MailleMarine

I'm planning to get an RI rec lobster permit for the season and need some traps, up to 5. Anyone have decent used setups? Know where to get some inexpensive new?

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Scup

Let us know how you make out this season for lobsters. Last year, I gave up pulling lobster pots by July as it was too much work and expense for what I was getting. I did not even make my $62 back. Would have been better if I just purchased them. The first thirty pots I pulled, more or less, I only caught three keeper lobsters over a period of about two weeks. Even then, one of them was a useless mushy watery kind that I should have not even taken. The professional lobstermen bitch and moaned last year about very poor catches. What really surprised me was the total absence of lobster pots at Latimers Reef last fall. Something is very wrong with this fishery right now, and I do not have a clue as to what the real underlying problems are.

MailleMarine

I keep hearing catches were terrible but one of my friends did great around here. I figure I'll get a holding pen. I'm not expecting all that much but a few here and there would be fun. I used to free dive for them at night, which was a ton of fun but there are so many small ones. I figure traps are less work than that. I don't like to purchase any seafood if I can avoid it. I'd actually rather spend a few more bucks and try for them myself.

I appreciate the feedback.

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CaptDom

A-1 condition, used one season only, will need new vents to comply. Ketchum made 4 brick traps, single setup with harbor length warp and buoy.

$40 without warp and buoy, $50 with. Let me know if you are interested.

I also have some in so so shape, nothing on them, $25.00 each

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CAPT. DOM PETRARCA
COASTAL CHARTERS SPORTFISHING
NEWPORT, RI (401)-862-0358
www.coastalcharterssportfishing.com

Scup

I just thought of a place that I go to quite often in Wakefield Rhode Island:
Industrial Marine Marketing
401 782-4412

Basically they sell to commercial interests, but should you need any kind of traps or pots for Rhode Island waters, they will have it. They will sell to anyone, even if you need just one pot. However, I am sure the commercial guys get a better deal since they are purchasing in quantity. Still, their prices are reasonable and you can check out their products by running your hands over them (I do not like sharp wires sticking out anywhere.) The reason I mentioned commercial interests is much of their stuff is meant to be used with a hauler. They sell what has been known to work well, and the smaller recreational traps, while easier to haul by hand, sort of suck when it comes to catching lobsters. The bigger commercial traps work much better. If you do not fish them in a strong current area, they are not that bad to haul by hand as you will not have to put in all four bricks in them to prevent walking (three or sometimes two bricks might be OK.)
Take your wallet with you when you visit this warehouse as it is almost impossible to walk through it and not buy something you had not even thought about. For example, they sell two different sizes of white plastic tubs (about 15 to 20 gallons) with a cover and a locking plastic ring to keep the waterproof cover on at three for $10. You just have to match the covers with buckets and locking rings which is not all that easy to do as several times I had come home with mismatched sets .

I have also purchased traps from Ketcham Trap company (the ones Capt Dom has) and they make a very good trap as well. One year old trap is essentially new, as they should last a least a decade if you do not store them on the ground in the off season. The thing that has messed up my traps is I do not clean them out very well at the end of the season and rodents eat up the mesh which retains the smell of the bait. Another reason for purchasing commercial pots is unless you wish to take up weaving your own funnels, you will find it very hard to get replacement netting for the smaller recreational traps. I do not know of anybody that weaves nets anymore since Brown (a famous local pot maker) died three years ago.

Do not ask me how to get to this place! I have to take my wife to find it. I am just terrible at directions so if you decide to visit them, call first for directions.

MailleMarine

Thanks Scup. All great points to consider. That's what I love about this forum. Information. Knowing where to get those containers is great. If they are clean I might get some for wine making. I can't see myself weaving very well so I'll keep that in mind.

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74Formula233

Those white tubs are great for all kinds of uses, I have a couple myself.

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Scup

I am not sure if you would want to put wine in them? The label states "PTFE" (whatever that is) plus it has all kinds of warnings on it. They clean up just fine, but I use them for tools, garden supplies, cat liter, and of course, lobster bait.

MailleMarine

Yeah I'd avoid it unless it was food safe.

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74Formula233

And shark chum

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