Whats the deal with the lobster traps?

seaballs · Oct-07-2007, 05:02 PM

Hi everyone. This is my first thread or post.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

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My son and I went to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

ffice:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Solana</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Beach</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> today to see if I could get a few bugs freediving. My first time out this year due to work and the not so great weather/surf the past week. Anyway, after reading the surf reports (1 to 2') and seeing that we had an offshore wind, I thought that it was worth the drive down from Temecula. <o:p></o:p>
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The surf report was wrong.....waves were up, water was brown and guacamole green in close. Lots of surfers over the reefs. Didn't look like it was worth suiting up. Oh well, the beach was awesome. <o:p></o:p>
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The thing that has me writing to you all was the UNBELIEVEABLE numbers of lobster traps in the kelp beds right off the beach. Through my binoculars, I could see what looked like hundreds of floats, starting just outside the surf line. This close-to-the-beach reef area is only 5' to 10' deep going out about 200 yards, but there were floats and traps in areas that I know, holds only 5' or 6' of H2O at low tide. It looked like there was less than 15' to 20' between floats everywhere I could see kelp, all the way up to Swami's. I was shocked.<o:p></o:p>
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I am getting older, but I don't remember seeing this many traps before, or this close into the beach (and neither does my son). With this many traps, how could this reef not be fished out within a couple of weeks?<o:p></o:p>
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Are you guys seeing this many traps everywhere?<o:p></o:p>
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I read a different thread somewhere here on BD complaining about the number of traps on the dock on Sept 29th and suggesting a different size limit for the commercial guys. I think everyone should be able to make a living but what I saw today seems way out of line.<o:p></o:p>
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Oh well, thanks for letting me blow off some steam. <o:p></o:p>

Az.monkey · Oct-07-2007, 05:13 PM

Welcome to the world Dave, just remember that if there's bouys around, stay away ! sounds like you dive and surf and the bouy lines are not forgiving if you get tangled up. You get the picture I think. Just stay safe and have fun and most of all enjoy the meal

Oct-07-2007, 05:55 PM

I have to agree with you. It really seems as if there are quite a bit more lobster traps around this year.

snagline · Oct-08-2007, 01:27 AM

its bullshit i don't remember seeing this many people get so excited for lobster ever every year more and more people and more and more commercial boats are shitting this up. in 30 years i wouldn't doubt if the become extinct from this n global warming and shat

tylerderdan · Oct-08-2007, 10:03 AM

At the start of every season is when most guys fish them hardest, have the most gear in the water. Some guys will actually just fish the first part of the season then hang it up for the rest of the year. A lot of these guys have been doing this here for a long time, not too much new blood coming into the game.

skiffhunter · Oct-08-2007, 04:38 PM

Commercial lobster is a limted entry fishery- the number of lobster fiherman is set and in order for you to get in, someone has to go out. I doubt the number of traps is greater either as they are probably limited to the number they can put down. I think hey just fsh hardest right away as that is when the bugs are there.

Most of the reading I have done suggests that the commercial take is holding holding staedy in term os punds landed per year which suggest they are not over harvesting as ythe number would shrink.

baaadlybent · Oct-24-2007, 01:06 PM

I agree about the healthy fishery. For whatever reason, the bugs are sustaining themselves (at least from the reports I've read and the fact they're back year after year. Makes you wonder what this place was like a hundred years ago. We would probably be disgusted with ourselves if we could time travel back to the Cortez and CA coast to see it in its prime. Must have been outrageous in its day.

**Smudge** · Oct-24-2007, 01:25 PM

The number of pots and lobster fishermen hasn't changed in quite a few years. Someone earlier mentioned that it's a limited entry fishery. It's just early in the season and everyone with gear has all of it in the water right now. It'll thing out pretty soon...

c-goat · Oct-24-2007, 05:00 PM

saw about four good traps in the dumpster by the bathrooms at dog beach yesterday. 10-24

Kareem Korn · Oct-24-2007, 05:10 PM

But the traps you see all along the surfline and in greater #'s are commercial are'nt they. Not too many private fishermen are hooping in the day time.

**Smudge** · Oct-24-2007, 05:19 PM

Yes those are comercial...

ooo · Oct-24-2007, 09:37 PM

Iv always wanted to try commercial lobster fishing but it seems theres so many everywhere I wouldnt know where to fish without encroaching on another person....But it seems that doesnt stop anyone Iv seen 3-4 different color buoys in one area. I think anymore licenses than we have now would be a little much...but right now the number seems ok...around 230 in california.