I dont use floats, best idea i have had. instead of a float put a big weight and mark the spot where u drop the pot. Later when u come to get it have a small reef anchor or something along the lines. I use a large treble with some weight attached to it. throw it in the direction of your pot and drag it along the bottom untill u get either the pot or rope. only ever lost one pot this way because we forgot to mark where we dropped it.
G'day Jackson
This is technically illegal. I also sink my pots and i really dont care if it's legal or not. My pots are clearly marked and where i sink them it's way deep enough for it not to be a problem to the draught of other vessels. GPS markers and a large grappling hook on a rope. No-one knows they're there and i've had too many stolen in the past as it is.
Dave
what is illegal about it???
I would never do anything like that
CRAB POTS IN CHANELS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME & ARE LEFT THERE BE INGORANT BLOKES THAT DON'T CARE THAT OTHERS HAVE TO USE THE CHANELS ASWELL. I DRIVE A 30 FT CRUISER, THESE THINGS DON'T TURN VERY WELL & IN A LOT OF CHANELS AROUND THE BAY WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE ROOM TO GET AROUND FLOATS & A HEAP OF ROPE. THESE GUY'S THAT LIKE TO LEAVE THIER POTS IN CHANELS TRY LEAVING YOUR LETTER BOX IN THE MIDDEL YOUR STREET & SEE HOW THAT GOES. THE CHANELS ARE OUR (BOATIES) STREETS USED FOR GETTING FROM 1 PLACE TO ANOTHER, HOW ABOUT WE TREET THEM AS THAT THEN WE CAN ALL ENJOY OUR TIME AN THE WATER
In relation to the legality of sinking your traps - Once again, it is open to interpretation.
"In tidal waters up to 4 crab pots or dillies (or a combination of pots and dillies) may be used per person. When
fishing for mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs a person in possession of the apparatus must be at least 15 years
old. Crab pots and dillies must be marked by an identifying tag bearing the surname and address of the owner.
When not fixed to something they must have attached a light coloured surface float, not less than 15 cm in any
dimension, with the name of the owner clearly inscribed on it. Regulated crabs must be removed and returned to
the water immediately." So what if you fixed the pot to something like an anchor, or a brick? - Then no float is required!
G'day
I fix pot number 1 to pot number 2. They're both fixed?.
Dave
maybe the boofheads had trouble getting around the pots in the mouth of creek. can be hard to see trying to navigate and dodge pots at the same time
Any I catch trollin' with a float are returned to the water. Without a float they are considered lost and become the property of the finder. I haven't bought a pot in years. Best day was two brand new collapsables in one hit. One was tied to each end of a length of rope, thank you!!
Dale
I fish because the little voices in my head tell me to
Interesting point of view. Does that apply regardless of whether they have name and address on them?Originally Posted by aussiebasser
Jeremy
"The underlying spirit of angling is that the skill of the angler is pitted against the instinct and strength of the fish and the latter is entitled to an even chance for it's life."
(Quotation from the rules of the Tuna Club Avalon, Santa Catalina, U.S.A.)
Apathy is the enemy
G'day
Good call jeremy. My pots are ALWAYS marked with full name/address and phone numbers. If someone took them that's blind theft.
Dave
there was a guy camping at the pine last night and he had his pots all the way across the channel >on the way to the bridge i couldn't see them till i was nearly on top of one of them!! but on the way back i could see them lined up all the way across. not much traffic last night but still a bit inconsiderate!! also he kept doing laps from camp
back and forth full boar!! thought he would flip his boat the way he was going...
there is another thread somewhere on here talking about collecting abandoned pots. DPI deamed it to be wrong wether marked or not, wether 1 week old or 10 years oldvery bizzare..
Cheers
Brandon...
G'day Jeremy and Dave,
Most people wouldn't put their name to illegally set crab pots, but I have seen some in the Pimpama, and I spoke to the owner of them.
I did troll one up in the Broadwater once that have a very dead 80cm flathead in it. Owner mustn't have been able to find it again without a float. The practice is quite popular in Coombabah and Saltwater Creeks as well. Fairly irresposible as far as the danger of losing a pot that could act as a fish trap for years to come.
Dale
I fish because the little voices in my head tell me to
Perhaps someone could produce "Biodegradable" crab pots.
Drop em off.... and if you don't find em again............ No problem - they disappear in a week.
.....Just thinking............... Only just
And any cars that I find in a carpark without a driver or passenger are considered lost......etc
You could look at it like that Sea-Dog.
So what do you suggest I do. I'm trolling a river and snag on crab pot, set illegally without a float. By the time I get it in the boat and get my hooks untangled I have no way of finding the spot where the unlawful fisher set it. Currents can take you 100 metres from the spot, but even 10 metres is far enough for the pot not to be found again. Do I just throw it back in and hope that it doesn't turn in to a self baiting fish and crab killer? When I snag up, should I just cut my line and lose a $20 lure so you will be able to find your illegally set pot? Do I keep the pot to be disposed of later, or if it has ID on it, which is bloody rare, do I ring the Fisheries hotline and report the owner for illegal fishing activities. It's all pretty bloody simple. Use some common sense and don't set pots in narrow main channels and mark them as the law states. Hang around in sight of your pots and have a fish. You are only permitted 4 pots anyway, so how far apart do you need to spread them? There will always be the thieving low lives around who will steal pots, just don't kill fish and crabs by dropping unmarked pots to avoid the thieves.
Dale
I fish because the little voices in my head tell me to
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