Gear

All About Gear

Definitions

Single pots: individual lobster pots

Pot trawls: lobster pot trawls where single pots are tied together in a series and buoyed at both ends.

East end: the part of the pot trawl extending from 01 through 180 [degrees] magnetic.

West end: the part of a pot trawl extending from 181 through 00 [degree] magnetic.

Groundline: the line connecting pots on a pot trawl.

Buoy line: lines connecting pots to surface buoys.

Sinking line: the line that has a specific gravity equal to or greater than that of seawater, 1.03, and does not float up in the water column.

Weak link: a breakable section or device that will part when subjected to specified poundage of pull pressure and, after parting, will result in a knotless end, no thicker than the diameter of the line, the so-called “bitter end” to prevent lodging in whale baleen.

How many traps can I set?

The Massachusetts Recreational Lobster Permit allows for 10 traps ONLY.

Can I use “Star” traps?

Open, collapsible wire traps, hauled by hand, such as the “star” trap, cannot be used to catch lobsters, but are legal for edible crabs.

Can someone else pull my traps?

Any immediate family member that resides in your household may pull your traps for you.

Trawls vs. Single Pots

A Recreational Lobster/Crabbing Permit allows for the use of pot trawls or single pots. Traditionally, Recreational Lobster Permit holders prefer to use single pots or two-pot trawls called “doubles”. Doubles shall be marked with a single buoy line.

Permit Number/Gear Markings

Recreational Lobster Permit Holders will now use a 5-digit permit number which will be the last 5 digits of your Customer ID number, located in the upper right hand corner of your renewal.

Anatomy of a Lobster Trap

1. Entrance Head: Mesh opening where lobsters enter the trap.
2. Kitchen: This is where the bait bag is placed to attract lobsters into the trap.
3. Parlor Head or Funnel: Lobsters use this mesh netting as a means out of the kitchen, assuming it’s a way out of the trap.
4. Parlor: Area where the lobsters end up after leaving the kitchen and traveling up the funnel. Most of the catch will be found in this part of the trap.
5. Escape Vent/Ghost Panel: Opening of designated size that allows sub-legal lobsters to escape the trap. The biodegradable materials used to attach the escape vent panel will allow the “ghost panel” to open if the trap has been lost or abandoned. This prevents the trap from continuing to fish after it has been lost/abandoned.

Gear Construction Requirements

Restrictions

It is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take lobsters or crabs by use of pots or traps without said pots or traps having the following features:

For more details please see http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/weaklink.pdf

Definitions

Single: one pot with a single buoy line attached.

Double: two pot string of traps with a single buoy line attached.

Triple: three pot string of traps with a single buoy line attached.

Sinking line: a line that has a specific gravity greater than that of seawater, 1.03, and does not float up in the water column.

Weak Link: breakable section or device that will part when subjected to specified poundage of pull pressure and after parting, will result in a knot-less end, no thicker than the diameter of the line, the so-called “bitter end”, to prevent lodging in whale baleen.

Abandon or dispose of at sea: to leave fixed gear in the water without hauling it at least every 30 days or in prohibited areas during prohibited periods.

Twin orange markers: a pair of identical orange flag-like strips of material that are clearly visible and attached to the buoy stick or high flyer.

Cape Cod Bay Critical Habitat Gear Rules

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered large whales in the world. Cape Cod Bay (CCB) is federally-designated as Critical Habitat for the species. Right whales return to this area each winter and spring to feed on the abundant zooplankton in the bay. To reduce the risk of entanglement in fishing gear in this important habitat, MarineFisheries requires compliance with strict seasonal gear restrictions during the time the whales are present.

January 1 – May 15

During the period of January 1st to May 15th, the following restrictions apply to all gear in the CCB Critical Habitat Area.

1. The use of single pots is prohibited. Fishermen may use either multiple pot trawls consisting of four pots or more or may set doubles or triples.
1. Multiple pot trawls shall consist of four pots or more with vertical buoy lines on the first and last pot of the trawl.
2. Double or triple pot trawls must have only 1 buoy line.
1. It is unlawful to fish double or triple pot trawls with more than one vertical buoy line attached.
3. All trawls must have twin orange markers or flags on each buoy. See definition above.
4. All trawls must have 500 pound weak links on each buoy. (See details above)
5. All trawls must have a 4 inch red marker midway on each buoy line. See details above.

May 16 – December 31

The following restrictions apply to all gear in the CCB Critical Habitat Area on a year-round basis.

1. All buoys must be outfitted with a 600-pound weak link. (See details above)
2. If fishing pot trawls, sinking groundline must be used between
   all traps.
3. Vertical buoy lines must be made of sinking line, except the bottom 1/3 portion, which may be floating line if desired.
4. All gear must have a 4 inch red marker midway on the buoy line. See details above.