hitting crab traps at high speed
- Thread starter Jimherbert
- Start date
Most lobster trap floats I've seen while diving, have numerous traps attached to them. Aside from posing navigational obstacles to boaters above water, the low visibility in New England waters obscures the web of lines until I'm right under them, sometimes snagging my scuba hoses and tanks.
Most boaters have also seen lobsterboats trolling along with dozens of traps on their decks. The first would be dropped into the water - while others connected by a continuous warp are yanked off the gunnels in succession. The last trap in would have the float line. Rarely have I seen commercial gear with just one trap.
I believe single traps may be maintained by non-commercial, licensed individuals. These crustacean fishermen place their traps over rocky bottoms, displayed on their fishfinder screens - seemingly oblivious to boating fairways.
Steve
Never dom, I hunt my lobster directly from their natural residences. Some divers though, steal from traps regularly and give the rest of us a bad rep with the lobstermen. Although, I have harvested lobsters found in "lost" traps I've stumbled across, before re-connecting to the nearest float warp.
Just last season I found a 3+ lb monster in a trap that was obviously broken off from it's float for quite some time. The wire trap was completely enshrouded with sea growth - only thing that distinguished it from nearby rocks, was the rectangular shape. When I opened the trap's hinged lid, the inside was litered with bits of lobster shells - evidence of cannibalistic behavior, along with assorted fish bones.
Dinner on the hook that night was tasty indeed.
Steve
Just last season I found a 3+ lb monster in a trap that was obviously broken off from it's float for quite some time. The wire trap was completely enshrouded with sea growth - only thing that distinguished it from nearby rocks, was the rectangular shape. When I opened the trap's hinged lid, the inside was litered with bits of lobster shells - evidence of cannibalistic behavior, along with assorted fish bones.
Dinner on the hook that night was tasty indeed.
Steve
tugboat kevin
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2007
- RO Number
- 24998
- Messages
- 1,245
yup at the drivers meeting they tell us to try and miss the floats as hitting one usually takes the prop off sometimes the entire drive
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 443
- Messages
- 105
I think I will continue to stay clear!
Capt. Bill1
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 2017
- Messages
- 6,127
"helmet , wetsuit , cutting tools , snorkel.... any other suggested Items for going under water while out at sea or underway ??"
30 cf pony bottle and reg. set., 5 lb small sledge hammer, spare props, nuts and keys along with a prop puller.
30 cf pony bottle and reg. set., 5 lb small sledge hammer, spare props, nuts and keys along with a prop puller.
Adding: Depending on the wet suit... a small weight belt. Short length fins, comfortable mask, underwater light & extra batteries & bulb. Tether for you to boat. Consider a lifeline & float streamed down current. As mentioned above, coarse blade hacksaw is best (& spare blades)but don't nick the shaft, really good rope-cutting serrated blade can work, regular very sharp fillet knife is worthless if the fouled line is wrapped tight by a geared-down,say 200-300+ hp motor. Then even light dock lines or 1/4-5/16" pot warp magically turns into steel cable.
If you happen to have one, an underwater video cam on a curved pole can sometimes save you from getting wet or at least identify the problem for good dive & tool plan. (I.e., you may see you might clear by manually turning the shaft one way or the other from inside.) A lot of newer chartplotters will allow display of an U/W cam.
If it looks like a big job , on the 1st dive if you can secure a line from a cockpit cleat around the shaft or strut & back to the cleat, that can help immensely to save energy getting back & forth down to the job & will allow its removal from the cockpit. Obviously, don't forget to clear that & any other safety lines before starting up.
Turn engines off while anyone is in the water!
I seriously would not recommend going under while UNDERWAY.
If you happen to have one, an underwater video cam on a curved pole can sometimes save you from getting wet or at least identify the problem for good dive & tool plan. (I.e., you may see you might clear by manually turning the shaft one way or the other from inside.) A lot of newer chartplotters will allow display of an U/W cam.
If it looks like a big job , on the 1st dive if you can secure a line from a cockpit cleat around the shaft or strut & back to the cleat, that can help immensely to save energy getting back & forth down to the job & will allow its removal from the cockpit. Obviously, don't forget to clear that & any other safety lines before starting up.
Turn engines off while anyone is in the water!
I seriously would not recommend going under while UNDERWAY.
I have done a lot of research on this issue and have spoken to my rep here in Va a few times about it.. In this state the law must have been written by the crabbers lobby..they cannot place a trap in the channel, BUT, the channel is only INSIDE the buoy line, once clear of the outermost marker they can create a mine field and are IMMUNE from civil prosecution, IMMUNE! I suggested that my rep put language in the law to ensure a "FAIRWAY" from the main channel to the entrance of any USCG maintained bouyed channel. I stated that mariners have a RIGHT to make harbor free from any encumbrance that creates a hazard to navigation and that people having to negotiate these minefields render the rules of the road moot.I had him envision trying to make our local channel at night, I also reminded him that we boaters provide many more bucks to the state than do the crabbers and we VOTE in far greater numbers.
He thought all this was very good...as yet, 3 years and no bill has been introduced by him or anyone else. BUT, Va is working on making the rest of us get a "license" which will have no impact on safety at all. I bitched about that too and didn't even get the courtesy of a email reply or phone call..I'd run against him, but I don't want to impinge on my retired lifstyle.
GD politicians are as useless as teats on a boar hog.
He thought all this was very good...as yet, 3 years and no bill has been introduced by him or anyone else. BUT, Va is working on making the rest of us get a "license" which will have no impact on safety at all. I bitched about that too and didn't even get the courtesy of a email reply or phone call..I'd run against him, but I don't want to impinge on my retired lifstyle.
GD politicians are as useless as teats on a boar hog.
Where I live, we have a local "crabber" who sets his pots in the canals of a residential area......the local authorities say that as long as the traps do not hinder navigation he is allowed.....WTF....they are in the channel.....the entire canal IS the channel....WTF...
Im with Dom,,,, WTF....
Here on Long island its only bad in a few spots .... but the markers they use are either blk or green. Not very bright....
And theres no cluster of markers... they only mark them with a single ...
Rob
Here on Long island its only bad in a few spots .... but the markers they use are either blk or green. Not very bright....
And theres no cluster of markers... they only mark them with a single ...
Rob
Crab/Lobster Pots; Ok! I understand those people need to make a living but as has been said you can not see the pot markers 90% of the time and for those of us who run a lot at night you can not see them at all. The Caribbean is loaded with pots, we have to clear the tangled and broken lines constantly. We use the "spurs" and sense installing them we have not had to go diving just to clear the props as much.
If we are on a broad reach and running 15 to 20 knots under sail there is no way to avoid the pots. While most of the lines simply slide around our folding props we have snagged some pretty big pot strings and believe me you can feel it. Then it is over the side with the pony bottle, knife and hack saw (by-the-way thanks for the bike helmet suggestion) I do not have any compulsion or regret about cutting the pot line free of my running gear.
SeaQuest OE
About to leave San Salvador, Bahamas and head further south
If we are on a broad reach and running 15 to 20 knots under sail there is no way to avoid the pots. While most of the lines simply slide around our folding props we have snagged some pretty big pot strings and believe me you can feel it. Then it is over the side with the pony bottle, knife and hack saw (by-the-way thanks for the bike helmet suggestion) I do not have any compulsion or regret about cutting the pot line free of my running gear.
SeaQuest OE
About to leave San Salvador, Bahamas and head further south