stealing Lobster Pots

[BigFish]

A few heads are better than one!

[Swimmer]

Is it the first time Mr. Sandman? I found when I had my pots the only tme they were damaged is when I laid them out contrary to the direction the commercial guys laid them out. You'll know when and if you locate them them with the peeper. If they are there but lines cut, it was a commercial guy who did it. Another thought is that a commercial guy is pissed your in that area. As far as rocks and eight feet of water are concerned I have seen some pretty good size craft hauling really close to rocks, hust feet away while the captain control both the hauler and the boat. I used to find them open quite often, and almost caught the guy in the bid wellcraft that was stealing from me. I was coming up on him as fast as I could but he spotted me. He took off before I could see the hull numbers to i.d. the boat for a certainty. A couple of weeks later I see the same boat and what appeared to be the same guy and his girlfriend putting on a sex show of sorts at anchor just off Plymouth beach close to the point across the channel from the bug light and motored right up to the transom where she was, well nothing more needs to be said as far as that is concerned. Anyway he gets really pissed when I motored up to the boat, which the closer I got the more I'm sure this is the same huge wellcraft. He starts holloring at me acusing me of being a pervert for getting to close to his action. I told him now that I know his hull numbers he'd better stay away from my traps. He found out that it wasn't the show I was interested in. I told him I was sure it was the same boat that I saw and tried to chase to no avail last week. We had a little stare down. Me in my 16' Sturdee skiff, him in his 40" Wellcraft. He took off and I checked and baited my traps and they were never bothered again. What ever the problem good luck. And I'm sure you wont lower yourself to the scoundrels level, at least not during daylight hours........

[Vectorfisher]

Sandman I got a couple of pots that are sitting in my back yard not getting too many lobsters, if you want them there yours.

[Redsoxticket]

I would suggest to rig the pot to a waterproof radio frequentcy transmitter that will set of a alarm that you may carry on your person such as a beeper.

[vineyardblues]

It's a small Island, becarefull
vb

[Mr. Sandman]

Thanks for everyones comments. I am still POed. My pots were not near a comm set. I understand turf wars to an extent but my 5 pots are not going to put a dent in lobster population. I am a peaceful man but can almost justify the razor rope approach. In my view, one should not touch anothers gear, ever. My only problem is the shellfish constable has the right to pull pots to check for legal traps, escape vents, hog ties that rust, ect. I made sure my traps met the law because I know he goes out there and checks. (we have a new constable). So for the sake of HIS hands I will not do the razor rope. I plan on talking with him today to see what we can do.

[Nebe]

razor blades???

you guys either need a good therapist or have watched too many charles bronson films.. I have a hunch Mr Sandman is smart enough not to do that.













.




.



razorblades rust over time. use C-4 underwater demolitions grade explosives

[sokinwet]

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.

[nightfighter]

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.

[Mr. Sandman]

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

[jsullivan]

just take some dental floss and tie in some 1-O gama's eye down facing the trap with the dental floss wrapped around the hook shank holding it to the trap line
@ every 2' of line the last 10' where the person really hauls on it to get it up
only you know theyre there so you avoid them anybody else is sol
it works good