Carpet Bombers

[DwayneJ]

So a trip out to Catalina for two night dives to catch lobsters - We planned to dive one of the rocks. Some fishermen had carpet bombed the rock with traps everywhere - As we approached the rock we attempted to slip in between the traps with at least 20 feet either side of the boat between two traps. The fishermen became very aggressive and we immediately left.

Picked up a nice bucket of lobsters from another site. Other than arriving before they laid their traps, do we have any recourse?

Dwayne

 

[Tailchaser]

What do you mean by recourse... If you mean can you dive there if you get there before they do? It is an open ocean and you can go where ever you like as long as its a legal take zone. The battle between hoopnetters and divers is a nasty one and my advice to you is respect them and hopefully they will do the same. When we are in an area that has hoop netters I try to stay far enough away from the hoops so there is no confusion about where my bugs are coming from.

 

[DwayneJ]

I try to stay far enough away from the hoops so there is no confusion about where my bugs are coming from.

As in our case last night, the hoopers basically configured the site to be inaccessible to divers.

 

[Tailchaser]

As in our case last night, the hoopers basically configured the site to be inaccessible to divers.

I hear you on that... the few situations that I have had like that have been on a breakwall. we would work the inside where the hoopnetters could not but then your only talking 8-10'. I let them know that I know they are there and make it clear that I am not picking out of their net.

Its a tough call that you would have to make per situation, you never know who is going to mess with you.

 

[DwayneJ]

I actually find hoop netting quite funny for the futility of it. The few times I have come across hoops sitting on the bottom, I have seen them empty. I get a real laugh when I catch a few good sized lobsters from the surrounding landscape.

Recently saw two hoop netters fighting between themselves, one boat started playing "chicken" racing towards the second boat and veering away at the last minute. No one got hurt but we did not dive until the antics were over. I guess futility breeds frustration and anger.

 

[fnfalman]

Not that I know anything about it, but Smith&Wesson makes a 4" .460 Magnum stainless steel revolver that can literally take out a full grown African elephant. Perfect for Great White encounter or aggressive fishermen.