I haven't seen it first hand.....

If i were you id break them out of there shell and depending on where you fish let them drift with maybe a rubbercore sinker just to get it down. Let us know how you mak out.

Will do... Kind of expensive and would never pay to try.

happens more often then that, especially on that beach. a couple of years ago i was picking up clams and bugs off the beach and came across an enormous blackfish had to be 16-18 pounds

I was shocked. Found some a little alive others in just parts. Ive never seen it but had heard about it.

The old Charles Church World Record 73# had a lobster in her gut.

I know a diver that has "hand fed" small lobsters to Stripers while diving (so he claims).

Read it was used frequently back in the day before prices went up.

yeah wasn't that the bait that all the fishing clubs used, like cuttyhunk for example?

A couple of weeks ago I was on a boat in Maine when my friend pulled out a rubber lobster lure. Looked like a one pound lobster. Said he had gotten a couple on it in the past. We fished the rocky shoreline with no luck.

"Back in the day," it was one of the main baits supposedly used off the bass stands. The gaffer would chum the water with bunker while the fisherman would sit atop the bass stand with a lobster tail baited on the bottom. An old timer I fish with told me some stories about how he used to use small live lobsters down at beavertail. He would fish them like an oversized crawfish and insert a single hook in the tail so as not to kill the bug and allow it to swim around. Used to do VERY well like this, but my impression was that it was now illegal to use them as bait. Could be wrong, though, as I never had enough $ laying around to buy a few dozen to try.

I have found plenty of lobsters in the stomaches of bass the last few seasons, especially in one spot in CT that I fish that is littered with lobster pots.

An old timer I fish with told me some stories


Thats no way to talk about Rich!!! :biglaugh:

I've seen 6-8" lobsters on rocky bars at night, always thought they would make good bait.

Tried this once, never made it passed the grill the night before.

bass follow lobster boats like seals follow surfcasters...

I'm pretty sure the previous RI record was caught on a lobster tail.

I just checked the State's Marine fisheries website, and the abstracts regarding shellfish does not have any regulation regaring the use of a lobster.
As long as the lobster was obtained legally and is of course of legal size, sex and within the daily limit, than you should be able to use them as bait.

Of course how many of us are willing to part with that much $$ for bait that pretty much any fish would love to tear apart in a heartbeat?

Maybe there's a market for Beluga Caviar as chum?

Right now Lobsters are $3.99 a pound at Market basket. At that price it rivals live pogie prices I have heard quoted and you would have the receipt as proof you bought it/them. For 20 bucks you could go out with 4 1.25lbers.
I am guessing they are that cheap due to being soft shells -which must be good for both the hook placement and possibly the bass can sense it.
While everyone is throwing pencils or jigs in the next couple days maybe I will take out the 1209 and find a spot to freespool a lazy lobster.

Seriously though I really doubt its legal given the restrictions on taking them. Additionally I don’t think its legal to take them off the beach without a proper permit.

If nothing else $3.99 is so cheap - even if they are sofshells - making lobster rolls at home would be well worth it.

The guys who win! I guess its the best bait.... Hard to believe. The only reason this came about was because I was hitting the surf this evening and realized many lobsters had washed up on the beach and died. I took the tails :-) I guess this happens once every 10 years or so in certain places and there are no laws governing picking up lobsters on the beach! I figure its worth a shot.

Your not suppose to pick those lobsters up off the beach without a license, same with the clams that wash up. uh oh!

I have been fishing the derby since 1973 more often than not, and every year except one since 1980 and have never heard of lobsters being used by a winner. We have a few winners here. Maybe they can chime in on this statement.

I just spent about an hour and a half looking.. Nothing.. I'd be willing to bet you have to keep the receipts and they must be legal size.. Look on the bright side.. Probably won't have to worry about blues! :buds:

and on a side note... I DID find that the bastages did close the commercial spiny dogfish season :fury: and the tog regs have changed.

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/anregs/082010p7.pdf

...Seriously though I really doubt its legal given the restrictions on taking them. Additionally I don’t think its legal to take them off the beach without a proper permit....

What you do with them AFTER you buy them is YOUR business.
As long as YOU precured them legally (keep the receipt just in case) you can do whatever you want with them.

If you can use shrimp as bait, why not lobster?
Or any shellfish for that matter? Oh wait, you can!

AS LONG AS THE BAIT IS PROCURED THROUGH LEGAL MEANS, FISH AWAY!

I guess this happens once every 10 years or so in certain places and there are no laws governing picking up lobsters on the beach!
.

You guess wrong there are laws in every state governing picking up lobsters on the beach and I'll bet you broke a few. Good thing the clam cops weren't around.

Geez, now fishing fool is a lobster poacher for picking one up off the beach. You're in trouble now breaking the law :skulz: .



I was jigging for bait 2 weeks ago and caught one, had it in possesion for about 30 seconds but I let him go.......

You guess wrong there are laws in every state governing picking up lobsters on the beach and I'll bet you broke a few. Good thing the clam cops weren't around.

Sure.... you post the law and I believe you. The last time they were up on the beach thick people were everywhere picking them up. My father in-law (retired police office, also the clam cop locally) was there picking them up and spoke with an EPO officer who was there watching and the EPO said there is nothing wrong with it..... Anyone who thinks its illegal should find the law!!

Lobster poaching is a serious crime and I believe your words on this site can and possibly will be used against you in a court of law.Should have really though more about openly admitting to this in a public forum.Better watch out for the internet clam cops.Worse than the real ones......

Thanks for all the speculation! When someones got facts that would be helpful. It is not like a i have 100 lobsters. Just a few tails that had broken off and were up the beach in seaweed. The laws about lobsters apply when someone is fishing! Either with traps or scuba gear or however. I was walking on the beach not in the water and it would be dam tough to say I was fishing!

Sure.... you post the law and I believe you. The last time they were up on the beach thick people were everywhere picking them up. My father in-law (retired police office, also the clam cop locally) was there picking them up and spoke with an EPO officer who was there watching and the EPO said there is nothing wrong with it..... Anyone who thinks its illegal should find the law!!


I know for a fact in Marshfield/Brant Rock in recent history after storms the law went down to the beach and if I remember correctly they even had a few troopers there because so many people drove to the beach to grab what they could, making people put everything back in the water. That included quahogs, steamers, lobsters and whatnot. I have a buddy who lives right there and saw it happen.

Nothing that happens in Hull would surprise me, nothing. It would not surpise that the Hull Warden wouldn't know or would not bother to enforce the regs.

What makes you thinks because you didn't have to swim for it, trap it, or dig for it that you don't need a permit. Oh the storm gave it to me I didn't have to go to the town hall to get a permit for these.

Mass is strict! In RI any resident is allowed ~1/2 bushel per person of shellfish (non-lobster)

Geez, now fishing fool is a lobster poacher for picking one up off the beach. You're in trouble now breaking the law :skulz: .



I was jigging for bait 2 weeks ago and caught one, had it in possesion for about 30 seconds but I let him go.......

Is that John from CHiPs? They have lobster in los Angeles?

So is it legal or illegal?

So is it legal or illegal?

I'd say totally legal if you have a rec lobster liscence
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stripers love lobster.

more than any of you do. :D

A quick check shows that Nebe is right, at a minimum you need a recreational lobster license to "take" lobsters by any method. Also the lobsters have to meet minimum size limits and can't be v-notched.

Alsi in RI I have seen the DEM Cops on the beach after a storm, making people put back surf clams that did not meet the 5 inch minimum size.Pretty stupid if you ask me, but dems the rules.

I know it is off topic (but sort of related). I was told by someone if you hit a deer in the road in Massachusetts you can take it even if you do not have a hunting permit. Anyone know if that's true (not that I plan or would want to do it)

:topic:

Your not suppose to pick those lobsters up off the beach without a license, same with the clams that wash up. uh oh!

I have been fishing the derby since 1973 more often than not, and every year except one since 1980 and have never heard of lobsters being used by a winner. We have a few winners here. Maybe they can chime in on this statement.


Actually, you can't pick them off the beach at all, with or without a license--at least in Massachusetts. The only legal way of harvesting lobsters in Massachusetts is by potting, or by free diving. Free diving--more properly called free-handing--includes wading and harvesting them by hand--while they're in the water. You can't even legally keep one if you catch it on a hook and line. Pots have to include an escape vent.

And lobsters can't be harvested by any method at night.

Surf clams can be harvested without a license in certain towns--one would have to check the local shellfishing regs. No permit is needed to take a bushel of sea clams a day in Bourne, for example. All surf clams in Massachusetts have to have a minimum 5" shell length to be taken, even where no permit is needed. The state sets the individual species size limits for shellfish, and the towns regulate permitting and seasons.

I know it is off topic (but sort of related). I was told by someone if you hit a deer in the road in Massachusetts you can take it even if you do not have a hunting permit. Anyone know if that's true (not that I plan or would want to do it)

:topic:

If you hit a deer you can keep it, but it must be taken then, not later.
If you can't take it with you, some states have a "call list" for deer roadkill. They call the 1st person on the list to let them know thay have a deer. If no answer, call 2nd name, then 3rd, and on and on until they reach someone to collect the carcass.

I know it is off topic (but sort of related). I was told by someone if you hit a deer in the road in Massachusetts you can take it even if you do not have a hunting permit. Anyone know if that's true (not that I plan or would want to do it)

:topic:

This is for a fact true! All you need to do is call it in and its yours...

I'd say totally legal if you have a rec lobster liscence
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AGAIN!! We are not looking for opinions!!!:smash:

AGAIN!! We are not looking for opinions!!!:smash:

Why would you think you don't need a lobster license for collecting them? I don't think anyone is finding the specific law that says no because it's common since. What if a 75" tuna beached itself? As ridiculous as it sounds you aren't entitled to it. Best you could hope for is some serious officer discretion.

If you hit a deer you can keep it, but it must be taken then, not later.
If you can't take it with you, some states have a "call list" for deer roadkill. They call the 1st person on the list to let them know thay have a deer. If no answer, call 2nd name, then 3rd, and on and on until they reach someone to collect the carcass.


In Mass. the deer after being hit is supposed to be tagged. If the driver of the car doesn't want it then a passenger in the car that hit it can take it. Other than that occuribng the deer is supposed to be taken and disposed of by an official. After spending about 33 years as a police officer I told this kid that witnessed the deer/car crash he could have the deer, because the driver didn't want it. Then an officer who was working that shift started going up one side of me and down the other. He had gone out of his way to find out the regulations. Secured the deer tags. Then took most of the deer for himself when no one wanted it that could take it. He was an %$%$%$%$%$%$%$, first class %$%$%$%$%$%$%$. What he would is badger the driver of the car or just assume they didn't want and take it for himself. We had it our big time in the middle of route 18. Unfortunately he was right. There is only two people who can take the deer. Most towns dont have an officer who knows this chit. Most towns have an animal control guy who comes out and will take the deer to someone who needs it and will eat it.

The POS, who I argued with over who gets the deer, was a Sgt., and was just fired shortly before I retired. He was a real piece of work.

it baffles me that dead shellfish washed up on the beach wouldn't be free for anyone.

I watched a seagull on Narragansett Town Beach pick up a surf clam under the legal limit and carry it above the high tide line. I did'nt think they were that smart. Good thing he did'nt get caught.

I would like to know the MA reg. that prevents you from using legal/ legally caught lobsters for bait???? A CMR # would do.......

I would like to know the MA reg. that prevents you from using legal/ legally caught lobsters for bait???? A CMR # would do.......

Thank you.

I have yet to be able to find a law that makes it not okay.

Thank you.

I have yet to be able to find a law that makes it not okay.

your not allowed to take lobsters with out a license, so unless you have a reciept from a fish market, your breaking the law- if you find and use a baby lobster, or a lobster with a notch cut out of his tail, your really breaking the law.. But if you have lobstering permit, then you can use one for bait as long as its legal size to keep

your not allowed to take lobsters with out a license, so unless you have a reciept from a fish market, your breaking the law- if you find and use a baby lobster, or a lobster with a notch cut out of his tail, your really breaking the law.. But if you have lobstering permit, then you can use one for bait as long as its legal size to keep

Exactly what law do you speak of?? Does it apply to dead lobsters??

Exactly what law do you speak of?? Does it apply to dead lobsters??

Seems like you're determined to not accept the multiple responses that say taking any lobster, dead/alive, without a permit is illegal. With the severely aggressive way lobster poachers tend to be handled, I'd take their word on it - that is unless Neptune himself came up to you and said you are destined for a 50lber if you use lobster tails as bait.

Seems like you're determined to not accept the multiple responses that say taking any lobster, dead/alive, without a permit is illegal. With the severely aggressive way lobster poachers tend to be handled, I'd take their word on it - that is unless Neptune himself came up to you and said you are destined for a 50lber if you use lobster tails as bait.


Yes and no. I am just wondering. Everyone has an opinion but I am fairly sure that it is fine based on my father in-law (retired harbor guy/old clam cop). I do agree with everyone here that it could go bad in any number of ways.

Yes and no. I am just wondering. Everyone has an opinion but I am fairly sure that it is fine based on my father in-law (retired harbor guy/old clam cop). I do agree with everyone here that it could go bad in any number of ways.

Call EPO? :huh:

You really are a fool. Best of luck to you with your lobsters. :hihi:
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it baffles me that dead shellfish washed up on the beach wouldn't be free for anyone.


Simple answer - so that poachers can't say "Gee officer, I just found it on the beach!" The fact that they may actually see it sitting there, and see you pick it up innocently doesn't matter to the law. The law is there to protect against poachers, so 'finders-keepers' gets ruled out in all cases.

They used lobster back in the 1800s because it was cheap and plentiful.They also fed pigs lobster on Cape Cod back into Colonial days.

On a related note, there was a law passed restricting the number of days per week servants could be fed salmon. Seems the servants were tired of eating so much salmon and protested.

You really are a fool. Best of luck to you with your lobsters. :hihi:
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Ha! How old are you?

Ha! How old are you?

Old enough to know rules and regulations and to listen to the 10 people who are telling me that it is illegal.
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Old enough to know rules and regulations and to listen to the 10 people who are telling me that it is illegal.
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Are the 10 other people retired clam cops? Do they have any facts? I love the speculation. Good luck fishin!

It would certainly catch me. why anyone would not put it in a roll and eat it is beyond me.

Let's say that you find a dead schoolie on the beach. Do you take it home? You didn't catch it. There are no laws that say you can't take it home. But what you do have to follow is possession laws. If the schoolie is over 28 you can take it home. With lobsters, the possession laws are A certain number of inches from the eye socket to the back edge of it's carapace. If the lobster is above legal size and you have a lobster liscence, you are allowed to possess them.

Also, the legal possession size for scup is a certain number of inces-9 I think. You are not allowed to liveline scup shorter than that..

So go-ahead and use lobsters as bait, but possession of them is illegal without a rec liscense
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The laws read that any possession must be a certain size (that includes using as bait), along with being a permit holder. And if they catch you, its on your a#@$ to prove that the lobster was of legal size.

That said, go for it, but get caught and you're most likely screwed.

Lobster violations seem to be treated much harsher than fishing violations. Good luck to you. Like I said, have you called EPO? I've called them in the past and they've been more than helpful.

Sergi di somov(sp?) " the mad Russian who won the derby a few times did use lobster tails for bait. It is mentioned in " Reading the Water". It was stated that he would buy a few bugs, eat some with his wife for dinner, and save the tails for bait. He kept it very quiet.
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Lobster violations seem to be treated much harsher than fishing violations.

Yes they are.
Bugs are worth bank compared to most fish.

Also, the legal possession size for scup is a certain number of inces-9
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10.5"

You can usually scarf up a few (sometimes quite a few) along East Beach when you have a low tide early in the morning of a hurricane swell. Just get there before the gulls see them.

The laws read that any possession must be a certain size (that includes using as bait), along with being a permit holder. And if they catch you, its on your a#@$ to prove that the lobster was of legal size.

That said, go for it, but get caught and you're most likely screwed.

But, but, but-----that's just speculation. You're not a retired clam cop :rotf2:

When you buy the soft shell lobstah's at MB, don't tell them it's for bait. They will look at you like you are crazy. Not that I would know anything about buying human grade food for bait. ;).

It's not much of a moral dilemma. It's either you or the gulls who gets them. Sure the DEM could bust you. If someone calls them, tells them the make and model of your car, where you are parking, and what you are in violation of. If you are still there an hour later when they show, they'll have you cold and it will be front page news.
I don't know why they don't go to Hazard Ave on bluebird weekend days when there's a hurricane swell on and check licenses or otherwise discourage people to fish for their own good. I guess failing to protect is not much of a moral dilemma either.

But, but, but-----that's just speculation. You're not a retired clam cop :rotf2:

True, but non-retired "clam cops" can speculate you a hefty fine. I don't think retired "clam cops" can help with that. :hihi:

I watched a seagull on Narragansett Town Beach pick up a surf clam under the legal limit and carry it above the high tide line. I did'nt think they were that smart. Good thing he did'nt get caught.

:rotf2:

It's not much of a moral dilemma. It's either you or the gulls who gets them. Sure the DEM could bust you. If someone calls them, tells them the make and model of your car, where you are parking, and what you are in violation of. If you are still there an hour later when they show, they'll have you cold and it will be front page news.
I don't know why they don't go to Hazard Ave on bluebird weekend days when there's a hurricane swell on and check licenses or otherwise discourage people to fish for their own good. I guess failing to protect is not much of a moral dilemma either.

Yep, have EPO's checking at Hazard and Beavertail. And DCYF for the brilliant parents that bring their young kids :smash:

Give the Narragansett cops the authority to check fishing licenses and they'd do it with vigor.

Once again,

If you procure the lobsters through legal means, and they are of legal size and sex, you can do whatever you please with them.

As for picking them up off the beach, if they are dead, eating them would be the LAST thing I would ever consider.

Here's a "loophole" for the beachcombing collectors: If you have a rec license for lobster, wait until they are "underwater" and collect them. Since there is no specific ruling relating as to how deep they have to be, underwater means UNDERWATER. Not 20 feet, not 10 feet, not even 3 inches.

Although the poaching aspect sounds more important today, I would logically speculate that the beach-combing restriction would be to prevent people from collecting dead shellfish and eating them.

As for the "posession" argument, you need to specify that it relates to coming FROM and taking FROM the ocean. The blanket rule mangling that has been bantered about here would mean that if you go to a reputable fish monger, buy a couple of lobsters to cook at home, once you leave the store you are in violation unless you have a lobster license, since "posession" was the point. That's absurd, but that's what has been presented here.

Let's all take a moment and check out the Marine Fisheries Abstracts regarding shellfishing. That's where I went right from the beginning.

I would like to know the MA reg. that prevents you from using legal/ legally caught lobsters for bait???? A CMR # would do.......

Thank you.

I have yet to be able to find a law that makes it not okay.

your not allowed to take lobsters with out a license, so unless you have a reciept from a fish market, your breaking the law- if you find and use a baby lobster, or a lobster with a notch cut out of his tail, your really breaking the law.. But if you have lobstering permit, then you can use one for bait as long as its legal size to keep

Like I said legal lobsters obtained legally can be used for bait.......I did NOT say anything about using shorts, v-notched females or eggers for bait.....just legal lobsters obtained legally.......:)

Market Basket- 3.99 a lb. this week, keep receipt.