I’ve now had 2 traps vanish after one night in the water. Neither were placed around other traps though some were within about 50 yards. Are they likely to have been stolen. Is that a “thing.” Is there any unwritten rules or etiquette among the commercial guys that I don’t know about? The equipment losses make my per-crab cost around $10.
Spartanburg/Edisto
Sea Hunt 27 “Saltwater Gospel”
Maverick 18 HPX-V
How much weight did you have on the traps? Just a rebar on the bottom? If so, its very likely they were swept away in the current and the buoy submerged. Have you looked around up and down the creek at dead low tide? You might find them.
1966 13’ Boston Whaler “Flatty”
2018 Sportsman Masters 207
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Lost one last winter on a big tide! Learned to watch where I put them!
That or they may have been moved. I had one out in front of Steamboat this fall and when I returned, a crabber was setting traps and mine was relocated down the marsh away from “his territory” about 300 yards or so. Not saying he touched it or anything but who knows. No need to confront him. He’s doing it for a living. Karma will catch up with him one day. It is a thing for them to be messed with around Edisto. I don’t leave them out overnight and I try not to compete with the commercial guys out of respect for them. Never had one stolen though.
Almost all missing crab pot issues are due to not enough weight or not enough line. I only use traps with double rebar and way more line than I’ll ever need.
Most crabbers around are hard working honest people earking out a living out of nature, they go out every day regardless of the weather.There are a lot of places away from theres that you can set yours. I don’t think any of them would steal you traps, might move them out of there way once in a while.
If you search on this topic over the past in this forum it has come up many times. Most people are quick to get mad and call out commercial crabbers. Edisto is known for really strong current at peak tides and 1 layer of rebar is simply not enough. It’s happened to me, where my pots were dragged by the current until the float submerged. I found them at dead low a good ways from where I left them. I learned a lesson from it.
1966 13’ Boston Whaler “Flatty”
2018 Sportsman Masters 207
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
Guy gave me a tip a long time ago, tie a cinder block to the float, if someone does go to pull it up, when they get to the block they give up, the trap is then tied to the block. You have to pull both up, its heavy but the tide and the thieves wont be a problem.
That’s a really good tip. If you are interested, I have 2 brand new traps, maybe 100’ of leaded rope & 2 buoys for $100. No cinder blocks though…
“No… it’s okay, I know the way out…”
Had no problem with our trap on Whale Branch this week, lots of small one tho!
They will wash away on the bigger creeks around Edisto. The commercial guy that sets in Scott Creek is a friend of mine. He would not mess with your traps. Don’t know the guys who set on the sound and up the S Edisto. I try to stay well clear of the commercial pots and not set in between pots in a string.
If you either PM or text me where you set them I will look around next time I am out at low tide, probably later this week.