CraigFos
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« on: April 06, 2012, 02:01:29 PM » |
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I got tired of having my shore based traps (pots) stolen, so I decided to put the traps out in a bayou from my kayak. A couple of weeks a go I strapped an older trap to the kayak and got it out without too much difficulty. The next day a storm blew in with better than 40 mile an hour sustained winds. I worried about the trap and with good cause. I found the float in the salt grass. Oh well, an act of nature. Last week I put three more traps out, two of them newly made. I made sure to secure these to the float with extra care. It would have taken a hurricane to separate the floats from these traps.
Last Monday, I went to run the traps and found that someone had decided that they needed two of them more than I did. The one remaining trap had two undersized crabs. I re-baited it with chicken necks and put it back out.
This morning, I went to run the only remaining trap. When I arrived, I noticed that the float was on the opposite side of the bayou than I thought that I had left it, but I decided that my memory was just slipping. I pulled the trap up and found it empty of crabs. The bait holder now contained chicken leg quarters. The door for removing the traps was secured differently than when I had secured it. Obviously, someone had thought that I put the traps out there for their use and not my own. I pulled the trap in and will try a different location. Kind of put a damper on my day.
Now I’m looking for a jon boat so that I can get the traps out into the bay. Hopefully, the thieves will leave them alone out there.
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Craig
Life's a beach and then it erodes.
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KI Crabber
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« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2012, 02:32:17 PM » |
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That Sux!
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bigcrabrob
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« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2012, 03:02:47 PM » |
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question do you have a strong current down there and is the traps weighted . i have crabpots move all the time when it gets rough . might be the current or the wind or it might be someone . all im saying is dont jump the gun
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KI Crabber
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« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2012, 03:41:15 PM » |
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question do you have a strong current down there and is the traps weighted . i have crabpots move all the time when it gets rough . might be the current or the wind or it might be someone . all im saying is dont jump the gun
Usually current and wind dont re-bait your pots for you with different bait....JMO  |
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crabbywaters
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« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2012, 04:24:06 PM » |
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Usually current and wind dont re-bait your pots for you with different bait....JMO At least not in Maryland |
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I wish i was a crab.
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bigcrabrob
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« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2012, 05:22:55 PM » |
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capt. ron
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« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2012, 07:27:24 PM » |
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Same thing here. Ran today and had several that was run oh maybe 60 or so.
Close to the spillway, ya know where I'm talking about. They thought they were slick. Ran every other trap. Thought I wouldn't notice. I keep my traps in a pretty straight line. Looks like HWY markers. Once you raise the trap ya can't put it back in line with the others. Wouldn't have been so many traps but not catching many crabs so they had to run a lot of traps to cover their cookout.
Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents have caught and cited 2 different boat for robbing my traps in the past on Good Friday.
Look on the bright side, they stole the crabs but left the traps.
Ronnie
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CraigFos
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« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2012, 07:47:14 PM » |
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question do you have a strong current down there and is the traps weighted . i have crabpots move all the time when it gets rough . might be the current or the wind or it might be someone . all im saying is dont jump the gun
The traps were in a shallow narrow bayou surrounded by a salt marsh. They could not have floated very far. crabbywaters - Even in Texas the traps don't re-bait themselves. |
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Craig
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CraigFos
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« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2012, 07:51:18 PM » |
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Look on the bright side, they stole the crabs but left the traps.
Ronnie
That is a plus, and they re-baited and closed the trap. I guess I just did not let them soak long enough from when they ran them. We used to have a problem with people running the traps and leaving the open. |
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Craig
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Crab Shack
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« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2012, 09:04:02 PM » |
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There was a post awhile back about putting razor blades on your trap lines. Might make people think twice before running traps that don't belong to them. A little drastic I know, but I hear it has been known to work...  |
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« Last Edit: April 06, 2012, 09:05:34 PM by CrabShack »
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NO CRABS WERE HARMED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS POST
WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE IS...FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID
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fishingtom
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« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2012, 09:13:38 PM » |
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Shack that sounds like a good plan but I am willing to bet it would come back to haunt you. I am just saying if you lay a trap to physically hurt someone you could be in trouble. Not fair but that is the way it is (criminals have more rights than you do)...But with it happening every day I would find a way to watch my pots and have a vehicle handy to catch up to whoever, in the act all bets are off...
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crabbywaters
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« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2012, 09:54:51 PM » |
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Its probably not a good idea to mess with a man lively hood. You never know what kinda crazy s,o,b is watching you. They got big guns in LA what i hear.
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I wish i was a crab.
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Night Wing
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« Reply #12 on: April 07, 2012, 07:27:37 AM » |
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Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I've just about quit using crab traps because of the thieves. I recreational crab using hand lines now.
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Kayak: Ocean Kayak "Scupper Pro TW". Length: 14' 9". Width: 26". Weight: 55#
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ROCK ON
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« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2012, 05:52:51 PM » |
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THAT SUCKS!!!!! YOU CAN'T TRUST
ANYONE ANYMORE. I BELIEVE IN
KARMA... THEY'LL GET WHATS
COMING TO THEM.
ROCK ON
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CraigFos
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« Reply #14 on: April 07, 2012, 09:39:55 PM » |
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I got over my anger and decided to try a different location with the trap. I put it out in a salt pond on Galveston Island and then crabbed 9 nets from the kayak for about an hour. I stopped at a dozen, but culled out one just under 5 inches and one paper shell when I got back to shore. I ended up with ten keepers, with the largest just over 7 inches. I had three others over 6 inches. One of the crabs was in my trap, so at least I know it works. I may make one more trap and put it out tomorrow.
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Craig
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ACFISHERIES
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« Reply #15 on: April 07, 2012, 11:15:12 PM » |
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Looks like a feast to me, nice work.
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Good dogs, Rotgut whiskey, All the BS you can stand
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tattoo
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MY BOAT CRAB TRAP
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« Reply #16 on: April 07, 2012, 11:22:46 PM » |
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Great looking crabs.
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Ronster
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« Reply #17 on: April 07, 2012, 11:28:03 PM » |
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Same thing here. Ran today and had several that was run oh maybe 60 or so.
Close to the spillway, ya know where I'm talking about. They thought they were slick. Ran every other trap. Thought I wouldn't notice. I keep my traps in a pretty straight line. Looks like HWY markers. Once you raise the trap ya can't put it back in line with the others. Wouldn't have been so many traps but not catching many crabs so they had to run a lot of traps to cover their cookout.
Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents have caught and cited 2 different boat for robbing my traps in the past on Good Friday.
Look on the bright side, they stole the crabs but left the traps.
Maybe you should CHOOT EM~! |
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One man wolf pack.  |
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Swimmerl Crabber
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« Reply #18 on: April 08, 2012, 12:05:05 AM » |
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There are going to be good, bad and ugly people in this world. Bad people take your crabs but leave you traps. Ugly people steal your traps and crabs. And there are more bad people close to the holidays. I now try to run my traps one day before the holiday.
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BJ1fish
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« Reply #19 on: April 08, 2012, 07:02:51 AM » |
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Did you float nets? Was anyone catching any from shore?
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Night Wing
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« Reply #20 on: April 08, 2012, 08:33:05 AM » |
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Nice photos. I need to make another trip.
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Kayak: Ocean Kayak "Scupper Pro TW". Length: 14' 9". Width: 26". Weight: 55#
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CraigFos
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« Reply #21 on: April 08, 2012, 09:03:13 AM » |
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Did you float nets? Was anyone catching any from shore?
I floated the nets, and only dumped one live crab in the bottom of the kayak. When I got there, there were some people from Illinois who were fishing on the west pond. They told me that they were only catching a bunch of crabs. I did not see their catch, but they seemed to be scooping some. When they left, three ladies took their place. As I was leaving I saw their catch of three small crabs. I explained the size limits and they threw what they had back. Not sure what they were going to keep after I left. The front pond had a group of people who got there right before I left. I saw one of them pull in one keeper and one throw back. |
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Craig
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snapper69
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« Reply #22 on: April 08, 2012, 08:20:12 PM » |
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Buy a winder and run a trotline until you figure out who is messing with your gear. I have 2 boats and I'd run my pleasure boat out where my traps are with a camera in hand and catch them in the act. That sucks though and I wish you luck.
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BJ1fish
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« Reply #23 on: April 08, 2012, 10:58:08 PM » |
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Did not make it to the ponds ended up at lake Somerville.
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capt. ron
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« Reply #24 on: April 08, 2012, 11:00:07 PM » |
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Nice. What ya catch them on? Spinner, spoon or bait?
Ronnie
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