I am convinced that the human being is the least admirable animal on the planet.....too bad we don't eat our young like other species......I am in favor of a mandatory idiot test for every American on their 18th birthday...pass and you get to stay in the US....fail and you need to find another country to live in......test to be re-administered randomly throughout your adult life.

I have had the best luck using single pot set ups. Try 2 buoys/1 pot if you're afraid of prop cut offs. You won't lay over a commercial line and that is where most problems occur. MOST commercial guys will cut and re-tie your lines but some seem to forget the re-tie part.

Rocky bottom
 

Sandman, where is the rocky bottom your wrote of in the first post. PM me if you'd like with the reply. I used to live on the Vineyard and for the life of me i cannot think of where ou speak, unless of course its north of Menemsha harbor by Split Rock.

:hidin:

Found them......
In todays paper!
http://www.mvtimes.com/News/06092005...s/lobster.html
(mine are the yellow white and green ones in the background)

Good thing I didn't put the razor rope to work eh?


I have a call in to this guy :nailem: but according to the news article I must be in violation of some kind. I think I know what the "issue" is but we well see.

Sandy,
I'm sure we would all be interested to hear what he says.

curious about why he pulled pots
 

I wonder if you will be able to recitfy the problem with the traps. This is the only time I ever heard of this kind of proactive work by an EPO. Good in a way. Wish they would wrok on people poaching short stripers. Let us know what happens Sandman.

Glad you at least found out what happened to them. Also seems a little fishy that they are targeting this enforcement on the recreational lobstermen. Seems to me like maybe the comm guys had something to do with this sudden activity to decrease the recreational guys cut of the pie.

redlite: there's a good answer to why in the article sandman posted.
and it makes alot of sense.

I have not spoken to the officer yet but I don't think I will have much of a problem. If I was wrong I deserve a fine or whatever. I have no problem with enforcement of the rules. I got some miss information from the state during a phone call and acted on it. I think this is the problem and it should not be much of an issue. I'll let you know the details.

Frankly, I am glad I willbe able to get them back and will fix anything to conform.

This is a new guy and he has been doing his job, somewhat agressively some think....All I can say is DON'T GET CAUGHT WITH A SCUP THAT IS LESS THEN 10.5" $100/FISH. This includes bass fisherman. Since the scup season ends on 8/31 for recs I plan to watch what he does with great interest at the "kids derby" in september when 4 and 5 year olds are catching scup off the dock. He is also patroling the hotspots looking for guys keeping short bass. There have been complaints of fisherman seeing other fisherman keeping sorts. I support any enforcement in this area. (Although disagree with the DMF new rule to allow importation of sub 28" fish caught from other states (ie MD). Expect to see 18" MD stripers in the fish market this year. :af:

Do you know any of the comms? Flatter them by telling them you would value they're opinion on how to handle a problem..... they might just A. start looking out for you and your gear, B. have a good laugh behind your back, or C. might pass along some good info.

Well to wrap up this thread....I got them back. I met with the Eviron. Police officer on Sat and spoke with him for a while. It turns out I had a small adminstation oversight and he returned them to me and said, otherwise the were "model pots" I wish they were all marked like yours. He said my were the first he picked up and he said almost all of the rec lobster fishermen have something incorrect and he could not pull all the pots. He is recording their numbers and sending them a letter telling them what they have to do.

He said he is after the guys who have bad pots. Pots with plastic zip-tied escape vents or SS hog rings. (must be steel so they rot out if lost) Also all pots without numbers were pulled. He said a lot of people pick up a pot at a yard sale and toss it in the water...half the time the pot does not even have an escape vent or is wired shut, has no numbers and has a couple of beer cans in the parlor. These have to be removed.


I support this guy. He has a lot on his plate . He said the State has been giving out bad info and not educating the public as to what need to be done. You can't even buy a current gauge in 90% of the places that sell them anymore. Also he is following up on leads of fisherman taking short bass. I think his main message was he wants to see fishermen "make an effort" to keep up with and follow the rules. Mistakes and misinformation will happen...generally there are no fines for this but purposely avoiding the regs will get you a summonds.


PS you guys with illegal scup or fish traps....you better watch out and don't get caught hauling them (if they are still in the water).
Anyway...my babies are home again :usd:

Glad it all worked out for you Sandman... :claps:

Glad to see it ended on good terms. :cheers:

Thanks for the F/U Sandman...When's lobster dinner?