Lobster hunting..

[Pekka]

Ok, here is a question,

How do you find the lobsters, say if you find a place where you think they might be. I mean is there some type of places one should especially go for, what time of day, anything to do with high tide?

and an other question, my brother Tuomo found one, but couldnt take hold of the antenna sticking out from the hole this lobster was hiding in.. should one try to grab hold quickly or easy does-it style? and can you manage lobster with one hand or do you need two?



Pekka

safe diving to you all

PS. off to Corwall tomorrow for some bass hunting... hopefully post pictures some day soon...

[Alison]

Hi Pekka
I used to use a piece of wire coat hanger straightened out but with a hook in the end, then when I found one in a hole I used to put the hook carefully in the hole without touching the lobster then tickle it from behind, they will then come out so you can get hold of it with your free hand. Low tide is best (because its not so deep ) anytime of day will do but early morning or late evening are the best times.
I still get the odd lobster but I dont go looking for them anymore, just if I see one I can get at I will grab hold of it, I prefer crab to be honest

[portinfer]

Ahh Pekka - you read my mind !

I was out yesterday looking for lobbos - was about to post your question...

I see alot of spider crabs, no shanker (brown crabs) and so far no lobsters - but there are alot in pots, so maybe that is the best place to look.

(I mean in the area of the pots - not in the pots ! Although....)

What habitat do they like, kelp and sand or rock and seaweed ? etc

Good luck - we will be on the same quest this week.

Ed

[Alison]

They live in small caves/holes in the rocks, thats where you'll find them during the day, usually their holes are at the bottom of steep rocks next to flat bottoms where there is some cover for them. Bottoms with sea lettuce are a good bet, but they are at any depth your likely to be freediving, I reckon 5 - 10 metres at low water is a good bet for biggish ones. Have a look for lobster pot bouys; those fishermen know where they are, just dont go too near the pots as there has been some animosity between divers and fishermen because of theft from the pots.

[Alison]

portinfer
Are there still Abalone in Guernsey? Last time I was there (1976) I saw a couple. Just curious

[bluecape]

Hi Pekka

I would guess that conditions for Lobster hunting is similar wherever you go, so here are a few things which I have learnt during the hunting season down here.
Firstly, listen for the 'crackle' on the reef. A lot of people believe that that is made by Lobsters and small crustaceuns, and certainly for me the loudest volume has generally been close to where I have found most Lobster. ( Sounds kinda like a fire crackling underwater.) You will eventually learn with experience where a good area is when you see it, you develop almost a '6th sense' about the lobster-area's.

Once you see them, if it's just antenna sticking out, best not grab for them, although I have on occasions SLOWLY moved my hand up and gently taking the end of both antenna, and pulled softly which allows the lobster to move out enough to grab at the carapis.

I find the best approach is to SLOWLY move your hand into position, ( within a foot), then strike fast and cleanly for the carapis, once you get it, hold hard. You need to be aggressive once you commit, otherwise he will slip out. If going into a cave, also strike fast, hard and push into the cave and grab, any small hesitation and he will be gone.

Last thing, if you are hunting shallow, add more weight. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to slowly get your hand in position for a strike, the lobster is nervous, your breath is going...and your ass is insisting on floating back to the surface !

Good luck !!

Jeff

[portinfer]

Alison - yes, but they are called "ormer" here and they can only be collected without any diving gear (ie with wellies and a long arm on a low tide).
There are only 2 or 3 ormering tides per year at all other times it is illegal to gather them - and the tides are in January / February normally ! Very very very hardcore hobby...

Jeff - I hear those crackles - thought they were from wrasse chewing up shells and so on - might try to pinpoint them.

(Sorry Pekka for hijacking your post I'll send you a lobbo when I get one ...maybe)

Ed

[Plymouth]

In the med, there is a large amount of crackling, and I a have concluded it is the sea urchins as there are thousands of them! You can here it at night through the hull of a yacht.

I also thought it was the wrasse crunching shells over here in the UK, but this is just an assumption of course.

[Shadowkiller]

Originally posted by Alison
portinfer
Are there still Abalone in Guernsey? Last time I was there (1976) I saw a couple.

Can anyone dive for Abs in England? Or do you need a license like here in Oz?

1976... 2 years before I was born....

[Alison]

Originally posted by Shadowkiller
Can anyone dive for Abs in England? Or do you need a license like here in Oz?

1976... 2 years before I was born....

Well aparently you can only gather them at low tide and by walking for them, I really dont know about a licence sorry Although I did prise one off the rock with my knife so I could try one as I'd heard so much about them; I didnt know I wasnt allowed! OOOOEEER!

Born in 1978! I was 18! Thats the year I started working, as a police woman can you believe! I HATED that job, now its no wonder I only lasted 18 months

[Cingene]

uh-oh, is everyone coming out for an age check?

[Nesim]

Hi every one. Down here in the persian gulf we get some BIG spiny lobstersm, not too sure about grabbing them with your bare hands ... 2 reasons,

1- far too strong and covered with spines
2- its too dangerouse, we have lots of sea urchins (the ones with 25cm spines) and Huge morray eels .. you really dont wana go sticking your arm in the rocks trying to grab them lobsters

I stopped hunting lobsters a while back, preffer freediving and hunting large sellective fish nowadays ....

in the past i would use a small gun, underpowered and actually shoot them between the whiskers .... i know it sounds crule but that was the only way

[Pekka]

Thanks guys!
Allison, thank you for your advice I might take some coatanger stuff wtih just in case.. and as we are talking about these things that dont swim, is it legal to gather scallops at any time.. my girlfriend likes them and I am planning on getting some for her next time.. Have seen many of them whilst diving..

I had my whole family over here and we did some diving, Tuomo met a seal while diving and I shot one bass..other than that the diving was quite uneventful..

portinfer, dont worry about taking over my post.. I have very little time to write stuff now.. I concentrate on diving as in UK it is now or never!

I'll be going to look for some lobsters soon..

safe diving to you all!

Pekka

[Alison]

NP
Yes as far as I know, Scallops are free picking at any time, I love the things Yummy!

[Shadowkiller]

These are Aussie Painted Lobster. The one in the centre went 3kg. The other 5 in the coral cave were left unmolested...