Setting Traps

Here's a little video clip that I took yesterday on my camera. This video shows our normal routine when we're setting lobster traps at the beginning of the season. We are still fishing them in pairs, so you will see us getting two traps ready on the rail at a time. It shows you the perspective of the VHF radio on an average day on the boat (the black spiral cord on the left is to the radio and was unavoidable). :) Cap gave me permission to post this on my blog.

Here' s a little summary of what you're seeing:

I carry the lead trap forward from the stern and set it on the rail. I open the trap, string 3-4 sheepshead heads (speared through the eyes with the bait iron) on the bait line, close the trap and secure it with a cable tie. Then I undo a coil of rope, set it on the deck, and throw both ends on top of the trap as an indication that they need to be tied. Meanwhile, Cap is tying the sink rope end of that coil to the buoy with a fisherman's bend. I bring the tailer trap forward, set it on the rail, open it and remove the tailer warp (blue rope). Cap ties the other end of the coil to the bridle of the lead trap and then ties the tailer warp to the first coil (connecting the two traps). I bait the tailer and start to bait the irons for the next pair while Cap finishes tying knots. We both turn our traps on the rail in preparation for setting them. I enjoy the scenery and the warmth of the sun while Cap drives around for a bit scanning the depth and looking at the contours of the bottom on his depth finder. Cap yells "Yep, go ahead!" and I roll my trap off the rail. (This might look simple, but it took me quite a while last fall to get the hang of it.) I finish baiting the irons, while the line whizzes off the stern and Cap slides his trap off the rail. He is watching the line to make sure it doesn't tangle as it is let out (that's why he picks it up and holds it). I bring the next buoy and coil forward for the next pair and off we go again!

Our routine for preparing the second pair is a little different in that I tie the knots. I did this because Cap was still scheming where he wanted to set. Our sequence might vary a bit depending on where we're at. We just do what needs to get done at any given time. And there's always something that needs to get done!

Generally we've been setting loads of 50 traps (25 pair) at a time. That's the number of traps that fit comfortably, standing up on end, on the deck. Most fishermen lay them down and stack them high. More traps will fit on the stern when they are stacked that laying down, but they are not as stable in rough water. Cap likes to know that they are secure and not worry about whether they are going to fall off the stern, regardless of the weather. It is also easier for me when the traps aren't stacked really high. I'm not that tall, if you didn't notice!

My next goal is to take a video of us hauling traps, probably from the same vantage point. Stay tuned!