Lost Lobster pot

LURCHER · 02 August 2007, 10:10

I have lost my pot! Baited it and dropped it off on Tuesday when I was out with a pilot friend and to demostrate the wonders of GPS I marked the spot as a way point and even took 4 bearings on the compass . To demostrate to Tim my pilot freind how good our GPS was I suggested to him that we move about a mile away and then return with him helming and not looking out but using only the plotter and me keeping a visual watch . We went back to the position and no pot ! Checked our compass bearings which agree with plotter position . I did tie it on before chucking it over too ! Any ideas welcome .

psychopic · 02 August 2007, 10:15

no ideas on why you lost your pot so quickly, maybe the bouy came off? Anyway, just a quick question, is anybody allowed to put a pot in to try and get a lobster? or do you have to have a ticket?

Nos4r2 · 02 August 2007, 10:16

Drag for it with an anchor. It may be underwater from the tide run.

Was there enough weight in it to hold it still?

If so then it's probably either been hit or stolen by a pissed off fishing boat.

Nos4r2 · 02 August 2007, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychopic

no ideas on why you lost your pot so quickly, maybe the bouy came off? Anyway, just a quick question, is anybody allowed to put a pot in to try and get a lobster? or do you have to have a ticket?

Yes anyone can do it but there's a limit to what you can take. Check local byelaws.

Bigmuz7 · 02 August 2007, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by LURCHER

I have lost my pot! Baited it and dropped it off on Tuesday when I was out with a pilot friend and to demostrate the wonders of GPS I marked the spot as a way point and even took 4 bearings on the compass . To demostrate to Tim my pilot freind how good our GPS was I suggested to him that we move about a mile away and then return with him helming and not looking out but using only the plotter and me keeping a visual watch . We went back to the position and no pot ! Checked our compass bearings which agree with plotter position . I did tie it on before chucking it over too ! Any ideas welcome .

Assuming you returned on the same day and none of the other explanations of too short rope, non floating rope and loose bouy etc, one possible is, and its one I have experienced myself, is that you placed it next to a deep hole, and it fell off the edge down the hole, I know my local inshore very well, lots of rocks all over the place, but at the entrance to a small cave there must be some deep pocket, too small to be marked on the chart, but I watched that pot go down and down! never to be seen again !

walruz · 02 August 2007, 10:21

1. First of all check for tieving French Yachty Ba$$tards as they are always robbing pots down here and I have had a pot go missing as well.

2. Drag as suggeted.

3. Try a dive on the spot.

4. Also how long was your line and what depth did you drop it in. Then what tide did you drop it on and what tide did you check it. The buoy could be underwater due to high tide.

Ian

walruz · 02 August 2007, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Yes anyone can do it but there's a limit to what you can take. Check local byelaws.

I believe it is a national limit of 2 per day unless you have ALL the licenses.

Ian

Nos4r2 · 02 August 2007, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by walruz

I believe it is a national limit of 2 per day unless you have ALL the licenses.

Ian

It's actually 2 per person per day as a general rule but there's some local exceptions with number of pots you can lay etc and there's also size limits.It's also illegal to take a female lobster.

The size limits and other restrictions are here

psychopic · 02 August 2007, 10:44

Cool, i might give it a go. What pots are best without using the really big ones like on "deadliest catch" i was thinking about something like....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LOBSTER-Prawn-...QQcmdZViewItem

Nos4r2 · 02 August 2007, 10:52

Those traps are too small to get a lobster in that's big enough to eat. The entrance is only about 70mm across (I have one in my hand

)

You need one of the £25ish ones to catch anything other than bait.

xtreme · 02 August 2007, 11:27

hiya mate just a quick 1 where did you lose your pot ...

LURCHER · 02 August 2007, 11:41

I just dropped it and did a big loop round to the same area with 10 min so not stolen . I am not sure of depth a sounder had just packed up but there are no big holes in the area .i think that the bouy may have gone under in the tide so will be looking at low water .

Andy Moore · 02 August 2007, 12:16

Have you ever caught any lobsters in the pot?

Tim M · 02 August 2007, 12:26

This is something I really want to try. I've bought various pots and buoys off ebay for the purpose but never got round to it. Where is the best place near Portsmouth to catch them? How long should one normally leave one's pot in the water? And how do you tell the difference between and bloke lobster and a female one unless shes got loads of eggs?

Lurcher, did your VHF pack up on Tuesday - you cut off in mid sentance...

Nos4r2 · 02 August 2007, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

And how do you tell the difference between and bloke lobster and a female one unless shes got loads of eggs?

Unless she's got eggs you can't tell-UNLESS the tail has a V-notch in it. This is cut in by anyone finding a lobster with eggs. It's illegal to land a lobster with a mangled tail or one with a v-notch in it.

Ian M · 02 August 2007, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Unless she's got eggs you can't tell-UNLESS the tail has a V-notch in it. This is cut in by anyone finding a lobster with eggs. It's illegal to land a lobster with a mangled tail or one with a v-notch in it.

So thats what a 'V' notch is! I've been catching the things for years, as a diver, and have seen one or two with notched tails, but never knew what was behind it (!). And no, I've never taken one that is berried.

xtreme · 02 August 2007, 15:58

what was the area

LURCHER · 02 August 2007, 16:29

Area was about 1 mile south of Chichesterr entrance

Yes I have caught a few and also a a lot of crabs and spider crabs most of which go back as they are too small ,Whelks or bullots as the French call them black bream and a few unwelcome congers ! RIBS shrink when you have a conger racing around the pods !

I buy my pots from these guys 24 hour service about £40 with line and float he is also full of tips about bait etc
http://www.netmanufacturers.co.uk/

Tim
VHF button sometimes sticks( Horizon ) not being rude !

Nos
2 per person per day I wish , I reckon taking fuel lost pots and other incidentals my lobster work out at about £250 each!

My new one has just arrived from http://www.netmanufacturers.co.uk/ and I will be losing it over the next two weeks when I am on holiday. I did try a 30m net but that was a total disaster I cuaght a small Thornback who went back as he was too small and abour 2 tons of seaweed . It took 3 of us about an hour to haul and the stink was awfull .

Tim
do you want to buy a net ?

Where off Portsmouth? well that would be telling but a good guide is all the other pots ! Don't put ot too close or they will nick it .

blinddog · 02 August 2007, 17:36

When diving many moons ago we used to used weak fairy soap mix, in the holes of rock faces to get the lobsters out, they dont like it, just watch for the conger's shooting out though!

Tomas · 03 August 2007, 05:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinddog

When diving many moons ago we used to used weak fairy soap mix, in the holes of rock faces to get the lobsters out, they dont like it, just watch for the conger's shooting out though!

Pardon my ignorance but what in blooming hell is a Conger? Might I assume that whatever it is, its a bit agressive? Just curious as I think I've either been chased or bitten by every other creature on the planet....