Lobster pots...

[tritonofnor]

been offered a couple of usable pots, and quite fancy catching dinner. Anybody know what the rules are for catching lobbies and crabs for your own consumption? Also any tips for a worthwhile catch? e.g. best bait, placement etc. etc.?


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[sailorman]

best spot to place them to best effect is any "fairway" or much-used passage,
idearly scantly marked & with heavy riser

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[philip_stevens]

It matters not, whether the crabs, lobsters or crayfish are for own or commercial consumption - the carapace/shell length/width governs what you can land and what must be returned to the sea. Also any crustacean/shellfish with berries (eggs) must also be returned, whether the carapace is long/wide enough or not.

See <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/deleted/library/documents6/shellfish-b.htm>http://www.scotland.gov.uk/deleted/library/documents6/shellfish-b.htm</A> for measurements. I know it says "Scotland", but most of the regulations also apply to English and Welsh waters.

If DEFRA catch you with undersized fish - watch out!!

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[longjohnsilver]

Used to be the case if they were berried, but that no longer applies, but still best to put em back anyway or else destroying future stocks.

Think anyone can put pots down providing it's no more than nine. I looked into it a while ago and that was certainly the limit then. Also don't put them anywhere that you can't get to on a daily basis to either replenish the bait or take out the lobby/crab.

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[philip_stevens]

I must admit is was many years ago that I was commercial shell fishing with tangle nets.

We had the problem then of divers bringing up everything whether berried or not - at least they were not berried by the time they got to shore!

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip

 

[StugeronSteve]

Got to be a fairway or swatchway, must have a cheap black container for float and be dragged below the surface at high water by something strong enough to resist a prop cutter, a long trailing line also helps.

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[Sunnyseeker]

I heard from a crab fisherman! that what some unscrupulous (is that how you spaell it) fishermen did was break the claws off the small ones...throw the boddies back, that way whoever checks them cant tell what the width of the shell was! and the claws are the best bit...you can even put ss wire on them now and theres a new rope cutter that will cut them, it was in this months Yachty world!


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[wooslehunter]

I don't think it actually matters if you can't prove the size since I believe it's also illegal to land incomplete lobbies & crabs.

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[flyingjunior]

Lobster pots the rules used to be only nine pots if you didn't want to be caught for a permit but now its is a max of 25kg per week.
I always run my pots in strings of two or three and attach at least two pot bouys to mark out the line (some fishermen tend to use a dan bouy set up with a flag) on the surface and use nylon rope.
I have yet to buy a single pot bouy as I find a lot of these washed up although it does depend on how popular the beach is. Just after a summer storm is the most productive!
For bait I tend to use what ever I catch which is usally pollock one fish chopped in half is great, or wrasse as I tend to occasional find them "in" my pots although I do know people who use rabbit innards and other carrion (most things as long as the smell will carry) the main tip is not to use conger eel as you wont catch anything except possibly another conger.
The min size for lobsters is 95mm from behind the eye to the beginning of the tail. crabs is a standard handspan across the widest part of its shell (sorry dont know exact mm's).
If the animal is in bud (carrying eggs) then you are are not allowed to take them, also if the lobster has a v shaped notch taken out of its tail (this is done to show the animal is for breeding stock).
When you have caught them then its best to try and keep them seperate especially the male crabs as they have a tendancy to tear each other apart unless you have cut the tendon in the grasping part of the claw. Lobsters need rubber bands though I tend to keep them in different parts of the boat as they seem quite placid when out of water.
With your pots ar they wooden or the modern plastic and metal ones? and are they inkwell type (traditinal) or the ones with a side opening?
You will probebly have to replace the wooden ones at the end of the season. Even the metal ones take a fair bit of pounding.
With regards to placing the pots when out of my own patch I tend to place them in the vincinity of other pots although after a while these areas will get fished out.
Let me know how you get on.
regards Pip

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