The Lobster Pot!

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by whisper

Is that floating rope Pete?

Thanks Alex

I've never put it in the water , but based on the similarity to my ski lines and ringo rope I think it will. Not sure if thats good or bad for pots - OK its bad for boats props getting caught , but floating rope was suggested in one post ....

[whisper]

Originally Posted by PeterM

I've never put it in the water , but based on the similarity to my ski lines and ringo rope I think it will. Not sure if thats good or bad for pots - OK its bad for boats props getting caught , but floating rope was suggested in one post ....

Hummmmmm, I dunno

It looks like it should be sinking????

http://www.mnwfa.co.uk/wp-content/up.../fishgear1.pdf

I have an old anchor some where I'll check the rope on that.

[Nos4r2]

A few strips of lead wrapped round the rope will stop it floating.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

A few strips of lead wrapped round the rope will stop it floating.

That sounds like a plan although there's no lead left in swindon as the pikey's took it all

[ShinyShoe]

And you'd need to look at where the lead goes. If you chuck 10m of line over the side in a 3m sea the middle can float. Better to not use floating line. I wonder if the comment was made in sarcasm?

[mister p]

Ok chaps.......the floating rope thing is purely for the benefit of the pot, to prevent fouling on the bed. Not a bad idea in itself but not good for props.
So my solution is to use sinking line for about three to five meters (from buoy down) depending upon tide and depth of pot and have the rest floating, it will keep it off the bottom.
Sound good?
That's how some people over the pond recommend it. Not always the best example to follow granted but in this case they care for their motors and their lobster potting is very heavily policed so they do have some solutions that make sense.

[whisper]

Just a quick question, will sinking rope pull the first buoy under in the tidal flow?

[mister p]

Not if it's balanced with 60% length floating line between it and the pot, methinks.

[SimonStDavids]

We have a couple of pots and use sinking line, sometimes there is 6 knots of tide round these parts and not lost a pot yet due to tide!

As per bait I use salted pollock or mackerel, the older the better. Fresh fish seems to attract spider crab and very scary conger eels!!!

I wouldn't use twice the depth of water but either put them down at high water springs or do some rough calculations. Close to wrecks and reefs I find works well. Experiment and you'll soon find where works then tell no one

Be careful on size though, I was given a gauge to slip over the body, if it goes over it goes back! Plus you can only land one lobster per person in board.

I don't check them every day, but every couple of days and across the three there is usually at least one keeper!

The only down side is the mess they make in the boat when you pull them up!

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by whisper

Just a quick question, will sinking rope pull the first buoy under in the tidal flow?

I regularly see buoys dragged just under the surface in a fast current off Swanage etc ...not sure if this is down to lenght of rope of not a big enough bouy.

They are bugger to avoid - they just vanish and re-appear at just the wrong moment.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by PeterM

I regularly see buoys dragged just under the surface in a fast current off Swanage etc ...not sure if this is down to lenght of rope of not a big enough bouy.

They are bugger to avoid - they just vanish and re-appear at just the wrong moment.

I guess if the first one goes down the Danbuoy will still be flying its flag?

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by whisper

I guess if the first one goes down the Danbuoy will still be flying its flag?

Very few local pots have flags ...when the tide starts to go they can end up horizontal ...the flag gets waterlogged too..

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by willk

This is fascinating. Over here, pots are set by "owners" in stretches that they have controlled for generations. Set your's at your own risk!

That's what I'd heard. Everyone I know who has laid them never saw them again. Funny how local's ones don't disappear.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Very few local pots have flags ...when the tide starts to go they can end up horizontal ...the flag gets waterlogged too..

Doh

[PeterM]

The clever ones I've seen have the line attached half way up the flag pole - with a weight at the bottom of the pole..that way if the pull goes sideways the weight helps keep the flag vertical ....

If the pull is vertical the flag still stays up.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by PeterM

The clever ones I've seen have the line attached half way up the flag pole - with a weight at the bottom of the pole..that way if the pull goes sideways the weight helps keep the flag vertical ....

If the pull is vertical the flag still stays up.

Cool, I'm a bit stuck on what to use as a float??? Any ideas??? The pole is an overflow pipe approx 22mm dia.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by A1an

Salt the bait, they won't touch it.

I have a pale of mackerel salting in the shed, I use the Brie of it for baiting mink traps and the salted fish for prawn creels.

Thanks for that. I'll try this next summer when I'm back over on the west coast.

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by whisper

Cool, I'm a bit stuck on what to use as a float??? Any ideas??? The pole is an overflow pipe approx 22mm dia.

Closed cell polystyrene I see used - go buy Mrs W a new 'thing' with packing ( dishwasher, washing machine etc - dont tell her I said that she may dislike me)- cut out squares of polystyrene packing - glue together to form a solid float- stick pipe down middle & secure - put hole in pipe & tie on line...

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Closed cell polystyrene I see used - go buy Mrs W a new 'thing' with packing ( dishwasher, washing machine etc - dont tell her I said that she may dislike me)- cut out squares of polystyrene packing - glue together to form a solid float- stick pipe down middle & secure - put hole in pipe & tie on line...

Don't glue it with polystyrene cement

[whisper]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Don't glue it with polystyrene cement

Will it dissolve in the salt water?