Its a mine field up the Ashley River,i would guess any pots lots there are wrapped up in someones running gear…
Can they legally put them in the middle of marked channel?
You have a much better chance of living if I catch you with my wife than if I catch you touching my crab pot. I’m not laughing.
2004 Scout 187 Sportfish
115 Yamaha
I don’t know how much rebar you use on your pots but I had the same problem and thought the same thing. I talked with a crabber and saw how heavy the rebar they use and it was much heavier than the ones they sell you at the bait stores. I started using heavier comercial grade rebar and haven’t lost near as many. One or two a year but that still hurts. Now on the flood tides they still move especially if there’s an east wind and more water gets pushed in. I had one move 100 yards down a creek and luckly for me I had enough line on it when it went by a deep hole.
There are bad people out there but I have to say as a commercial fisherman any time I have ever asked a crabber for some crabs for bait I have never been refused. I always offer some money but most of the time they say don’t worry about it.
Try the heavier rebar on one trap at a time (so you don’t loose 4 at one time) and if it goes missing the game camera idea is a great way to catch a theif. Good luck and God Bless
Captain Rich
The Reel Deal Charters
www.thereeldealcharters.com
I second that because that is one more hurting thing. Got hit by one this year, and I was about to have to quit fishin because it hurt so bad. Thankfully, my buddy’s boat was peeing out hot water, so I got some in a bucket. Instant releif. I still have a hole in the instep of my foot, though. It seems to be taking forever to heal…
quote:
Originally posted by claimquote:
Originally posted by penfishnLosing pots can not only be frustrating…but expensive as well. A fully rigged pot costs fifty bucks or more. I know because my daddy is a commercial crabber. He loses pots all the time…and many of them are not due to wind and tides carrying them or "rolling " them up. As you said…there are some "not so nice "people out there . .my daddy has been hit by them many times in the past. He would rather them empty his pots…which is bad enough…than to cut or steal them. He has lost a t least 10 in the last couple weeks…a bog exspense…and many many in the past. That certainly puts a hole in the profit margin …not only in the loss of crab revenue…but having to buy more equipment. I think I would strongly discourage your son or someone in my family from hanging out with someone who did something as low as the person he went out with. Not only a bad example…bit would hate to see anyone caught in the cross fire of a confrontation that might occur if seen doing this. Seems to me this wouldn’t have been the first time he did this based on his behavior. He should have reported that to the DNR so that that person could be watched too. There were a couple guys from this site who were crabbing up that way couple years ago and quit because of the pot loss and thievery. Unfortunately… Recreational anglers will also take pots…same
Hate it for you. On the ghost pots, didn’t DNR pass a law to install a “rust out” patch on all crab pots? Or I’m I just imagining that?
“The integrity of a man can be measured in what he does when no one is looking”…I like that Claim.
Nothing gets under my skin more than a thief…Good luck in catching the low lifes!
200 Bay Scout
115 Yamaha 4 stroke
First, I agree completely with the issues of stealing & poaching on this thread.
To me, if DNR or anyone else responsible to “control” fishing (of all types) cannot enforce the existing rules of the area, especially outright STEALING of game or traps, WHY should they (DNR, etc.) be given MORE authority to enforce more rules?
Theft (and I consider illegal gill netting the worst theft of all) needs to be the FIRST priority of those governmental agencies who are supposed to be “protecting” the game resources of our offshore or inland waterways.
Take a moment, close your eyes and visualize a gill net connected between two islands - how much ocean wildlife is destroyed. Gill nets will trap fish, mammals (dolphins, seals, sea lions too) and kill them. Since some species have little value, gill netters throw them in the ocean. There cannot be a more cruel form of death. Yet where this occurs (and it still does), the local version South Carolina’s DNR (Fish & Game) spends most of it’s time measuring if your legally acquired lobsters are the correct size.
Talk about misplaced priorities . . .
Patrick the starfish: “East? I thought you said Weast!”
PS: “Happy Leif Erickson day Spongebob: Hingadingerdurgen!”
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a handful of crab floats were cut off by the nightime parade of boats leaving after the fireworks last night. I was out there pretty late and it was as dark as I have seen it with no moon.
26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream
has 1 flaw, its not enforced
quote:
Originally posted by Fred67Hate it for you. On the ghost pots, didn’t DNR pass a law to install a “rust out” patch on all crab pots? Or I’m I just imagining that?
“The integrity of a man can be measured in what he does when no one is looking”…I like that Claim.
No rust out patch Fred…just escape hatches for the smaller crabs. Cut traps become death traps for what’s in it
I’m going crabbing with my daddy tommorow…and can’t wait 
. Always special spending a day working pots on the water with him:smiley:
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16
I’m sure I’ll get some crap for this, but load some cotton filled shotgun shells, set your traps as usual and wait for the bastards to pull your traps. Aim the gun at them ( the cotton wad loaded shells ) and empty the tube. If they touch your traps again, upgrade to rock-salt filled shells and really blast em. Scumbags deserve to be treated as such. Or you could drop your traps and put something around them to foul their prop. I’m giving nice advice here because if it were my traps I’d load slugs and put holes in the hull of their boat.
That’s why they call it fishing, not catching…
All this stuff about shooting at them and doing other stuff to them will only work if you have the cojones to do it! You have to catch them in the act first! Even if you got them on a trail cam, you would have to prove it was your trap! How long does it take to pull a trap or cut a line and be on your way? DNR would have to set up a sting to catch them and what is the chance they are doing that over a crab trap! It piss’s you off but there is little chance that anyone is going to pay for it, even if caught!
quote:
Originally posted by EasyAll this stuff about shooting at them and doing other stuff to them will only work if you have the cojones to do it! You have to catch them in the act first! Even if you got them on a trail cam, you would have to prove it was your trap! How long does it take to pull a trap or cut a line and be on your way? DNR would have to set up a sting to catch them and what is the chance they are doing that over a crab trap! It piss’s you off but there is little chance that anyone is going to pay for it, even if caught!
guess u never got caught by my uncle out there, he has shot at many a thief out there and has been shot point blank range in the chest… run over by another boat, stuck a gun up a guys nostril at limehouse etc etc etc… these crabbers don’t play, if they catch you you will pay right then and there…
when I crabbed with him there was many a time he sent me to someone’s door step, you guys don’t know what you’re messing with when your messing with someone’s living… it’s legal in SC to shoot your azz on the spot if caught stealing from a pro crabbers trap, it’s just like robbing a store and the store owner shoots you…
the only thing that stops most from extreme measures is money, who wants to spent a ton of their hard earned money on lawyers because some punk stole or cut your trap… that’s why we used to handle this the old fashioned way…
RIP Capt. Sonny White
'bout time
I’m increasingly coming to believe someone is out there stealing stuff for a living.
There was a bouy to an apparent abandoned pot not too far from the Ravenel Bridge - it’d been there for ages. Today, it was gone. A friend of mine put out a line in the harbor, today it was gone. Y’all are complaining…just too much of a coincidence about all the missing stuff which means that nothing is safe in the harbor if you are not looking at it.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 18 year old ( has decided being with parents isn’t cool)
1 - 15 year old (still does not mind hanging with the 'rents)
1 - wife (The Warden)
ECFC
That has been a given for years now…and that goes for on land too. Went to Walmart Friday…guy had left a generator and some tools in back of truck but parked a few spaces from the front… As I’m parking nearby I see a truck pull just past it and stop…two white guys get out and are leaning against their tailgate as if talking…but you could definately tell they were scoping the stuff out… I got back in mine and pulled up behind them…and they quickly drove off. I sat there till the guy came put and gave him their description and tag #. Then gave it to the manager in the store too…just in case they are “freq. shoppers” there. I ate a thief.
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16
Bye…went with my daddy to run his pots yesterday…THREE missing…two just gone…AND one rope found with buoy but no pot …looked prop cut…and they were all placed. along the bank in four to eight foot of water…so not in the channel at all… About a160.00 loss. …not good. 
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16
quote:
Originally posted by Bottom ScratcherFirst, I agree completely with the issues of stealing & poaching on this thread.
To me, if DNR or anyone else responsible to “control” fishing (of all types) cannot enforce the existing rules of the area, especially outright STEALING of game or traps, WHY should they (DNR, etc.) be given MORE authority to enforce more rules?
Theft (and I consider illegal gill netting the worst theft of all) needs to be the FIRST priority of those governmental agencies who are supposed to be “protecting” the game resources of our offshore or inland waterways.
Take a moment, close your eyes and visualize a gill net connected between two islands - how much ocean wildlife is destroyed. Gill nets will trap fish, mammals (dolphins, seals, sea lions too) and kill them. Since some species have little value, gill netters throw them in the ocean. There cannot be a more cruel form of death. Yet where this occurs (and it still does), the local version South Carolina’s DNR (Fish & Game) spends most of it’s time measuring if your legally acquired lobsters are the correct size.
Talk about misplaced priorities . . .
Patrick the starfish: “East? I thought you said Weast!”
PS: “Happy Leif Erickson day Spongebob: Hingadingerdurgen!”
Can honestly say I’ve never found an illegal gill net in S.C. I’ve placed a couple of legal ones off Edisto beach though. I agree miles of free drift gill nets are an atrocity, but Here at home missing and robbed crab pots are more of an issue.
quote:
Originally posted by penfishnquote:
Originally posted by Fred67Hate it for you. On the ghost pots, didn’t DNR pass a law to install a “rust out” patch on all crab pots? Or I’m I just imagining that?
“The integrity of a man can be measured in what he does when no one is looking”…I like that Claim.
No rust out patch Fred…just escape hatches for the smaller crabs. Cut traps become death traps for what’s in it
I’m going crabbing with my daddy tommorow…and can’t wait
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16
Thanks Mrs Penn. It’s been a couple of years, but I was in Beaufort and listening to a couple of local crabbers talking about the rust out patch. Guess it never went through. Maybe not a bad Idea?
Love your pictures of you and your Dad! Mine just turned 80 and it gets so sad to see him struggling taking care of his cows and garden, but he hasn’t stopped yet!
It is not limited to the waterways now. A friend had his 15 hp motor stolen off the back of his jon boat in the back yard. Cops say that his was just one of 8 stolen at that time. Evidently there is a chop shop for small motors in operation in the south east right now. I would love, love, love to catch them in the act. Screw the police, call the coroner.
Umm, you gonna eat that?
Thousands have died to save my freedom. Only one has died to save my soul!
quote:
Originally posted by Fred67quote:
Originally posted by penfishn[quote]Originally posted by Fred67
Hate it for you. On the ghost pots, didn’t DNR pass a law to install a “rust out” patch on all crab pots? Or I’m I just imagining that?
Fred…daddy did say that these are used in the offshore fishng pots. He said the only “rust out” patches in crabbing they are referring to his whole pots after a couple months in the salt water ;). Thanks for your kind words. My daddy is starting to show his years too…and it breaks my heart and hits me hard when I sometimes have to admit and realize this…in my eyes he will always be “my daddy”. Strong…popeye arms
Old Hat pulled down on his head, shrimp boots, blue eyes squinting into the sun…and a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. In my eyes he will always be young.
I’m going crabbing with my daddy tommorow…and can’t wait
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16
Thanks Mrs Penn. It’s been a couple of years, but I was in Beaufort and listening to a couple of local crabbers talking about the rust out patch. Guess it never went through. Maybe not a bad Idea?
Love your pictures of you and your Dad! Mine just turned 80 and it gets so sad to see him struggling taking care of his cows and garden, but he hasn’t stopped yet!
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16