I'm hopeless at spotting lobsters and edible crab. Only ever seen one edible crab (small, one clawed it quickly jammed itself hard into a nearby shallow, horizontal crack). I've only seen lobsters in pots. Worst of all, I know that several of the places I dive do hold lobster! I did manage to catch one recently in one of the £6 fold-up lobster/bait pots, which I placed close to shore before going out diving (for around 3 or 4 hours). I reckon placing one overnight would likely work better. Using a separate, large bait pot might have helped (only trapped blennys & small crab before using it, might be coincidence).
A word of warning, I used to come across lobster fishing fatality reports on the web. There is an open season somewhere (Florida/Carribean?), and every season some of the lobster divers drown. Perhaps the temptation of a big lobster at the end of a long breathhold is too much for some to resist.
As for using chemicals - what's the point of diving on breath hold for good, fresh, free-range food with poison
Unsurprisingly, it is illegal under UK & EU law, and if you get caught don't expect sympathy from anyone.
If they ban spear fishing, they better ban diving for lobster too because that's what will be left. And potting: I have just put together a 2 pot rig for our Summer holiday trip
. The law of unintended consequences will strike again.
