Abandoned or lost crab trap removal?

General Fishing Discussion
1

Is there a program here in regards to removal of abandoned or lost crab traps?

I know in other states there are programs during offseasons for removing lost and abandoned traps.

Is there anything like that here in South Carolina?

2

In SC there is no closed season for harvesting crabs. The regs say that no trap can be left unattended for more than 5 days. It also says that if it is a non-commercial pot it has to have a yellow float and be clearly marked with the owners name and address or their license number. There are really no regs one way or the other that i know of as far as the public removing abandoned pots. But if the pot is truly abandoned (not a comm pot and no contact info to be found), i see no reason not to remove it.

3

I have removed many pots that have been abandoned.Never has a warden,or crabber said a thing.Becoming ghost pots and a hazard to navigation are my reasons why.

4

What do you do with them? I hooked one the other day with my anchor. Wasn’t sure what to do with the dang thing.

21’ Sea-Pro CC
Yamaha 150
“Aquaholic”
2008 Dodge Ram Mega-Cab 4x4 6.7 Cummins

“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway

5

Pulled one up about a week ago in a creek. No float, no nothing. It was rusted beyod repair, so I crushed it and put it in the garbage when I got to the landing.

There is nothing - absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Kenneth Grahame

6

The law says that any trap left unattended for more than 5 days may be confiscated by DNR as an abandoned trap.

Not aware of any reclamation program for abandoned pots. Someone at the DNR would know better what initiatives their people are involved with as far as crab pots go.

I’d collect the old ones and take them to the scrap metal yard whilst still good and algaefied, oysterized and ploughmudified. 2 or 3 ought to yield enough $$$ for a 12 pack of sudweisers.

Luke 8:22-25

7
quote:
Originally posted by TexasRed

What do you do with them? I hooked one the other day with my anchor. Wasn’t sure what to do with the dang thing.

21’ Sea-Pro CC
Yamaha 150
“Aquaholic”
2008 Dodge Ram Mega-Cab 4x4 6.7 Cummins

“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway

mash them with the loader bucket.If you dont have a tractor handy,your truck tire will work as well.
8

I think we ought to have a law requiring corrodible panels in crab pots. Crabbers would have to refasten them every few months with some alloy hog rings. Just imagine how many pots there are killing crabs in the depths that you never see.

9
quote:
Originally posted by Palmetto Bug

I think we ought to have a law requiring corrodible panels in crab pots. Crabbers would have to refasten them every few months with some alloy hog rings. Just imagine how many pots there are killing crabs in the depths that you never see.

That’s a good idea about the corrodible panel.

Also, is there a way to identify who’s trap it is that’s lost?

10

I’m trying to work on something with abandoned or lost traps. Sensitive subject with me. I know props and “other factors” can cut a line that results in death traps, and I’d love to have better ways of preventing it. I have ideas so we’ll see.

Please report one if you find one that has been captured without a marker. It will be helpful in making progress with it.

Coastal Debris Management
Jonathan-Taylor Organization

REPORT WATER DEBRIS: report@coastaldebris.com or 843-303-2897

11

I pulled one up the other day that was still in good shape but I have noticed it sitting there for about a month, pulled out the biggest stone crab i have ever seen.

21 scout w/150 yam 4str
16’ Alum. w/40 yam

12

Over the years I have pulled maybe 50.Bob pulled one and found 12 dead turtles in it.If I see one in the flats and no line attached I go get it and trash it.I have pulled several with a flounder or crabs in it eating each other. Lots off sorry people cut traps if its blocking the creek they want to fish or navigate.Its a shame the world has people like that in it.If the trap blocks your way move it over.The crabber will get the hint.Cutting the line just kills many crabs for no reason.

Stonoman

13

The “Racks” behind Capers Island were made with crab pots and marked with poles.

Start a reef with them. First close all the inlet holes.

Umm, you gonna eat that?©

14

Dungeneous crab pots up in WA state are required to have a corrodable door fastener to prevent them from continuing from killing crabs if the line is gone. A lot of commercial guys also use a corrodable zinc piece to hold the line/bouy coiled up underwater until it coorodes away releasing the bouy to float to the surface to cut down on the poaching of thier pots, can get the zinc pieces in 12, 24, 36 hour increments.

Russ B.

Psalm 55:22

15
quote:
Originally posted by Top2Bottom1

Dungeneous crab pots up in WA state are required to have a corrodable door fastener to prevent them from continuing from killing crabs if the line is gone. A lot of commercial guys also use a corrodable zinc piece to hold the line/bouy coiled up underwater until it coorodes away releasing the bouy to float to the surface to cut down on the poaching of thier pots, can get the zinc pieces in 12, 24, 36 hour increments.

Russ B.

Psalm 55:22

thats pretty smart right there.