JENSEN BEACH....Indian River

[navypatriot]

Due to health concerns and losing so many crab pots to thieves, I haven't been out for almost 2 years!
Time has changed!  Set out my last 13 pots for a 2 day set.  Checked them today and all is fairly well.  Although 4 pots had been tampered with, the rest were able to catch 18, with only 2 females.  They are various sizes but all are nice brown belly  crabs.
At 71, my mind is losing it's sharpness, I think.  When checking water temperature, it was 115 degrees, while salinity was zero!  After a lengthy conversation with myself, I conclude that my gauges are no longer any good!

I'll have new gauges on Friday when I pull again!

[SHELLFISH]

Real glad to hear from you once again my friend!
Thanks for the report and glad to hear you were able to get some!
With all the rain we have had hear the crabs are still not really around yet in any numbers.
The water is fresh and I think they are looking for more saline water?

[BlueTip4Me]

Thanks for the report. I set 4 traps yesterday off a friends dock in Edgewater, loaded with necks. With all the thieves around it the only place I feel they might be safe. Hopefully with full moon tonight they may be productive. Will let you know how they do. Mark

[tattoo]

Nice catch

[Crabcruncher]

Thanks for the report. I set 4 traps yesterday off a friends dock in Edgewater, loaded with necks. With all the thieves around it the only place I feel they might be safe. Hopefully with full moon tonight they may be productive. Will let you know how they do. Mark

If you have a boat you can try the concrete block trick that is only feasible with a small amount of traps. It works on the principle that most thieves are lazy.
Cc

[navypatriot]

A much more effective way to stop thieves is by placing double edge razor blades on a few buoy lines using hog rings.  Just don't FORGET which ones you did!  Check with your local ER to see who tried to rob you! They'll only do it once!

[Crabcruncher]

Maybe you could label your trap float.....Danger submerged Power Line...

[Crabcruncher]

A much more effective way to stop thieves is by placing double edge razor blades on a few buoy lines using hog rings.  Just don't FORGET which ones you did!  Check with your local ER to see who tried to rob you! They'll only do it once!

Don't think that would go over big with ghost trap retrieval time. Fish and game might do a surveillance if one of their officers got bloodied, and at the least you would have to explain why you are fishing more than five traps. But probably would be taking a ride in ye olde paddywagon.