Artificial Reefs/LobsterPots and Gear

[EarleyBird]

FYI, here is a attached link for those who want to comment on the removal and or to remain Lobster fishing gear and pots on N.J. Artificial Reefs. I for one want them removed. They interfere with drift fishing and trolling. I ran on over Oct. 25 this past year @3am and had to be towed back to Manasquan t cut off 100 ft.of black poly and a black painted buoy. Hazard to safe navigation. One day left to comment. EarleyBird

https://mrmtc.us4.list-manage.com/track ... 2606521f4b

[Tony Meola]

Sent in my comment.

How far off were you when you wrapped up the prop?

Creates a dangerous situation, bad enough 90 miles offshore, which just about forces someone to go into the water to try and free the rope. But inshore, raises the chances that someone will wrap up and someone will get injured or killed trying to unwrap their prop.

[EarleyBird]

When this happened, shade over 3 miles and like I said 3am. I have gone swimming to free my running gear 3 other times. Latest, 2 years ago 53 miles off in 58 degree water. After assessing this situation we called for a tow. To end after cutting this black painted pot buoy,with 100 feet of black poly it was the right decision. Luckily it was only 3 miles. Back off the travel lift, ran 64 miles and a 13 year old 75 pound young man caught 8 BFT,his first ever.

[Carl]

Used to be a run out to the Mud Hole before I'd start seeing pots...for me that was a good 15-20 mile and 5-6 off Jersey.
Last year they were all over off the channel by the VZ bridge and Fishing by the Sandy Hook...I came across quite a few more.
Apparently I am pretty good at catching them too!

At least the commercial guys offshore always ran nice high flyers...off the hook it reminded me of my last trip up the LI sound...coming out of a cove head on into some nice snot I look to my right as I climbed up the crest of a nice tight wave and saw a Clorox bottle tied off sitting a foot or two under the water...that was enough for me, turned and went back in...not the place and time to be getting caught up in pots.

Yeah...lets get them out of here OR at the very least well marked...and not in Black.

[Tony Meola]

Carl

You are right should be a regulation to use a high flier on any pot. Dam, cutting Barnegat Bay to the inlet from where I am in Forked River can be a challenge due to the dam crab traps with colored bottles that blend right in especially if there is a chop on the water.

Off shore there is no excuse. Probably not commercial pots, probably individuals setting pots. Most of the commercial guys use High Fliers.