ways to avoid crab pot theft...

[The Quadfather]

I thought once I had heard someone on here mention that in an effort to avoid having their pots stolen, that they would use the nastiest old dirty looking buoy, instead of a nice fresh one from the store??
Is this true? Has anyone else felt like this technique has caused for less times having your catch or your pot stolen?

I had one go missing last year, and I use ones that are rebar and made pretty well, so I was bummed to not find it.

[big fish lite line]

I've heard of one way is to write in sharpie "if your reading this you are being watched through the scope of a 30 06" only works around populated places

another probably more affective way is to use these zinc things that you shorten your rope with and after 24hrs the zinc rusts and your buoy floats up

[fishnislife]

I've heard of one way is to write in sharpie "if your reading this you are being watched through the scope of a 30 06" only works around populated places

another probably more affective way is to use these zinc things that you shorten your rope with and after 24hrs the zinc rusts and your buoy floats up

I like the first one. :thumleft:

Never heard of the zinc idea but it sounds pretty ingenious. Expecially if your wanting to soak pots for that long.
My family has always used beat up ones, not because of the theft problem but because they are just so used and old. Some pots get pulled some get stolen. We have had a couple come up missing over the years and there is just nothing you can really do. A bright shiny new bouy probably would call more attention to itself. You just have to play the game. Either watch your pots or take the chance.




fishnislife

[Dave]

Either way, the pots will either be stolen or robbed of the crab waiting for you in the morning. I never leave them alone anymore.

[A9]

Put yourself in the shoes of a pot thief: What are you going to look for if you are trying to steal a crab pot?

Probably the one with the brand new flag on the pole type buoy that looks like it was just picked up along with a whole new $100 crab trap at Boaters World. These are usually targeted first, and crooks will probably pass on the old, crusty, nasty buoys. I still use the standard red/white buoy to stay legal, but spray it good with flourescent green spray paint to make mine stand out from the dozen other red/white crab buoys and look less "nice/new"

My neighbors throw their buoys on the pavement and put a nice layer of black spraypaint on theirs. Works for them, mine works.

I'm lucky enough to crab in a spot where only the locals on the beach crab. It isn't a great crabbing spot, hence typically very few pots out there (tons on opening weekend, usually a dozen at a time after that) But I can see the need at some spots to stay around your pots. It would suck, but pack a rod or two and try fishing while you are waiting.

I hate to say it, but I might avoid the first few days of crab season. It's usually just a mess of pots and we usually lose one every time during the first few days of the season. Not worth it, crabbing is usually awful at this time, thus I may just avoid it. Who knows, fresh dungeness crab is just too tempting, might have to drop a pot or two....

Crab pot theft is just part of the game. Too bad, but it's just what the world is coming to and the way some people are. What really irks me is when thiefs are just after crab...They take the crab, and proceed to dump the pot in deep water, thus burying it forever. I don't care if you take a few crab from me, karma will roll around or I'll catch you eventually, but leave my pot in the same spot and I likely wont know. Crabbing in the PS has gone downhill so much in recent years, it's not uncommon to have skunked pulls....

[Gisteppo]

Crappy floats are the ticket. We use whatever worthless piece of plastic will float at the end of the rope. Guys that steal pots aren't as interested in our old ratty floats as they are one of those new razoo floaters with the flag and gps beacon.

On zincs:

Remember that the zinc requires a positive AND negative to begin their electrolysis. This means that you are using either the lead in your line or the metal in your pot as the other electrode. This will create a small charge in the water, which has been known in the past to repel crab. Guys build pots with only one metal (only mild steel or only stainless, never mixed) specifically to prevent any sort of charge from developing. Test it out with some other non-zinc'd pots to be sure you aren't reducing your crab count.

The Thumb and I do most of our crabbing in a small out-of-the-way place during some of the worst weather of the year. Nobody wants to be out in it even for their own pots, so theft is pretty minimal.

Also consider switching to much heavier pots. If it feels like it is buried on the first tug, some poachers might just skip your pot.

E

[racfish]

I know in strong tidal areas off Bainbridge for instance ,if you drop your pot in 70 ft of water using 100 ft sinking line that your set up will drift out deep and submerge.Or even drift with the current.I just stay close to mine and keep an eye out.