I had a crab trap out for recreational use. I emptied it every couple of days. I filled it with bait on Sat about 2PM and it was gone Sun morning. The DNR was hanging out and stopping boats by the 41 Wando bridge Sat. Would they confiscate it if I did’t have markings and my name on it? If so would they take the whole trap or just cut the float rope?
I think someone from the “abandoned crab pots” thread may have picked it up.
I would hope they would confiscate it. Cutting the rope is about the stupidest thing anyone could do. That leaves a ghost trap killing crabs for a very long time.
Most likely, the tide took it. Many traps get moved when we have extreme tides.
Why didn’t you just put your name and phone number on it?
Well that would have taken some brains! I don’t know if this apply’s to everyone but, when fishing is on your mind and the tides are going out, you forget a lot of things. Thanks for the input but maybe a DNR literate person will respond.
Legally you have to have your name and phone number on the float but im guessing you know that by now… and Yes they would probably confiscate it… DNR is not usually in the habit of littering the waterways with empty traps…
Your name and number should have been on the trap long before you went fishing if you had already been leaving it out… it is a law after all…
Mad Mike
Thanks Mad Mike. Yeah I do know that by now and for the record you must have you name and address on the float only.
Regs say that if the recreational pots (max 2) are left unattended you must have your name OR license number on the pot (trap). It can be left in water for 5 days.
Now here is the conundrum. The regs say the information must be on the pot. It does not specify on the float. There are specs for floats, but nothing about putting your info on them.
Of course common sense is to put the information on the float. BUT the REGS say otherwise.
So who wants to challenge that one in court??
What kind of fish is that? Can I eat it?
From dnr website-
"The BOUY</font id=“size4”> of traps used by individuals for personal use as provided by law in lieu of the identification number
required on commercial traps must bear the owner name and current address and must be yellow in color.
[Section 50-5-550 (D)]
Your Name and address must be on a yellow buoy not on the pot itself
02 Pathfinder 1806
Yamaha
That settles it BOUYS
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
just a thought from a simple man from lexington. how difficult is it to put your name and number on both the pot and bouy?
Thanks to everybody. I think I got it straight now!
i might have picked it up on accident. was this inside it?
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16’ Voyager Semi-V Hull “Misty Harbor”
98’ 15hsp Yamaha 4-stroke
working on increasing power and bimini top
mike,
I’m **ssed…you promised you wouldn’t post pix of me from the bachelor party.
Man, I hate to “revive” this old thread, but I had a very unhappy Father’s Day because of some thiefs. I had my crab pot (yellow coated wire type) stolen sometime between Thursday and Saturday up on the Wando. I had it placed just north of Rathall Creek about 30 yards from shore with yellow globe bouy.
My consistent opinion of the “goodness” of man is ebbing I have to admit.
Now I have to decide if I want to make another $65 dollar investment into a new crab trap, or just say “to hell with it” because I don’t want another trap stolen.
Someone explain to me why someone would be low and mean enough to steal another man’s crab trap.
If he has enough money to own and operate a boat…he sure as hell should have enough money to go and buy his own trap!
Sorry guys, I just needed to get my anger off my chest.
I’d fish with anyone on this board anytime…and trust them with my life.
I just don’t get why someone would steal a crab trap.
It’s highly possible your pots were dragged away by the tide to a point where the buoy is underwater. It’s happened to me and my first thought was to blame a thief. But I stumbled upon it about 300 yds away with the buoy about 2 ft underwater
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
^ What he said.
Hopefully the tide is the culprit but, in this day and age, there are people that will steal anything so it would not surprise me.
if it’s tide-related: more scope, make sure the bullet float faces into the current when taut (globe type pulls underwater easily, but makes a good trailer buoy behind a bullet), and zip tie a brick into the corner of the trap.
if it’s thief-related: i hope you buy another trap, fish it, and don’t get ripped off. if you do get ripped off, i hope you drive up holding a .45 when it’s going down.
Hey guys…thanks for your insights! I never stop being amazed at y’all wisdom!
I did not think about tide pushing bouy underneath.
I will recheck tomorrow.
It has a heavy chain on the bottom of trap. so perhaps it got turned over by tide and bouy is underneath. I will check again.
Barbawang…have to admit thats exactly how I felt when I first pulled up and it was missing…
if there is “road rage” is there “water-way rage” as well?
Speaking of which, I had put in down by Hobcaw point on Sunday with wife…when we came in there was a guy with a 20 ft boat…obviously not havig a clue about how to drive! He backed the boat off the trailer and then turned whole (**() boat around so motor was facing ramp…then turned it to towards the floating ramp and gunned it…almost went on top of ramp…his little girl was trying to hold onto a concrete piling so the boat wouldn’t drift away from dock…I backed away from whole dock area not knowing what the hell he ws goning to do next or who he was going to end up killing…just another reason I hate going to ramps on weekends.
I know I am not an expert on everything…actually very little…but if I did not know how to drive a boat I’d sure as hell find a friend to help me figure it out before I killed someone!
Thanks again for advice…maybe if I go during low tide…I will find the crap trap
Pardon me board members…I inadvertently used a swear word up there…my apologies.