Crab Pot long lines

[thunderhawk]

mr. ray, so you run over 1500 feet of line with a pot clipped on every loop, 100 feet apart, and you pull the line in like a trotline and unclip the pot? does each bouy have the number of pots on the line written on it? how longs the line from the pot to the loop? sorry for all the questions  but i really am wondering. thanks!

[Mr. Ray III]

mr. ray, so you run over 1500 feet of line with a pot clipped on every loop, 100 feet apart, and you pull the line in like a trotline and unclip the pot? does each bouy have the number of pots on the line written on it? how longs the line from the pot to the loop? sorry for all the questions  but i really am wondering. thanks!

Yep, each end buoy needs to have the license number and the number of pots on the line.  The line attaching the pot is anywhere between 18-24''.  I know guys who tie the pots on the top and they are 2' long.  I pull in the line and it is fed into a barrel and the pots are stacked.  Thenn I turn right around and we set them right back.

[thunderhawk]

have you had many problems with losing pots or poaching. seems like running a longline would be a little safer for your equipment too.

[Fishbonzs]

I spoke with VRMC on Friday...After being transfered to several departments ( since Jack was out of town) No one had a clue about fishing pots on a long line. I read the Va law & it stated as Tom said 1 pot / 1 float...VMRC Marine Police called me & we chatted also about a long line...Even he wasn't sure...

So, I'm sticking to 1 pot/1 float in Va waters..Potomac River Fisheries has a seperate section  on long lines for crab pots as I had posted earlier

[R D]

The rule as I read it will be just as unclear to a Judge and he or she can be convinced by demostation how each such end buoy is attached to each such pot,if the state of Va. had wanted to prohibit longlining of pots it seems they would have put that language in the rule.This is a great way of avoiding interaction with rec boaters and fishermen although I do love finding new trolling gear on my pot lines. 
 

[Mr. Ray III]

have you had many problems with losing pots or poaching. seems like running a longline would be a little safer for your equipment too.

I have never lost a pot on an underwater line.

[jack1747]

The rule as I read it will be just as unclear to a Judge and he or she can be convinced by demostation how each such end buoy is attached to each such pot,if the state of Va. had wanted to prohibit longlining of pots it seems they would have put that language in the rule.This is a great way of avoiding interaction with rec boaters and fishermen although I do love finding new trolling gear on my pot lines. 
 

We should find out soon.  I am waiting for a answer, in writing, that I can post.

[CRABGUY]

My thought is, IN VA, could I attach a float to a cinder block. Russ's idea to fool poacher. Then run a line to each of my 5 pots.  The poacher pulls up the bouy line to fine a old cinder block and drops it back.   

YOU FORGOT THE 25 TREBBLE HOOKS TIED TO IT ALL POINTING IN AS MAY DIRECTIONS AS POSSIBLE

[jack1747]

From Mr. Jack Travelstead, Deputy Commissioner. Chief of Fisheries Management. VMRC...................

........................................................................
Hi Jack,

 

(Edited out personal comments between Jack and me. Unrelated to this topic. Jack1747)

Virginia does not allow crab pots on long lines. Every pot must be buoyed or staked and each buoy/stake must have an appropriate ID number on it. The law that specifies this is 28.2-712 of the Code of Virginia.

 

Hope this helps settle the discussion.

 

Jack
.............................................................................
.............................................................................

� 28.2-712. Identification of crab pots and eel pots; penalty.

On and after January 1, 1993, any person owning or using a crab pot or eel pot, for whom a license is required by this subtitle, shall display and maintain an identification number, issued by the Commissioner, on the float or stake attached to each such crab pot or eel pot, in a legible and visible manner and in figures of not less than one inch in height. The identification of the owner of such crab pot or eel pot by the number above described shall not result in liability on its owner for its location so long as the crab pot or eel pot is placed in the waters of this Commonwealth in compliance with Virginia law.

A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(1968, c. 750, � 28.1-173.2; 1992, cc. 235, 836.)


 

[Mr. Ray III]

YOU FORGOT THE 25 TREBBLE HOOKS TIED TO IT ALL POINTING IN AS MAY DIRECTIONS AS POSSIBLE

So how would the actaul OWNER go about pulling it up?   

[Crabslayer]

GUYS THIS CCA HORSE IS REALLY FKN DEAD, IT HAS BEEN BEATEN, SHOT, CUT UP, PROCESSED, AND DUMPED
ITS DONE!!! AGREE TO DISAGREE
P.E.T.A. IS MUCH MORE FUN TO DISCUSS THEY HATE ALL OF US

The CCA horse might be dead, but CCA and their agenda isn't!

[Mikie]

This whole thread started because somebody had 5 pots and thought they were being raided? Use the old razor blades on the rope trick. They more then likely won't come back!

[tugcapt]

I would think a string of pots would be better in areas where there is allot of current and tide that would pull floats under.  Like the mouth of the bay and it's rivers and the northern part of the bay.  I used to see guys pulling strings of pots when going into Havre De Grace and up to the canal. There was so much floating grass and [curd] to get tangled in floats and pull them under.

[Mr. Ray III]

your exactly right.

[tugcapt]

How do they set eel pots in VA?  Do they have a float on each pot?  What keeps them from rolling and drifting all over the bottom, a weight?  It seems strange not to use a longline on eel pots.

[Mr. Ray III]

Some eel pots are square and have a mini weight frame.  Some round eel pots are weighted.  I have a few that are weighted and I put them every so often on my underwater line.

[Mikie]

Most of the guys around here use round eel pots with a piece of rebar the whole length of the pot for a weight. Most are also using longlines.

[Mr. Ray III]

mine have concrete but yeah, same principle.

[tugcapt]

That's up here, but if they have to be individual in VA, according to the law Jack posted, then they must be a pain to fish with a line and float on each one.

[Mr. Ray III]

That's up here, but if they have to be individual in VA, according to the law Jack posted, then they must be a pain to fish with a line and float on each one.

Genes father-in-law fish individual pots.  Its just like crab pots.  His are square like a mini-pot.  You can run through them pretty quick.

[kcullip2006]

Genes father-in-law fish individual pots.  Its just like crab pots.  His are square like a mini-pot.  You can run through them pretty quick.

Except in 50 knot winds!  

[Fishbonzs]

When I first started eeling, I had 400 18"x18" pots with 1/2" rebar frames for weight that I fished 200 a day & pulled them by hand. I also fished 36" x 15" eel pots daily...In 1990. I went long lining with hydraulics fishing a 24"x9" pot...Life was much easier after that..I remember when Va stopped the long lines for eels & made you fish drop pots