Post by: singleshot12 on July 13, 2014, 10:34:21 AM
Post by: THunt on July 13, 2014, 10:38:50 AM
Post by: Southpole on July 13, 2014, 11:22:15 AM
Post by: 3nails on July 13, 2014, 11:29:48 AM
Post by: kidkodger on July 13, 2014, 09:41:20 PM
Post by: BsB on July 13, 2014, 10:41:12 PM
I know there are crab and even pot thieves but, i also snagged a pot in 200+ feet on my down rigger. The pot had less than 100ft of line and the just chicken bones and no crab AND no weight. I think this pot was pulled into deeper water by the tide. Maybe this happens to some instead of thieves?:yeah: My boss thought someone had stolen 2 of his pots come to find the tide had pulled them. WDFW recovered them when the tide went back out and called him about them.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Post by: gasman on July 14, 2014, 04:56:28 AM
I know there are crab and even pot thieves but, i also snagged a pot in 200+ feet on my down rigger. The pot had less than 100ft of line and the just chicken bones and no crab AND no weight. I think this pot was pulled into deeper water by the tide. Maybe this happens to some instead of thieves?
Yeah, that happens a lot but people don't realize it.
I have had my pillaged, stolen and swept away, so I know how they all make you feel.
Just this year, on my first outing in the South Sound, I set a pot, was getting ready to set the next and watched my bouy slowly sink dow, down, down...... Tried to grab it with a gaff but it went to deep, to fast :bash:
Current pushed it off the edge of a shelf and it slid right down to the dark deep blue sea........ :DOH: :DOH: :DOH: :DOH:
Post by: Skyvalhunter on July 14, 2014, 05:28:47 AM
Post by: 762Armo on July 14, 2014, 11:24:33 AM
Post by: WSU on July 14, 2014, 11:29:43 AM
I know there are crab and even pot thieves but, i also snagged a pot in 200+ feet on my down rigger. The pot had less than 100ft of line and the just chicken bones and no crab AND no weight. I think this pot was pulled into deeper water by the tide. Maybe this happens to some instead of thieves?
This is 98% of the issue where I crab at Nisqually. Lots and lots of current.
Post by: PolarBear on July 14, 2014, 11:37:09 AM
Post by: Netminder01 on July 14, 2014, 11:58:53 AM
I had previously dropped pots in the morning of days I fish but I hardly do that anymore because of how frequent pots go missing. I would encourage you to circle back on your pots or watch from a distance. I typically fish/crab between areas of Ballard to Mukilteo; some friends on Whidbey have shared some accounts of guys waiting for boats to drop pots and watch them motor off only to have their pots pulled within minutes of setting them.
I'd fish nearby keeping a watchful eye or simply hang out with friends while they soak if you have the time.
It really sucks but it's a fairly common occurrence.
Post by: WSU on July 14, 2014, 12:03:57 PM
I weight my pots to around 30-35 pounds. The current won't mess with them. We have had pots stolen at Nisqually that I know were not swept away. Even the WDFW guy says that it is a big issue. I set my pots a couple of hours before low tide with lines that are short enough to sink the buoy. At low slack the buoys are on top and ready to pull. This keeps prying hands off of them.
I agree it can be a problem. I just think often the problem is operator error.
Post by: CP on July 14, 2014, 12:22:34 PM
See page 136 of the regs:
Buoys must be constructed of durable material (no bleach, antifreeze, detergent bottles, paint cans, etc.) and must be visible on the surface at all times except during extreme tidal conditions.
.. Buoy lines must be weighted sufficiently to prevent them from floating on the surface.
All crab gear buoys must be half red and half white in color, and both colors need to be visible when fishing.
Post by: Gobble Doc on July 14, 2014, 12:31:57 PM
Post by: deltaops on July 14, 2014, 12:58:14 PM
Post by: seth30 on July 14, 2014, 12:59:36 PM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on July 14, 2014, 01:10:01 PM
Post by: RB on July 14, 2014, 02:01:32 PM
It is a pain but like bottom fishing it is the price a guy pays to fish, losing a pot is more expensive than losing a $10 jig, but if done right pots last for years. The worst experience I had was going out early one morning and as I approached the area a boat was taking off. I pulled up to my buoy started pulling and it did not feel heavy at all as it got closer I could tell it was empty. I pulled it into the boat and saw a suspicious object in my bait box as I opened it I found a partially eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
After that I found a new area that was better and had several years of no hassles, but in the last five years I have had my pots messed with again, but never stolen.
Post by: Come Get Some on July 15, 2014, 06:28:47 PM
Post by: Bookworm007 on July 15, 2014, 09:12:10 PM
Post by: brianmtsinc on July 15, 2014, 09:30:17 PM
Last year we had 1 pot stolen in quartermaster and actually saw the thieves do it!! :bash: :bash: We called the cops, chased them down until we could get their boat numbers only to find out the boat was stolen too!!
I am sure many are lost to tides and currents, but I know first hand many are stolen. It makes me believe that we need to start being more like Iran when it comes to thieves! You steal - you lose a hand!! Maybe it would deter some of these low lifes :bash: :bash:
Post by: DoubleJ on July 16, 2014, 07:00:50 AM
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on July 16, 2014, 07:45:05 AM
Post by: Encore 280 on July 16, 2014, 07:53:09 AM
Post by: scottcrb on July 16, 2014, 07:54:24 AM
Fix some fishing hooks to the top ten feet of your line. Facing up and down. That way when they go to pull it they get a hand full of barbed hooks. Either that or razors. Be the last pot they try to steal.Not a bad idea ,until I forget when pulling my pots up .
Post by: hunt_fish on July 16, 2014, 08:30:22 AM
I know there are crab and even pot thieves but, i also snagged a pot in 200+ feet on my down rigger. The pot had less than 100ft of line and the just chicken bones and no crab AND no weight. I think this pot was pulled into deeper water by the tide. Maybe this happens to some instead of thieves?
Definitely happens also, or if they put out their pots at low tide and somehow they disappear during high tide. I know we had that problem our first time shrimping then found it later on.
Post by: singleshot12 on July 16, 2014, 11:11:10 AM
As a scuba diver I find a lot of your lost pots and can tell you it gets deep fast out there, and that a lot of folks lose pots based on the quantity I find rusting away on the bottom.
Well of coarse there is derilect gear left over from the inexperianced careless recreational and commercial crabbers. But this thread is about the growing number of thieves taking crabs and pots :hello: It is happening and it is out of control.
Experianced crabbers know whether or not their gear is messed with by human hands.
We shouldn't have to guard our pots every minute. Over night soaks are history I guess until the scum that are robbing us get their Karma :dunno:
Post by: singleshot12 on July 16, 2014, 11:16:51 AM
They do rob pots in lwaco. A friend of mine had been doing well last weekend. He re-set, When he pulled them again all that was in them was juveniles and females. A couple of years ago a friend of mine watched a game warden rob some pots. When he was confronted he answered what are you going to do about it. Nothing happened to him. I think most are from current but some are robbed or stolen
Was the warden on or off duty? Big differance :)
Crap pot robbing is going on everywhere, seems to be a growing desease
Post by: DoubleJ on July 16, 2014, 11:31:16 AM
Fix some fishing hooks to the top ten feet of your line. Facing up and down. That way when they go to pull it they get a hand full of barbed hooks. Either that or razors. Be the last pot they try to steal.Not a bad idea ,until I forget when pulling my pots up .
Or until you're sued by the pot thief claiming he thought the pot was his and made an honest mistake and you injured him.
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on July 16, 2014, 07:14:49 PM
Im sure there are some real upstanding citizens stealing crab gear. :tup: I don't see anything coming of a suit. Most of these low lifes are gonna have extensive backrounds and a jury would probably not grant them squat. But it definitely should be considered before attempting.
Post by: bear hunter on July 16, 2014, 10:15:18 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on July 17, 2014, 07:16:31 AM
Post by: Encore 280 on July 17, 2014, 03:09:40 PM
Post by: gasman on July 17, 2014, 03:12:19 PM
I usually sit on my pots and don't leave them over night. I'm thinking though that I wanna screw with the thieves and put a cinder block or two on the other end of a buoy just for *censored*z and grins. :chuckle: I'd like to see the look on their faces when they pulled it up and no pot there! :chuckle: :chuckle:
Now that would be funny Larrry :tup:
Post by: vandeman17 on July 17, 2014, 03:29:01 PM
I usually sit on my pots and don't leave them over night. I'm thinking though that I wanna screw with the thieves and put a cinder block or two on the other end of a buoy just for *censored*z and grins. :chuckle: I'd like to see the look on their faces when they pulled it up and no pot there! :chuckle: :chuckle:
Now that would be funny Larrry :tup:
Need a sculpture of two hands giving the bird hooked to the buoy or something. Hook up a paint bomb like they do on cash at banks so when it comes up it blows up and everyone will know they are pot thieves. :tup:
Post by: GEARHEAD on July 17, 2014, 03:42:53 PM
Post by: Encore 280 on July 17, 2014, 04:49:40 PM
Post by: johnsc6 on July 17, 2014, 05:48:36 PM
I believe the vast majority of stolen pots are due to operator error. Not enough rope, don't know squat about tides, no depth finder, etc, etc. 11 years at it and I have never lost a single pot. I have a minimum of 50-75 extra feet of rope margin at all times. I've left them unattended the vast majority of times.:yeah:
Post by: bear hunter on July 17, 2014, 10:02:34 PM
:yeah: Sounds like you're dealing with a racist crab thief bear hunter :dunno: Also I think a lot of the thieves are just plain jelious and lazy. and they're too stupid to catch their own crab
Post by: lokidog on July 17, 2014, 11:00:25 PM
Danger razor blades in line below, do not pull!
If you can read this, I can see you in my rifle scope!
I've heard the biggest response when being confronted about stealing crabs is "no speaky english...." :dunno:
I talked to one guy on Lopez Is. that set his pots, rowed back to the dock and watched a half million dollar yacht pull his two pots and motor away, so it's not always the butt whipe in the little crap boat either.
I won't leave my pots during the day on the side of the island that has a State Park across from it, too many problems in the past, and these are people with big fancy boats, just lazy arses.
Post by: smdave on July 18, 2014, 02:56:10 AM
The one missing was the nicest of the 3.
Post by: Encore 280 on July 18, 2014, 06:45:59 AM
Post by: hookedonquack20 on July 19, 2014, 08:37:01 AM
Post by: Mfowl on July 19, 2014, 09:20:50 AM
Post by: PolarBear on July 19, 2014, 09:29:08 AM
Post by: seth30 on July 19, 2014, 12:57:45 PM
I've put these notices on a couple of my bouys:That is great info about the buoys!
Danger razor blades in line below, do not pull!
If you can read this, I can see you in my rifle scope!
I've heard the biggest response when being confronted about stealing crabs is "no speaky english...." :dunno:
I talked to one guy on Lopez Is. that set his pots, rowed back to the dock and watched a half million dollar yacht pull his two pots and motor away, so it's not always the butt whipe in the little crap boat either.
I won't leave my pots during the day on the side of the island that has a State Park across from it, too many problems in the past, and these are people with big fancy boats, just lazy arses.
Post by: singleshot12 on July 19, 2014, 01:26:15 PM
I just gave a guy his pot back yesterday that I found a drift in the middle of the Sound back on 4th of July weekend. While fishing the Kingston area yesterday we saw another pot drifting in nearly 300 fow. We would've grabbed it but we had the DR's down. Another boat in the same area snagged their DR on a pot in about 250 fow right in front of us. I agree with other poster's that most missing pots are operator error and not theft.
I'm sure there are plenty of lost pots due to carelessness but not sure if it is the majority. I would say most are stolen especially the last couple of years.
With that said the most prolific problem is the crabs being stolen from the pot.depending in what area you are in i suppose.
Post by: Stein on July 20, 2014, 06:38:41 PM
I don't know of a solution other than to watch your pots or get one of the time delay release things.
Seems to me that WDFW could spend some time busting these guys - they seem to have plenty of time to check licenses and punch cards for the legal guys. A sting wouldn't be very difficult to set up and they could probably clean out the pack pretty quickly once they start impounding boats.
Post by: lokidog on July 20, 2014, 07:52:27 PM
I have pulled about 6 pots this year that had the turkey bone or salmon head removed from the wire basket (and zero crabs in the pot) - don't know of any sea creatures that can pull that off. Luckily they reset my pot after dumping the bait and emptying it.
I don't know of a solution other than to watch your pots or get one of the time delay release things.
Seems to me that WDFW could spend some time busting these guys - they seem to have plenty of time to check licenses and punch cards for the legal guys. A sting wouldn't be very difficult to set up and they could probably clean out the pack pretty quickly once they start impounding boats.
:yeah:
The problem is that the mostly legal (unintentionally illegal) guys are the "easy" target and it would take too much work to go after the blatant law breakers. :bash:
Post by: smdave on July 20, 2014, 09:16:01 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2014, 09:59:21 PM
Post by: smdave on July 20, 2014, 10:08:10 PM
How do you know they didn't already see "who the milk jugs belonged too" earlier when you weren't looking and drove by again -when you were looking- to see if the jugs were still floating?
and they might have, I saw them come in from the north on the right talk with two boats by Saddle bag then motor off towards Anacortes. The milk jugs were further south by Hat Island. The jugs were still there when I left 3 hours later.
Post by: Stein on July 21, 2014, 03:34:30 PM
Post by: gasman on July 21, 2014, 03:48:26 PM
Using milk jugs is not legal, they should pull the pots and issue a warning or fine.
If they pull the pots, who do they issue a ticket to :dunno:
Post by: lokidog on July 21, 2014, 07:43:28 PM
Using milk jugs is not legal, they should pull the pots and issue a warning or fine.
If they pull the pots, who do they issue a ticket to :dunno:
Just saw that my comment didn't post... They should pull them and then auction off the pots/line if they are in decent condition. Even if they can't write a ticket, they should get it out of the water. If they want to still try to catch the person they could pull the trap, dump the bait, zip tie the gates shut, and toss it back in for "bait".
Post by: RB on July 21, 2014, 09:45:25 PM
:yeah:I have pulled about 6 pots this year that had the turkey bone or salmon head removed from the wire basket (and zero crabs in the pot) - don't know of any sea creatures that can pull that off. Luckily they reset my pot after dumping the bait and emptying it.
I don't know of a solution other than to watch your pots or get one of the time delay release things.
Seems to me that WDFW could spend some time busting these guys - they seem to have plenty of time to check licenses and punch cards for the legal guys. A sting wouldn't be very difficult to set up and they could probably clean out the pack pretty quickly once they start impounding boats.
:yeah:
The problem is that the mostly legal (unintentionally illegal) guys are the "easy" target and it would take too much work to go after the blatant law breakers. :bash:
So the WDFW has eyes on an area and your buddy has a couple pots out and a guy thinks hey I am gonna pull my buddies pot and leave him a couple good beers, take a couple crab then re-bait his pot. WDFW pulls up and you are busted cause it is not your pot and get a ticket and possibly more for messing with your buddies gear.
Post by: CP on July 22, 2014, 08:12:49 AM
Post by: h20hunter on July 22, 2014, 08:18:48 AM
:yeah:I have pulled about 6 pots this year that had the turkey bone or salmon head removed from the wire basket (and zero crabs in the pot) - don't know of any sea creatures that can pull that off. Luckily they reset my pot after dumping the bait and emptying it.
I don't know of a solution other than to watch your pots or get one of the time delay release things.
Seems to me that WDFW could spend some time busting these guys - they seem to have plenty of time to check licenses and punch cards for the legal guys. A sting wouldn't be very difficult to set up and they could probably clean out the pack pretty quickly once they start impounding boats.
:yeah:
The problem is that the mostly legal (unintentionally illegal) guys are the "easy" target and it would take too much work to go after the blatant law breakers. :bash:
So the WDFW has eyes on an area and your buddy has a couple pots out and a guy thinks hey I am gonna pull my buddies pot and leave him a couple good beers, take a couple crab then re-bait his pot. WDFW pulls up and you are busted cause it is not your pot and get a ticket and possibly more for messing with your buddies gear.
Last year I looked for Skillets pots every time I was out. If found I would have raided and left beers. He's a sneaky one...gives me just enough info to look for them but never did find them.
Post by: lokidog on July 22, 2014, 08:47:21 AM
:yeah:I have pulled about 6 pots this year that had the turkey bone or salmon head removed from the wire basket (and zero crabs in the pot) - don't know of any sea creatures that can pull that off. Luckily they reset my pot after dumping the bait and emptying it.
I don't know of a solution other than to watch your pots or get one of the time delay release things.
Seems to me that WDFW could spend some time busting these guys - they seem to have plenty of time to check licenses and punch cards for the legal guys. A sting wouldn't be very difficult to set up and they could probably clean out the pack pretty quickly once they start impounding boats.
:yeah:
The problem is that the mostly legal (unintentionally illegal) guys are the "easy" target and it would take too much work to go after the blatant law breakers. :bash:
So the WDFW has eyes on an area and your buddy has a couple pots out and a guy thinks hey I am gonna pull my buddies pot and leave him a couple good beers, take a couple crab then re-bait his pot. WDFW pulls up and you are busted cause it is not your pot and get a ticket and possibly more for messing with your buddies gear.
Last year I looked for Skillets pots every time I was out. If found I would have raided and left beers. He's a sneaky one...gives me just enough info to look for them but never did find them.
:chuckle: :chuckle:
Better not leave beers in mine, make it a fifth of Seagrams or at least some Mike's. ;)