Buddy and I were fishing CCB when he tangles in the bottom. Not a single lobster trap in sight so it couldn't be that right? Wrong. It was a trap with a 2011 tag and about 100' of rope. Looked like the buoy got fouled in a prop and cut off. Small plastic piece still attached.

I didn't want to just drop it for fear of the ripe rising and really fouling someones prop. We were only in about 25' of water. Then we thought we would cut the bridle rope and drop it but what a waste to leave the trap on the bottom. What about just bringing it into the ramp and leave it there? Figured a bad idea as it's probably illegal to posses someone elses trap. So we called the EPO's. They ha a boat 20 minutes away so they came by and we dumped it with them. They said they would contact owner.

So...what would you do? EPO dispatch didn't know what to do. What if they were not around? Bring it in? Return it to the bottom as is?

I'm just curious. Glad they can get it back to the owner as it was fairly new. Oh yeah...there was a keeper lobster but no bait. EPO pitched it back in. Lobster's lucky day ;)

Aren't floating lobster lines now illegal?
Coil up the line, put it in the trap, leave the door open and throw it back in.

Somehow I managed to snag two ghost traps last year anchoring up.
Both were mangled but I would send them back either way.

Both made me want to cut the anchor and leave it with them too. :smash:

I understand this was a new trap and someone's money and it's admirable that you spent the effort the make sure that it got back to the owner. Nice to hear that this stuff actually goes on. You're right about it being illegal to even move someone else's gear. You're not even supposed to touch it when it has washed up on the beach.

IMHO - what ever we can do to minimize the amount of ghost traps the better. I dive a lot and there are literally thousands of abandoned traps out there. The majority have cod or totaug stranded in them. I usually cut the webbing out so they can get out. It's really a mess down there.

I think you did the right thing. Throwing the trap back doesn't help anyone or the environment.

Once you called the authorities, even if you just left a message should insure there's no confusion as to the legality of the situation...assuming common sense is in play.

-spence

Surprised we haven't heard the "They can shoot you if you touch their traps!" nonsense.

Assault with a deadly weapon is a felony, EXCEPT when done to protect crap eating marine insects and a crud covered trap.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKK...
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I would have kept the lobster as a finders fee. :hihi:
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cut the heads out of them put the rope back inside and rip the plastic trap door off so they don't ghost fish and dump them back in.... you can buy a lot of lobsters with the fine money if you get caught with lobsters and no permit. there is a sickening amout of abandoned and lost gear out there.

I take them in to the town dock. Not worried about the possession of a lobsterman's trap, at least locally. Getting a lost pot back is money to them. Same with a rec. license holder, which it probably was being it was a single pot. Just plain stupid to leave it there without a buoy....

I take them in to the town dock. Not worried about the possession of a lobsterman's trap, at least locally. Getting a lost pot back is money to them. Same with a rec. license holder, which it probably was being it was a single pot. Just plain stupid to leave it there without a buoy....

Exactly what I've done in the past.... somehwere common sense has to prevail...

I got tangled in a rope while swimming at Cutty last week...let me tell you, a lot of crap when trough my mind at that moment
I am with Nebe, you deserve a lobster roll for your efforts

Interesting replies. Last thing I wanted to do was leave the rope free to tangle. I didn't know if it would rise or not. Then I also didn't want to dump it over to rust in the bottom. Lord knows there is enough junk on the bottom.

Glad we made the call. Probably do the same next time or just let them know which ramp it will be at. Probably never happen again though. First time in 20 or so years we ever had it happen
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I take them in to the town dock. Not worried about the possession of a lobsterman's trap, at least locally. Getting a lost pot back is money to them. Same with a rec. license holder, which it probably was being it was a single pot. Just plain stupid to leave it there without a buoy....

Ditto here as well. I have had traps myself. Unless your stealing the GD pot no worry about bringing into the wharf and leave it there. Leaving more unattended, useless debris on the ocean floor is foolish.