Proposed ban on using six-sided traps for blue crabs in MA

[chef]

I'm a bit confused on the six sided traps mentioned here.  Assuming those are the closed lobster type traps.  I use 5 Foxy Mate 66 open box traps. Are they still legal as I attend to them throughout my trip usually about 3 hours?

Foxymates are collapsible traps. Collapsible traps are considered "Dipping".

So yes they are still legal.

The ban is on overnight crab pots.

[skikid00]

Foxymates are collapsible traps. Collapsible traps are considered "Dipping".

So yes they are still legal.

The ban is on overnight crab pots.

Thank you Chef!

[chef]

Thank you Chef!

No problem. I've been thinking about this as the 2022 season is about to begin in a few more weeks.

Any of you on here that use collapsible traps in Mass waters may want to PM Derek (fishgeek) and ask him for his office number to put on speed dial just in case. I did this a few years ago. Although I've never run into problems with the nosy/abrasive residents, I know Professor Leaky has several times.

Karens convinced that using any kind of trap to crab with are now illegal will be out in force this year. Probably best to have his contact info in case they call the EPs and you end up having to try and explain the nuances of MA blue crab regs to a rookie EP officer. I believe he may have listed it in the MA crab trap sticky thread.

I had EPs check me twice last year and they were cool but you never know.

[ducker]

Yeah, overall any trap that doesn't not have fixed 6 walls is more of a collapsible.    (think of a lobster trap, or a dungeonous crab trap where it's dropped for hours or days)   So the open top box traps, or the pyramid/triangle traps, and your Foxy Mate 66 style traps are all open for any critter to go in to and out of at will until you pull it up!!

I kinda want to get some of those Foxy Mate ones!! they look neat!