Dive Flag with lobstah numbahs?

[ClassAction]

Can anyone recommend a good setup for displaying your lobster licence numbers on your dive flag? I had the yellow ("diver below") inner tub with flag on top, but it just ripped pretty badly. (I always hated it anyway). Is the basic cheapo flag on a pole the way to go? Also, what's the deal with hanging the white (card?) from it with multiple lobster license numbers? In the past, I just wrote my numbers across the white part of the flag. Thanks.

 

[Spectre]

The white part seems to be common. You could make a numbers 'flag' to crimp or zip tie on. The flags on the yellow 'lobster buoy' with the weight on the end of the stick seemed to work well with me.

In regards to the numbers though... I had my numbers on my tank for one season, well.... half of a season. they didn't stay on. I've never had my numbers on my flag; but I've always had my license in my car. I got 'inspected' almost every dive and I've never had an issue.

 

[LobstaMan]

Three suggestions:

1) Go with the cheaper set-up(buoy w/ flag), less expensive to replace when something breaks, which it always does.
2) Don't write or stick your numbers on your tank/s. Get a small plastic placard & attach it to your tank w/ velcro(I bought one at PG Dive recently for $6)and then either write or stick your numbers on it. That way you can place it on any tank you'd like.
3) I have always wrote my number on the white part of the dive flag in indelible ink. Don't bother w/ stickers, they'll just fall off. Don't worry about anybody else's numbers, either. Your number on your flag is good enough. I might try to use a small plastic placard & attach it to the dive flag pole next time instead of writing the numbers on the white stripe.

...just my two cents

LobstaMan

 

[keelhaul123]

Can anyone recommend a good setup for displaying your lobster licence numbers on your dive flag? I had the yellow ("diver below") inner tub with flag on top, but it just ripped pretty badly. (I always hated it anyway). Is the basic cheapo flag on a pole the way to go? Also, what's the deal with hanging the white (card?) from it with multiple lobster license numbers? In the past, I just wrote my numbers across the white part of the flag. Thanks.

My setup is the ultimate cheapo. I took an plastic milk crate...the kind that are always piled up near convenience stores...put an old tire inner tube around it, and attached a dive flag to that. It doesn't come any cheaper and its handy to have the crate for putting things in....i.e., spare weights if needed.
I think "technically" from reading the lobster regs you are supposed to have your license number on a placard of 12"x12", but like everyone else I just printed them on my flag. So far no complaints from the Bug Police.

 

[Soggy]

Three suggestions:

2) Don't write or stick your numbers on your tank/s. Get a small plastic placard & attach it to your tank w/ velcro(I bought one at PG Dive recently for $6)and then either write or stick your numbers on it. That way you can place it on any tank you'd like.

Or just ignore this totally irrational and unenforced part of the regulation I've been checked a bunch of times. They just don't care about your tanks being marked.

 

[ClassAction]

Can anyone describe a run-in with the EP? Do they just check your license, measure your bugs, and off they go?

 

[LobstaMan]

Soggy-

They don't check the tank numbers? I've never been checked by the EPOs but maybe I'll dump the tank numbers altogether.

LobstaMan

 

[Soggy]

Soggy-

They don't check the tank numbers? I've never been checked by the EPOs but maybe I'll dump the tank numbers altogether.

LobstaMan

I've had an EP help carry my catch bag and flag for me. Neither me nor my buddy had numbers.

I dunno, YMMV, but I just don't worry about it. I have useful information on my tanks, like my initials, so my dive team can identify me underwater.

 

[Spectre]

They don't check the tank numbers? I've never been checked by the EPOs but maybe I'll dump the tank numbers altogether.

I can't think of a time that I've -not- been checked by the EPOs... they like to follow me around; probably the New Hampshire plates. I've never had any issue and I've only had my lobster license in my car; no numbers on my flag or tanks [well, not after the first season when they all got trashed].

 

[krustykrab]

Hmmm...

The last time I was checked they did specifically look at the tanks and flag because they gave us a little bit of a hard time as my buddy and I were using one flag (mine) with only my number on it. They let it go, but did mention it - that we either needed both #'s or to carry 2 flags.

The time before that was by the Rockport police, not EP, and they didn't really have much of a clue - didn't check tanks, flag, or LICENSE... but asked if they could borrow my lobster gauge... to check my lobsters!!! :06: