crab pot - folding or fixed

sarabande

sarabande

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A whimsical thought, planning ahead for this year's excursions.

I like my fishing, but have never tried potting for crab.

What are the ethics and/or laws about fetching up in some remote mooring, and dropping a single pot over the side to see if I can catch dinner ?

And corollary, what kit (preferably folding) is best for the job, please ?



I have already read up on the appropriate Colregs marks, and have green and white lights , and two cones, ready for deployment :)
 
sarabande said:
A whimsical thought, planning ahead for this year's excursions.

I like my fishing, but have never tried potting for crab.

What are the ethics and/or laws about fetching up in some remote mooring, and dropping a single pot over the side to see if I can catch dinner ?

And corollary, what kit (preferably folding) is best for the job, please ?



I have already read up on the appropriate Colregs marks, and have green and white lights , and two cones, ready for deployment :)
Click to expand...

For domestic use: no laws or regs... but you might get a stern look from locals: "Oi gerrorf moi crabs"
I understand the desire for a folding pot, but I wouldnt unless you want to check it several times a day. Crabs are insanely good at opening up even the tiniest weakness.

If it is just crab you want then bait firmly fixed to the end of a line will do. Crabs will grab and hold longer than is good for them.
 
There are strict byelaws about how many animals you can remove from a fishery, minimum sizes, and other estrictions about eg berried lobsters and numbers even for the pot, with swingeing fines. What might be easy for you is a drop net, large metal hoop with a bag of fine net, strings crossed to hold the bait in the middle, and a three part bridle to pull it up . The idea is as soon as you lift it the crabs, lobsters and crawfish all drop in the bag. Needs lifting regularly before the bait runs out.
Find local laws here;
http://www.association-ifca.org.uk/
 
I've often wondered how practical a pot can be when deployed from a boat swinging around at anchor and moving 40 - 80m every change of tide.
How do you do it?
 
Normalfornorfolk said:
I've often wondered how practical a pot can be when deployed from a boat swinging around at anchor and moving 40 - 80m every change of tide.
How do you do it?
Click to expand...

I shouldn't be telling you this stuff, but it needs enough slack, and to be heavy enough, to stay put, any jiggling about will upset and deter the catch, and unless you can be sure there's no escape they will. My pots weight at least 30kg.
 
Thanks for the advice and links. The rules are complicated aren't they ? I had not realised there was a problem with non-native lobsters !

Having spent one summer slaughtering American signal crayfish on our local rivers, I should not have been surprised, though.


The crab net sounds light and collapsible - ideal for a bit of (definitely) not commercial fun.
 
Just as a bit of info for everyone not professionally involved in fishing, here's some info on the North American Lobster.

http://www.nonnativespecies.org/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=1736

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The spines on th e top of the 'head' are a clue to their identity.


Also, here's an article about some Buddhists who release lots of these predatorial beasts near Brighton.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1555...ficant_harm____by_freeing_lobsters_and_crabs/
 
Pots made of wood are really effective, but your problem is the weight needed to sink them which has to be hauled up and handled, and remember anything ferrous will deter the fish. One more tip then you're done: with the net, or even a pot, put the bait in an onion bag. I'm a fool to myself.....
 
"anything ferrous" ??? Does the iron short-circuit signals to the crustacean's sensors ? I know about fish having a lateral line, but what do crabs/lobsters use to assess their environment please ?

(I'm going to knit myself a conical crab net :) )


Ah yes, green over white = trawling
red over white + other fishing
 
Ferrous metal repels crab and lobster to some extent, one very successful fisherman will not even use sash weights in his wood pots, but casts his own lead weights. Many will not use metal and are happy that lots of amateurs use weldmesh. Don't know why it's an issue, does it do the same as when we chew a bit of aluminium foil? Canadian/US lobsters seem to be happy with weldmesh.
 
fisherman said:
There are strict byelaws about how many animals you can remove from a fishery, minimum sizes, and other estrictions about eg berried lobsters and numbers even for the pot, with swingeing fines. What might be easy for you is a drop net, large metal hoop with a bag of fine net, strings crossed to hold the bait in the middle, and a three part bridle to pull it up . The idea is as soon as you lift it the crabs, lobsters and crawfish all drop in the bag. Needs lifting regularly before the bait runs out.
Find local laws here;
http://www.association-ifca.org.uk/
Click to expand...

Pity the rules are only for one end of the line. A few rules to cover the marker the other end of the string might not go amiss
 
Daydream Believer,

I have discussed that very subject with ' fisherman ' who is a professional in the true sense, also a gent.

It seems most of the *&&^%%$$*!!! who cause us grief laying pot traps in safety - critical channels are amateur types trying to get a few quid from their mates running pubs.
 
Seajet said:
Daydream Believer,

I have discussed that very subject with ' fisherman ' who is a professional in the true sense, also a gent.

It seems most of the *&&^%%$$*!!! who cause us grief laying pot traps in safety - critical channels are amateur types trying to get a few quid from their mates running pubs.
Click to expand...

There must be a b..dy lot of them then, or your mate is talking total tosh.!!!!!
Just sail round UK as I have done & see how many. Pubs must be doing well.
 
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