Lobster Fishing

grantar2 · 09-07-2006, 12:14 PM

Team, Lobster season is upon us. Mark your calendar and buy your nets the season starts 30 September.

I need your help. My score last year was Lobsters 2 (I lost 2 nets), Art & Gabe 0. No bugs.

Last year I tried fishing Dana Point with my 25 foot sailboat Ohana. Nearly lost it on the rocks, and fouled my outboard twice. This year I plan to take a page from my Kayak friends (but be better lit and more visable). We are going to fish the leaward breakwater using Rubber Duckie my 10 foot Achillies LT 3 inflatable boat.

My question is to the Kayakers, where do you keep your bugs? I have been told (have no experiance see above) that they will scamper off the boat. I don't see room on a Kayak for a cage so ?????

Thanks

IslandFox · 09-07-2006, 12:31 PM

5 gallon bucket...or pray that you a cooler in the Tankwell for the larger models. On FnD's and the Malibu boats the ceter hatch offers an easy place to drop them into the hull.
Although some say that last season was a bust I still did rather well with several nights of limits and about 100 or so bugs for the season. Bait and locations were key last year. And if you want to be like the yaks turn your motor off while tending to the hoops...I'm sure you can paddle that 10 footer with no problems.
Guys on the boats last year were always amazed at why we would be putting bugs onboard while they were getting skunked....stealth...stealth..stealth.
Good call on going with the inflattable over the sailboat...last year I got to witness one lose power and get thrashed into the breakwater at Ventura Harbor.

**Joey805** · 09-07-2006, 12:32 PM

Not positive but I think they use some type of kill bag, or bucket?
We use a cooler on the boat I go on.

beacondawg · 09-07-2006, 12:32 PM

art, have no fear underdawg is here..as for fishing with a RUBBER DUCKIE? I find filling up the bath tub only half way, this way your duckie won't splash out of the tub...as for where to put your bug's??? Well,when my mother-in-law pisses me off, I wait until she fall's asleep and I carefully put a few in her hair. Then wait a little bit and the laughter begin's..... I hope I helped you with your question......LOL...The Dawg..

**Joey805** · 09-07-2006, 12:37 PM

I'm moving this post to the Yak forum.

IslandFox · 09-07-2006, 12:59 PM

Here's my view from the inside. Myself and another yakker started on the outside and watched as tthis guy worked his hoops solo on the sailboat. We both agreed that was an accident waiting to happen and sure enough it did.
2 emergency boats came to assist with the fast boat from the coast guard at CI Harbor getting on the scene within a couple minutes of Ventura Harbor Patrol(amazingly fast considering how far away they were!)
Guy on the sailboat didnt have a radio and another yakker pulled him off the breakwater and made the call for him. Luckily Vessel Assist was able to get the boat off the breakwater relativel unscathed...though sitting quite low in the water.
Here's a shot from inside looking over the breawater as the sailboat was getting hammered.

Oh yeah and since safety is always a concern....I've seen several close call s out there with bigger boats almost squashing smaller skiffs and inflatables....reason??? Their lighting was too low in the boat and would get blocked out by the people in the boat. Oh yeah....and light your floats, light your floats....light your floats!

**Carnivore** · 09-07-2006, 01:36 PM

Lights are key to safety. I almost hit 5 different yaks last year and all were unlit or just had a glow stick hanging from their back.

The year wasn't a bust but you needed to put in the time to get it done and the water was so damn aggressive last year that hooping the front side was impossible with out capsizing. I have to disagree with turning off the motor as it is unsafe but has never been an issue the bugs are not going to freak out 30 feet down or bubbles from a diver would cause them to run and or other boats in the area would scare them and no one would get a thing. When half of the bugs we got last year wouldn't let go of the bait or the net vibration isn't the most important thing.

I wouldn't use the sail boat unless you plan on setting hooks front and back and just hooping the side of the boat and I have seen people do very well that way and just work strong in one area.

Not sure what they use on a yak but we do have a cooler on my boat and sometimes I just put them in 5 gallon buckets if the cooler wasn't cleaned or what ever. 5 gallon buckets are good to keep items dry in like extra jackets and stuff as the lids are air tight. if room in an issue I would use a kill bag and just leave them in there till your ready to tail them at the dock. remember though not to leave them in a bucket with standing water and they will suffocate in it and if you hang them over the side watch of seals they will steal your catch.

Jackpot · 09-07-2006, 01:49 PM

lol, Joey almost rammed a yakker at bassdale one time... BLIND AS A BAT and NO LIGHTS! Yes, safety = lights + sobriety (unless you're not the cap't)!

Rhyno · 09-07-2006, 01:50 PM

Divers Lobster/Game bag or mesh game bag. I carry both, as one huge bug can stuff one. Dunk em as needed. Store in a cooler overnight on some salt water soaked towles or add seaweed to the cooler. Do not cover in water, they will use up the O2 in the water and die. They will live out of water with some mosture to sit on. So when is the opener? I thought it was the first Saturday in October. TL Rhyno

**Carnivore** · 09-07-2006, 01:55 PM

Spiny lobster season is open from 12:01 AM September 30th 2006, ending to be announced. Don't have nets in the water before 12:01 the DFG WILL be writing tickets even if you are fishing for "crab" or not...