gathering and setting traps/lines

[MartinTee]

I'm off to the highlands of Scotland in a month again and this time will be taking 2lobster pots and other than spearing what else can i do? I was thinking of putting a line down a few yards long with hooks and bait for the night.

How else should I approach the pots or other ideas as I'm very new to gathering food from the ocean. I do know about returning certain catch regards lobster sizes and sex and fish.

 

[StuR]

I don't know anything about lobster pots. But you would be wise to steer well clear of setting lines (night or day). It's a fairly indiscriminate way of catching marine life and as such you have no real control over what you may catch. The fish will almost always swallow the hook so they are as good as dead. Also you run the risk of a seal or other larger predator taking the hooked fish. They can break a line and end up swallowing the hooked fish, line and all. I wouldn't bother.

 

[MartinTee]

StuR, that sounds like very wise advice that I will definately act upon! I have seen a lot of seals and other wildlife so won't bother with that idea.

Also, out of interest, where abouts in West Yorkshire are you? As I'm in Leeds and am looking for a freedive/apnea buddy.

 

[StuR]

Hi Martin.

I'm based just outside Keighley. I've only just joined the forum and although I used to spearfish while living abroad. I've yet to do any in this country. I'm just getting my gear together at the moment. (thats why I couldn't advise on the lobster pots). But As soon as im sorted I will give you a shout.
I've done a bit of sea fishing, my brother is really into it. He has found a few set lines over the years. His dog got hold of one at low tide, someone had obviously forgotten it!

 

[MartinTee]

You're in a good area to meet up with others, I know about 5 people through freediving who live in Manchester/Sheffield who go spearing weekly and some of them are on this forum.

I'll see you in the water soon!

 

[Yoda]

Hi Martin I started spearing in Portland while I was working there but I live in Leeds could you ask could you ask the people you know where the best and nearest
Place is to do some spearfishing

 

[MartinTee]

Hi Yoda, awesome to hear about the spearing.

A few of the local freedive club go to North Wales but that is quite far from this part of England. I have never done any spearing/gathering or used pots outside of the highlands of Scotland but I have done a bit of snorkelling around Flamborough head so would recommend this. The water is lovely around there and I have seen fishermen on the coastal paths so there must be something?

 

[Mr. X]

Hi Martin, how did you get on in Scotland?

 

[MartinTee]

Hi Mr X, very well thankyou!

I did about 4 dives with a lobster pot which was given to me by a local. It was old and battered but he fixed it up like new for me for free.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...1123603285231_1040285318_n.jpg&size=1000,1500

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...01123605965298_600950084_n.jpg&size=1000,1500

I used mackarel that my mum had had in the freezer for months, let it thaw and put it in to the lobster pot on the first day. It was about 40 metres out from the shore, about 7m deep at low tide within a small sandy area within some huge rocks and kelp so that I knew exactly where it was. I did use a milk bottle to see it's where abouts from the shore but I know that place like the back of my hand now having dived there hundreds of times.

The first day gave me about 10 crabs but I weren't after them, brown crabs and velvet crabs mostly. I managed to get a couple of brown crabs over the four days, they were huge, hopefully this image works for you. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...1123604765268_2141459319_n.jpg&size=1500,1000

I returned all crabs a couple of times at the shore as huge jellyfish blooms came through exactly as I was getting the pot and dissapeared just as quickly. Couple of times I simply lifted it up from the surface, to check if there where any lobster. I managed to release all the crabs after a few minutes of work at the surface but it was funny finding others had swam back to me after getting dropped from 7m up, I did place a few back down at the bottom in small cracks in the rocks.

Here is a picture of the only lobster I caught https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...1123879252130_2094157274_n.jpg&size=1500,1000

It was female so I returned it but it was incredible finding it in the pot with the other crabs. Next time I'm up in June/July I'll be doing it all over again to hopefully get some more lobster and will be taking up a speargun too as I saw some trout on a 2 mile open water swim chasing small fishies.

All in all a very educational experience.

 

[Mr. X]

Excellent. Yes I can see the pics - but if you use the editor's image feature (the little square icon/button with the silhouette a mountain), it will display on the page.

Hadn't thought of taking a gun dog in with me

Might be worth trying wrasse or limpets as bait

 

[tonyeynon]

Nice Crabs mate! They would have been in my pot lol