Pot markers

[charles_reed]

Drift nets

Very common from Baltimore to Hook in the summer.

Usually have one end attached inshore and extend about 3 - 5 miles out.

You can't see the tiny floats they use until you're about a boat-length away.

Usually have a guard vessel wandering up and down, but he's easily diverted.

I reckon you were very lucky to get free.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

and Spanish

hog Ch 16 - ask Falmouth CG.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snooks]

Re: Drift nets

They weren't the sort of monofilament dolphin killers..they were green and looked about 6mm poly prop netting

They did have tiny floats on though, which was why we didn't see them....or another boat monitoring the nets

Without the telescopic boat hook, one of the crew might well have been going for a quick dip!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

Nets 3 - 5 miles long

And then they wonder why there are not enough fish left in the sea!

Oh, and please Mr E.U can you bail us out because or livelihood has become a deadlihood.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[TheBoatman]

Re: Paint it black...

Being an ex pot fisherman, I can say that black is the only colour you can use, don't ask me the tech reasons only that it can be seen in most lights. During daylight in rough seas it can be seen, during 1/2 light you can still see it. Reflective tape is a reasonable idea so long as you shine some light towards it otherwise you wont pick it up. Which maybe a problem if all yachts start heading around with headlights switched on<s>.
Our markers were made out of the old bamboo canes that used to come inside carpets, they were about 13 feet long so we placed the float approx. in the middle giving us 6 foot draft clearance. Now whilst this may sound very noble it was nothing to do with giving yachts draft clearance, it was so that we didn't pick it up in our prop, but having said that if a marker is laid correctly you should be able to pass it very close providing there is some tidal movement, obviously pass it on the down tide side? Look for the second marker, theres always 1 either end and sometimes the fisherman will mark the mid points with 5 ltr cans this is to help him find which way the "string" has moved in the tide.
I for one would never mind a "caught" yacht cutting the marker away, because
a) I would not want to put another vessel in danger
b) I always had another marker (or 2 or 6) to pick up. It might have been difficult and I reserve the right to cuss like hell but, well thats life!!
signed ex-fisherman now yottie<s>

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[charles_reed]

Worse are..

The soddin' tunny nets they leave all round the Western Med and S Spanish Atlantc - tho' they are lit.

They're open boxes about 2M each side and bring 10,000 tonners to a grinding halt.

I came across one between Tavira and Isla Christina, off Barbate and, unkindest cut of all, in Cala San Pedro in 2001/2.

Then there was the drift net wandering up and down past Longships and Seven Sisters about 10 years ago - brought about 7 ships to a shuddering halt, great hunting for the Dutch tug that stationed himself in St Mary's Road.

So what problem pots?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jwatson]

Re: A blast from the past - The Pot Bobber Act

Too late!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sybarite]

While I agree totally with the sentiment that pots and nets are not nearly visible enough, especially round Ireland ( and I am Irish), I also think that insufficient thought is given in boat design to protect the propellor.

I would have thought that having one vertical fin below and two horizontal triangular fins just slightly wider than the propellor would have gone a long way in deflecting a line or net out of the propellor's reach.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>