I’ve talked with several folks recently who seem to be having trouble with someone either stealing their crabs, stealing their bait, or the worst…stealing the whole trap and/or just cutting the float off. Is anyone else having repeated trouble with this? 
It seems to be the worst in Fishing Creek and behind Otter.
In the years of 98,99 and 2000 I had 100 pots on the rivers around Edisto Island. I was making decent money. My problem did not arise untill summer of 2000, at first someone was pulling my pots and emptying them, then people started stealing the pots. By the time I decided to pull my pots and call it quites I had only 23 pots left. I still have the same 23 stacked under the shade tree.
In 2000 the gamewarden stopped me on the river and said at that time they were having a problem with thieves. They also said they had caught a crab pot theif in the ashley river. They fined him $10,000, confiscated his boat, motor, truck and trailer and locked him up on the spot.
I do some commercial crabbing in Edisto and we have been having the same problem. Slam full pots then the next one has 0 crabs and no bait. If you see anyone pulling commercial pots that do not have the corresponding ID number on the side of the boat, do us all a favor and shoot out their engine and call the man.
Kill em’ and Grill em’
Colin
I live on fishing creek, and had a little trouble this year as well. I went out to check my two traps and one was gone. So I picked up the remaining one and the top had been opened. A day later I noticed my other trap about half a mile down the creek with the top opened as well. I figure it was one of you commercial guys, but then again I live way up the creek and don’t see too much commercial activity.
Billder
How close on Fishing creek do you live to the new house Jack E is building?
jeff 33 Grady White
I’m friends with 2 of the commercial crabbers down here and they have been and are having some of the same problems as yau’ll. I know for a while they have had to zip tie the tops of the pots shut so they could tell if someone has been emptying them and they have also had some go missing before. The ones I know don’t mess with other peoples pots.
quote:
Originally posted by jrockweBillder
How close on Fishing creek do you live to the new house Jack E is building?jeff 33 Grady White
The judge? We’re a couple houses down on the other side of the street. I’ve never met him, but my dad has talked to him a lot, he sounds like a really nice guy; and a very nice house.
That’s him. I’ve looked at the lot next door. I’m currently on Big Bay. What do you think about that lot? Any +'s or -'s? Thanks.
jeff 33 Grady White
I like it, wish I could buy it for myself. It’s at the end of a dead end road so we don’t get any through traffic, the creek doesn’t get a lot of boat traffic except for people living on it, it’s got a great view and deepwater. The only - is half of it is open field, but some good landscaping could take care of that. My dad is an appraiser, and I seem to recall him saying something about it being a good value, I can’t remember what M*** had it listed for though.
I can’t speak for all commercial guys but my guys and I don’t mess with recreational traps… we don’t need the trouble and we don’t need to give the weekend warrior another reason to hate us and hit our traps.
thanks to those who stuck up for us.
Back in 1999 My son age 12 ,Were invited to go fishing
with some co’workers at that time
we put in at the dahoo and went down to the 4k1
many beers later as we were returning One of the coworkers
suggested robbing a trap.I declined, He made such a deal
about doing it I had him set my son and I ashore at Steamboat
and called my wife to come get us .
My son still Bragg’s on his old man’s honesty .
anyone who robs a trap is just another Thief.
gopher <>(
Heh bin to Saudi in Desert Storm… get caught steeling there and they will cut your arm off… but it would have to be “Sand Crabs”
Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit around with his buddys drinking on the beach for hours !! ><((((º> J
I’ve always put my two pots out in fishing creek every shrimping season and never had a problem. I even had a commercial crabber come up to us checking our pots and GIVE us bait to use. How is that for a gentleman.
We had another crab pot stolen on Fishin Creek this weekend. Please keep a lookout for whoever continues to do this.
He ought to be shot if caught.
That’s getting low to steal one much less rob one.
J Ford
J16 cc Carolina Skiff “Hydro Therapy”
Edisto-Fisher,
They are anchored with rebar. We had two on opposite sides of the creek and have put it there for a while so I know it didnt drift off. Name displayed prominently on the floater. I have seen what you are referring to however. Clearly stolen.
quote:
Originally posted by edisto-fisherquote:
Originally posted by wearly2003We had another crab pot stolen on Fishin Creek this weekend. Please keep a lookout for whoever continues to do this.
How long of a rope are you putting on the pot and do you have any rebar on the bottom or a mushroom anchor or something like that to weigh it down?
I think your pots just might be floating away at high tide because I have seen several lately in the mouth of the sound. If they are there when I go back down they are mine. I see brand spanking new pots floating by on short lines all the time. Make sure you put your name and number on the float and you will have a much better chance of getting them back.
Hope this helps.
What you said. you should see how often the shrimp boats pull them up. Even with rebar they dont always stay put when tides are running hard.
Maybe I do need to shorten the rope by a few feet but Im positive someone stole this one. Thanks for the tips E-F.
Yeah Biggun,
That was probably me who tossed you a few menhaden. I try to help out the recreational guys if i can but I’d be lying if i said it wasn’t a bribe. thanks for keeping to your own pots, thats a rare quality in some people. hope the bait helped