How close can commercial pots be to a pier or lift

[Crabslayer]

 

crabslayer,  now that you are a comm, you get to deal with all of this costing you money, as well as costing you frustration! good luck with the rec trotliners setting on top of you (and get used to it!)   

Mark, to set the record straight, I was a commercial for close to 30 years.  I just got back into it after a hiatus.  I dealt with a lot during that time but never overreacted.  In fact I even took the time on the water to help the recreational.

[Dave Jr.]

CrabSlayer is in a different class than most.  He would probably give you bait if you ran out and the crabs were running.  He's really helped me out when I've had questions.  I think the attitude of the person really shows what kind of person they are.  Enough said.   

[Fishfishburn]

Does the commercial crabber have a name on his boat? If he does, what is it? I had this problem once myself, there are many solutions- some that may not be the best, but will work. Follow these steps and you should come out on top.

1. Ask nicely if he could please keep the traps a fair distance away. If this does not work move on to the next step.
2. Ask again nicely.
3. One more time- Three strikes and he is out.
4. Monitor when he pulls his pots. We will have what I call a circle party around his pots. We will get as many of us that we can and form a huge circle around his pots by anchoring up and tieing up to each other-if he wants to make it difficult for you- we will do the same for him- Kinda like an eye for an eye.

[Wayneo]

Hey Guys
I am almost afraid to say anything yet but I just got back from taking my boat out!!..  All last weekend, and it was beautiful, I did not leave the lift because there were three pots within the length of boat directly astern.  I got home this afternoon (Wednesday June 15) about 7 and lo and behold not pots immediately behind my boat.

I mentioned earlier that I have not figured out when they crab but the maring police said they would take their boat out  to read the numbers from the floats (I could not because I couldn't get off my lift and the floats invariably would be facing away from me).  The police said they would look up the crabbers and ask them to voluntarily clear aft of my boat.

This evening would have given the police about three days to track them down, and I would like think the movement was a result of this request.

I may be jumping the gun, but maybe someone is talking to the crab gods or something and Ican avoid unpleasantness. 

I will keep the group appraised.  I cannot believe all crabbers are like one that I did manage to talk to.

Thanks for the interest

Wayneo