lobby rec permit - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

MrHunters · 06-13-2011, 11:02 AM

Knowing nothing about unsaid rules/laws I thought I'd ask before we went out and did anything.

We wanted to get a rec permit to throw out 5 or so pots so we can give them a check when we go out and not catch fish.

Gloucester is FILLED with pots so I figured 5 more can't hurt but I've learned, figuring, is not always the best way to go about it.

Will I piss anyone off by dropping a few in and around Gloucester Harbor?

MakoMike · 06-13-2011, 01:36 PM

I don't know about up there, but down in RI, CT and NY if you drop them anywhere near a commercial guys pots they are going to disappear real quick.

MrHunters · 06-13-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakoMike

I don't know about up there, but down in RI, CT and NY if you drop them anywhere near a commercial guys pots they are going to disappear real quick.

yea, figured that. Whats near? 100 - 200 - 300 yrds? Is there a way to distinguish?

thefishingfreak · 06-13-2011, 04:13 PM

Most of them set south to north with a matching pot on each end. if you cross there string theyre more than likely to empty your traps or just take them.
I would drop a few when you head out and pick them up when you return plenty of time to catch a few lobsters With fresh bait and there not sitting in the danger zone for too long.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

taJon · 06-14-2011, 07:35 AM

good idea mike. One pot per line should help avoid tangles too.

Fly Rod · 06-16-2011, 02:54 PM

Cheaper to buy the lobsters off the boat then to have traps in Gloucester Harbor you will be eventually cut off. Make sure you mark each pot location on your GPS so that you can crapple for your lost pot. If you can get some cheap old traps for free or 10 bucks each then you will not lose much. A new trap will cost you 70-100 bucks. And then add your bait.

Mr. Sandman · 06-17-2011, 06:16 AM

I find you loose more gear to sailboats then looters. Sailboats don't even look where they are going and run right thru lobster pot fields. They eventually drag them to deep water never to be seen again. If you can keep them in tight to rocks and out of reach of fishermen that is the best but it is hard to find spots like that.

One year I lost 4 pots. (@ $100/per pot) The year before I kept them in tight and lost zero but I know shore guys didn't like it and I ened up with a few plugs on the warp. (most guys fish with crap lures!) Last year I didn't do it. I plan to but 6 pots in this year for a few months. I will be in deeper water this year as this boat is difficult to manever in tight to rocks. If I loose them I will call it quits for a while. I am thinking of tying them all together but that also has its hassles.

IMO it is a great way to rid fishwaste and turn them into something tasty. Also it is fun to see what comes up. Great thing to do with a kid for an hour. When you see a 4#er come up let me tell you you are jacked like a 50# bass.

likwid · 06-22-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

I find you loose more gear to sailboats then looters. Sailboats don't even look where they are going and run right thru lobster pot fields. They eventually drag them to deep water never to be seen again. If you can keep them in tight to rocks and out of reach of fishermen that is the best but it is hard to find spots like that.

If by "sailboats" you mean "islanders" then you're right.

Stop putting your traps anywhere near theirs.

Sailboats notice a trap stuck on their keel etc almost immediately.

Yours just get cut.

Gremlin · 06-22-2011, 09:05 PM

Seems like in RI you get cut or your buoy stuffed back in your trap no matter where you put it. And then the commercial guys complain about people messing with their traps.

I get cut I lose 1 (which I get for free from my father in law who lobsters up in Maine). They get cut they lose 8-10 depending on their set. Its really amazing that they think the recs will take all of the lobster.

MrHunters · 06-22-2011, 11:09 AM

so on the thought line of FF.
How long of a soak do you need to find a few for dinner? Typical fishing trip for me is between 4-6 hours. From his idea.. ( and i don't want to transport them every time) maybe drop them in the morning, pick them up in the afternoon, then drop them somewhere in an obscure location for next trip??

I agree with you Sandman, i remember going out with my pops in his leaking dingy and every trap was exciting to see come up.

I'm not concerned about price per lobby, Flyrod... if that was the case i would not have bought a boat...

Currently my striped bass per lbs is well over 1000 bucks :P

Swede · 06-22-2011, 02:32 PM

MrHunters, If You have a slip I would suggest putting out 3 at Your slip. 1Starboard bow, 1 Port Bow and 1 Pot Port stern. They will not get in Your way and You will probably get more Lobsters than settting anywhere else. And no loss of traps. It worked for Me for 5 yrs. Unbeleivable amount of lobsters caught right at the slip! The little buggers are everywhere! Good luck!

Slick Moedee · 06-22-2011, 04:23 PM

Putting them in over behind 10 lb is fine. All those are rec. traps for the most part. There is a benefit to stringing 2 together incase one gets run over etc.

droping and pick up every trip is unecssary and a hugh PIA. be prepared that come late July/Aug/Sept it can be messy given the growth on the lines.

If you have a slip you can stash your catch in an unmarked holding pen until there are enough to make cook worth you while, vs a bug here and a bug there.

Last year was a 50+ bug year checking twice a week.

Fly Rod · 06-23-2011, 07:52 AM

Mussel Point on the western shore is a good area to put your traps. Three day soak is good. Do not be stingy on the bait.

At the state pier you can get 50 pounds of frozen bait for about 18 bucks if they do not have fresh.

three Lanterns down by the pier is getting 24 bucks for 25 pounds.

Good luck lobstering.

MrHunters · 07-12-2011, 11:22 AM

thanks for all the great input. We got our permit and 5 traps to start with. No need for more at this point or ever for that matter.

How do you think we would fair around the mouth of the Merrimack? I'm just thinking it's going to be tough to get back down to Gloucester for a 3 day soak and was just reading it's not the trap that keeps the lobster there, its the bait. Bait gone lobster gone.

The Merrimack is much closer but you definitely don't see as many pots out there.

taJon · 07-15-2011, 12:20 AM

it'll be fine!