I need to catch a lobster

boatbum

boatbum

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Ok, this is serious. I've managed to get our boat down the east coast and over to the Bahamas. But there's something missing.

Lobster.

While I have a "C" card and can get scuba gear, I am thinking this is shallow enough that a free dive can handle all that is required. Today we were in Freeport and stopped in at a dive shop and saw the slings.
Since we had taken the bus with locals from West End to Freeport, we were apprehensive about bringing a 5 foot spear back with us so I was over ruled.
Can you grab these buggers by hand without getting your fingers cut up by a sharp shell?
I've heard using a 'tickle stick' and net is as effective as a spear and allows releasing egg bearing females as well as the youngsters. But we have neither and since we are crossing the bank soon we may get some opportunity to harvest a couple.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Take an old fishing rod or similar size pole and cut it down to about 2-3 feet long. If you use a fishing rod use the handle end. (You could use the handle end of a two piece rod and remove the hook later. There by not ruining a usable fishing rod.) Whip a large billfish size hook, or the biggest hook you have, to the end of the rod. Bend the hook up or open a bit and sharpen.

Slip this under the lobster and with a quick jerk pull it up and towards you. This should lodge the hook into the lobsters underside so you can pull the lobster out where you can grab it with your gloved free hand and stick in your bag or take it back to your boat or tender.

Clean, cook and enjoy!
 
I'm pretty sure using scuba gear and hooks is illegal in the Bahama's. Even having scuba gear on the boat with lobsters is illegal. Tickle sticks and a net is a good way to go. A spear makes it hard to return shorts and egg bearing females to the water. Good luck.
 
For recreational divers Scuba will get you in trouble. Free dive or buy a few lobster from Capt. David Rose,(lives in Queen's Cove) he launches his 17' Whaler down around West End and runs the Banks to the north.
 
Just take photos and just leave foot prints.
 
When I was I was in Marsh Harbor in the 70's, we hooked up with the dock master who took us to a barrel on the seabed, he knocked it over and we all grabbed as many lobsters as we could. Only used masks and our bare hands.

See if you can find a local who will help you out.
 
Great ideas, and scuba is out since I don't want to get technical doing this. Let's face it if you scuba you have much more detail to be concerned with. I wish I had a net on board I'm wondering if there is something I can rig up instead.
 
Dan,
My buddy owns the largest fish market in the northeast, get some heavy rubber gloves, than grab all the lobsters you want.
 
"I wish I had a net on board I'm wondering if there is something I can rig up instead."

If you can't make up a hook, just find a stick of some kind to tickle them with, walk them into a bucket and grab them real fast before they have time to shoot out of the bucket. Or just buy a spear from a Bahamian.
 
Walter the notion of wearing gloves is well founded. Today a local came by the docks selling lobsters. A bit pricey at 8 bucks a pop but we've seen him out there swimming around off the marina dragging a foam cooler behind him. So I got three for 20 bucks and realized this suckers have a mess of spines on them that can inflict some serious pain. Even after they are cooked.
When we get to Marsh Harbor I'm gonna go shopping for a few things like gloves...
 
Ask if "Vern" is still at Marsh Harbor, he's the one who took us lobstering. We were there in the early 70's on a gaff rigged ketch, named "Big Daddy"
 
We have the dink and I am all set to go looking. I was wondering if I should troll a line to Sale Cay etc. when we travel. It's shallow but I'm wondering if there are fish willing to bite a troll.
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

When we get to Marsh Harbor I'm gonna go shopping for a few things like gloves...

Click to expand...


There's a rather nice hardware store in Marsh Harbor that should have everything you'll need...except the butter. Thankfully, the grocery store there is nice as well.
 
When looking for lobster drag someone behind you on a line or use a veiw bucket to find good spots.

As to fishing while traveling the shallows, most likely you'll end up with Barracuda. Which when small, are not only safe to eat but very tasty with firm, flakey white meat. Great on a grill or in a chowder.
And sometimes grouper will hit a spoon run down with a trolling weight or a lipped lure that runs down a few feet.
 
Dan,
WTF, where are the pictures????
Sharing you adventure would be very sweet, especialy this time of the year for us in NY. :)

Safe Sailing, you must be soooooooo happy.

Walter
 
years ago, i went snorkeling for lobster with a friend on St Barths.. they used a stick with a piece of wire looped at the end. push the stick in the hole with the loop around the lobster and pull out...

indeed, where are the pics?
 
If you are in Marsh Harbor when you head back instead going through the shallow pass in the Sea of Abaco take I think it is whale pass to the atlantic side and troll off of guana and all the way to green turtle if you need to. We caught some very nice tuna in that spot earlier this year. Troll at 6 knots in 200 ft at the drop off when the sun starts going down, but before it gets dark and you cant miss. Tuna in those waters love cedar plugs.
 
Thanks for the leads everyone! Here are some photos and the rest are available at ->
http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh40/danno53/Southbound/

Freedom at Old Bahama Bay, West End

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Dan after a long night in St. Augustine (actually from the Lightner Museum)

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Some kind of Gar in the marina

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The marina / resort beach

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Marina pool. When the guests are in the pool they turn on the heat and the closer pool fills and cascades down into the main pool. Nice and warm....

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This year in spring I installed a couple of Ocean LED lights into the transom (2000 series) and we regularly see small tarpon off the transom. No pix because the camera is low end...
 
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