first lobster. San Diego Bay - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Dail14 · 10-04-2014, 07:16 AM

Completed my first attempt at lobster last night at Shelter Island. Traps in at 7 and off the water at about 11. Got one lobster and two stingrays early on. The lobster was a five pounder at least so a good way to break the bug cherry. Now I was having an issue with my traps flipping over in the current. What is the best way to ensure the hoopnets stay right side up on their way down?

Saba Slayer · 10-04-2014, 07:28 AM

Leadmasters makes a 1 pound weight that is moulded to fit the outer hoop and it has a couple of holes at each end for the zip-ties to attach it.

I usually add two pounds when I'm hooping deep in S.M. Bay but you may want to add 3 or 4 pounds if the water is really flowing in the bay during a big tide change.
Some guys go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy some lengths of galvanized chain that fits the circumference of the hoop and then zip tie that to the inside of the outer hoop.
If it's shallow enough and the conditions allow, I give the net a quick lift and drop after it's hit the bottom, to make sure it's sitting flat down there.
Good Luck Hoopin'

baerclaws · 10-04-2014, 07:37 AM

Hi D14,
Good advice from Slayer.
I find if I keep my lines untangled, and drop relatively slowly, I don't have a problem, if I do hit something or the hoop twists, I can feel it.
IMO, even after cooking those large Bugs different ways they aren't as sweet, not to mention they are the largest brooders.
Good Luck, BC

Saba Slayer · 10-04-2014, 08:02 AM

After over two years of meeting with the DFW on the Lobster Advisory committee, I learned a few facts about our spiny friends...yes the big female bugs do produce a lot more eggs but they will only mate with the same size large males...a smaller male will be eaten or ignored...wheresas a smaller size female will mate with a larger variety in size and will mate more often. For that reason we made a slot limit a very low priority in any reg change discusions.
When you eat those big bugs I find its best to try not to cook the whole tail at once as the center is usually overcooked or undercooked...I like to use the bigger tails in stirfry recipes or other cooking methods where you chop the tail into smaller pieces so it cooks more evenly.

DESTROYER · 10-04-2014, 08:11 AM

Jim- You hit on the nose. We had a 6 lber last year and it was delicious. Being a chef does has it's advantages.

Another cheap method to weight your traps down is several metal links for a chain. We do 1lb on each side and zip tie them on. Good luck

Dail14 · 10-04-2014, 10:16 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I will likely go with the hoop heavies since those will likely work without adding tons of weight like the chains would. Hopefully with time I will be able to feel when it is flipped over. My eclipse net seemed to have this problem the most while myflat net never had an issue.

10-04-2014, 07:16 AM	#1
Dail14 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 123	first lobster. San Diego Bay Completed my first attempt at lobster last night at Shelter Island. Traps in at 7 and off the water at about 11. Got one lobster and two stingrays early on. The lobster was a five pounder at least so a good way to break the bug cherry. Now I was having an issue with my traps flipping over in the current. What is the best way to ensure the hoopnets stay right side up on their way down?

10-04-2014, 07:28 AM	#2
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,855	Hoop Net Heavies Leadmasters makes a 1 pound weight that is moulded to fit the outer hoop and it has a couple of holes at each end for the zip-ties to attach it. I usually add two pounds when I'm hooping deep in S.M. Bay but you may want to add 3 or 4 pounds if the water is really flowing in the bay during a big tide change. Some guys go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy some lengths of galvanized chain that fits the circumference of the hoop and then zip tie that to the inside of the outer hoop. If it's shallow enough and the conditions allow, I give the net a quick lift and drop after it's hit the bottom, to make sure it's sitting flat down there. Good Luck Hoopin' __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

10-04-2014, 08:02 AM	#4
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,855	Breeders ? After over two years of meeting with the DFW on the Lobster Advisory committee, I learned a few facts about our spiny friends...yes the big female bugs do produce a lot more eggs but they will only mate with the same size large males...a smaller male will be eaten or ignored...wheresas a smaller size female will mate with a larger variety in size and will mate more often. For that reason we made a slot limit a very low priority in any reg change discusions. When you eat those big bugs I find its best to try not to cook the whole tail at once as the center is usually overcooked or undercooked...I like to use the bigger tails in stirfry recipes or other cooking methods where you chop the tail into smaller pieces so it cooks more evenly. __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

10-04-2014, 07:37 AM	#3
baerclaws Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 72	Hi D14, Good advice from Slayer. I find if I keep my lines untangled, and drop relatively slowly, I don't have a problem, if I do hit something or the hoop twists, I can feel it. IMO, even after cooking those large Bugs different ways they aren't as sweet, not to mention they are the largest brooders. Good Luck, BC

10-04-2014, 08:11 AM	#5
DESTROYER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "The Table" Posts: 976	Jim- You hit on the nose. We had a 6 lber last year and it was delicious. Being a chef does has it's advantages. Another cheap method to weight your traps down is several metal links for a chain. We do 1lb on each side and zip tie them on. Good luck

10-04-2014, 10:16 AM	#6
Dail14 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 123	Thanks for all the advice. I will likely go with the hoop heavies since those will likely work without adding tons of weight like the chains would. Hopefully with time I will be able to feel when it is flipped over. My eclipse net seemed to have this problem the most while myflat net never had an issue.