Crabbing with a Recreational Lobster Permit

[masspi]

To all who are using or plan to use their permit to crab this year, don't forget to read over very close the rules and regulations pertaining to the use of pots/traps.  Make sure that your escape vent size is correct and that it is held in with mild steel hog rings.  You must mark each trap with your distinctive number (3456-0 through 9), this is mandatory besides marking the number on your float.  Very important is the new rule that states that anyone......recreational or commercial crabbers can only take a maximum of 50 crab a day by any method !!!!

You can get the heavy plastic tags made up at Red Top sports shop in Bourne for a couple of bucks and it is a lot easier than making your own.  The reason for the tag marking is in case your trap and line get separated, you might get it back if located.  In another month you will start getting a lot of Scup in your traps.............remember the legal size for Scup when the thought goes through your mind that you just got free bait..........they are most always under sized and you do not want to get caught with a lot of undersized fish.

Stay legal and keep the few dollars you have in your billfold instead of giving it to the state.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/commercialfishing/lobsters.htm#abstracts

[robc22]

That hog ring is called a rust away. Pretty cheap to buy but they are hard to keep....they rust so much!!!

[SHELLFISH]

In Florida I used flat pieces of copper and then used metal letter and number stamps to punch in my data.
They want your permit number, telephone number and address on each crab trap.
Then just zip tie them to the traps.
I tried sports stores for laminated plastic tags...too expensive!

[jefskil]

http://www.minntrapprod.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3199

these might be a viable solution and they are quite cheap as well. 50 should last you years and years.

[unclebuttsy]

I use a soldering iron on the ghost panel. I used to make 'branding irons' out of coat hangers but it's easier to do it free hand.