Lobster Pots - International report

[zefender]

Hello forum...

Have just returned from fab two month trip to The Algarve and back.

Key learnings:

Squillions of lobster pots along the way but general impression was that in Portugal and Spain they tend to be far more clearly marked than the tiny plastic oil can used by many UK fishermen. The french variety, like the coast, was somewhere between UK and Spain.

Contrary to earlier posts last year, I can confirm that lobster pots can be found well over 25 metres depth - our record was over 100.

So, ban the UK pots until they come up to scratch with the discipline of our neighbours?

You might think that I might have other more important things to talk about after the trip than lobster pots...

I do. And I will.

 

[Eudorajab]

Ban the lobster pots ??? goodness me... what are we going to munch on without that lovely fresh lobster !!!!!!!

Do agree though ... far too many not marked correctly.

 

[ccscott49]

Oh! Shit here we go again! What have you got against lobster fishing? No don't answer that I don't want to know!

 

[zefender]

Re: Thought that would flush you out!

Hope you're well. BTW - liked Lagos. Paid your bar bill for you too. You owe me 24,500 Euro!

 

[Guest]

If we banned lobster fishing in the UK then they would disappear from most French and Spanish menus!

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Thought that would flush you out!

bugger! Thought I'd escaped that bill! Lagos is nice innit! Mind you so are the Balleares, I'm having a ball down there, even if my anchor has ploughed up every harbour I've been in! I'm getting a Northill 100lb anchor made in stainless for next year, I've had enough of this!

 

[Guest]

Re: Thought that would flush you out!

Whatsup Colin, this thread seem like you've been here before<s>

 

[zefender]

Re: Lagos

Yep, it was a nice town. Managed to wangle my way in to the swimming pool gratis on the back of a marina card too - third time though they insisted I flash the cash. Bit windy mooring up in the evening though - not much space....

Glad to hear all's well...

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Thought that would flush you out!

It does seem a little familiar, back in the dim and distant past, perchance!

 

[Robin]

Re: Lobster Pots - Channel Report

We crossed from Cherbourg to Poole yesterday and missed (just) 3 strings of pots marked with a large buoy (no flags of course) and a smaller buoy 20mts away with a floating line between. We were sailing at 7.5 - 8kts and the sea was choppy (east 5), I hate to think what damage would have arisen from picking up the floating lines of these, spotting the pots at any distance was very difficult. We were returning from S. Britanny where pots generally are marked by flags and long floating lines are rare. I love lobster and pot markers are a neccessary evil, but the floating lines should be a hanging offence.

 

[Footpad]

Re: Lobster Pots - Channel Report

What I don't understand is how they all survive what with strippers etc on many of our props and larger or faster power vessels that couldn't take evasive action even if they did see the markers. I picked one up at slack water off Portland Bill many years ago but managed to get into neutral before I hit it - I still had to cut it free so the fisherman lost his gear although we were ok. You see the ubiquitous old oil containers all through the needles channel why aren't they all wiped out? Even if the markers aren't up to much the pots are expensive bits of kit why do they take such chances or is it more difficult to get caught up in one than we think?

 

[Robin]

Re: Lobster Pots - Channel Report

We have a stripper on our prop, but under sail and especially at speed it is the rudder that is vulnerable, catching a line and being anchored by the tail in the channel tide with an east 5 and choppy sea is a frightening prospect. I cannot see the need for the very long floating line to a small pick-up buoy, either a much shorter one or a leaded line would reduce the risk considerably.

 

[salamicollie]

Re: Lobster Pots - Irish/Celtic Sea Report

Pots off N cornwall generally marked with Black flags (easy to spot at night...) held up by bags of toy footballs... Irish Sea both sides are poorly marked and have found in depths of as much as 50 - 60m - But the final score was Welsh Yacht 1, Irish Potmen 0 - we took out a string of pots with the stripper motor sailing out of Arklow in F5 Wind over tide being moored even temporaily by the prop was not very funny.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Lobster Pots - Irish/Celtic Sea Report

scuse me, but where is this celtic sea place?

 

[Rob_Webb]

Evil thoughts?

Am I bad for thinking about taking a knife to the rope of a lobster pot to 'liberate' the buoy? I'm thinking about the small, dark, dirty little boys that get pulled just under the surface during a rip tide and are near impossible to see/avoid? Don't they just deserve to be cut lose?

But if they all followed the example of the enlightened few and used orange/white buoys with flag & stick markers I would feel this way. I haven't done it yet but come the next near miss I could be tempted........

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Evil thoughts?

Naughty, naughty, you're messing with somebodys livelyhood! he/she has to pay for those pots.

 

[salamicollie]

Re: Lobster Pots - Irish/Celtic Sea Report

Its the Atlantic South of Ireland and N of Cornwall or put another way the extension of the Bristol and St George's Channels - se BA 1123

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Lobster Pots - Irish/Celtic Sea Report

Hmmmmm... Never noticed it called that before, just thought it was the western approaches! obvously never looked at that chart, not having one! Thanks!

 

[zefender]

Re: Evil thoughts?

I think the issue is whether a dirty old can floating about in the sea could reasonably be held to be a lobster pot, laid by a professional fisherman. I believe by cutting it free you would be ahem.. doing your bit for the community by tidying up flotsam - very civil minded of you and probably merits some kind of award IMHO. An alternative would be to engage in trawling (flying the correct cones etc, natch) and then scoop up all these unwanted objects, and use the haul to decorate wine bars and fishmongers across the land. Suggest rapid boat for this activity however!!

 

[salamicollie]

Re: Lobster Pots - Irish/Celtic Sea Report

I think the Hydrographers office has moved the Western Aprroaches to the west... I always thought the same as you until I got the chart

Cheers