Diving for American (Maine) lobster

[jrs_diesel]

I am getting my personal lobster license here in CT. You are allowed up to 10 pots, or catch by hand either free diving or SCUBA.

Naturally I will be SCUBA diving for them delicious crustaceans. My only problem is that I have never caught anything underwater that could fight back. I know you grab them from behind to avoid the claws. What about when they are in the catch bag, can they still pinch when they are in there?

Not wanting to lose any piece of my wetsuit.

 

[moregooder]

not much of a problem in the bag, can you use some form of a tool or stick to get them, I hunt spineys no claws but when you must use only your hands that tale can be fun.

 

[Dive Junky]

I am getting my personal lobster license here in CT. You are allowed up to 10 pots, or catch by hand either free diving or SCUBA.

Naturally I will be SCUBA diving for them delicious crustaceans. My only problem is that I have never caught anything underwater that could fight back. I know you grab them from behind to avoid the claws. What about when they are in the catch bag, can they still pinch when they are in there?

Not wanting to lose any piece of my wetsuit.

I doubt you will run into any of them with their back to the entrance of the hole. You gotta shove your hand in there real quick, grab them by the top of the head and yank 'em out. If you can pin their claws down in the process then more power to you.

I think the biggest trick is getting them in the bag. They like to spread their claws out to the side, open them up real wide, so you cant get the little buggers in there.

Oh yea, dont forget to stay away from that crusher claw. It doesnt move very fast but if you are too slow he will get you with it. Ouch!!!

 

[Dive Junky]

not much of a problem in the bag, can you use some form of a tool or stick to get them, I hunt spineys no claws but when you must use only your hands that tale can be fun.

Nope. Just your hands.

 

[oly5050user]

Nope. Just your hands.

agree with using only hands ..anything else and you would not be very successful..After you have one put in bag tail first...it really is no big deal..if you get pinched think what you are going to do to get even.

 

[cdreamer]

Remember to not pull them out by the claws or they will just pull off.

 

[wrekster]

I've had a few tail grabs here and there but for the most part you'll be fighting them head on. Finding them is half the battle. Usually you'll see their antenna sticking out of the hole or in a crevice inside a hole. You can't hesitate, if you do they'll simply take a few steps back and you''ll never reach em. So, jam you hand in there and try to get on top of the horn and pin it down. They dig their tail in the sand and puff up their claws to lock themselves in the wreck. If you just try pulling the body out and they do jam that horn in the top of the wreck you'll never get him out. I try to get enough of a hold on the body to turn the slightly so I can start working it out of the hole.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

What about shaking them violently if they lock up in a hole. I bug dive out here on the west coast for California spiney lobsters (no claws) and with these the thing is speed. You have to be really fast. But they lock up in holes just the same. If you try and pull them out by their antennas they just break off. So I was told that if you ever get a hand on them and they are in a hole locked up just shake the hell out of them for 10 seconds or so and they will be disoriented enough that they may loosen up and you can yank them out.
It may work with Maine lobsters too.

Do you guys wear leather work gloves like we do?

 

[Dive Junky]

What about shaking them violently if they lock up in a hole. I bug dive out here on the west coast for California spiney lobsters (no claws) and with these the thing is speed. You have to be really fast. But they lock up in holes just the same. If you try and pull them out by their antennas they just break off. So I was told that if you ever get a hand on them and they are in a hole locked up just shake the hell out of them for 10 seconds or so and they will be disoriented enough that they may loosen up and you can yank them out.
It may work with Maine lobsters too.

Do you guys wear leather work gloves like we do?

The only problem with the lobster out here is that if your hand is in the hole for ten seconds you better have them pinned to the bottom real good or they will get you. I have done it and gotten away with it but its not always the best plan.

We wear neoprene or dry gloves. I prefer neoprene when bug hunting. I wouldnt wanna risk my dry gloves on lobster claws or sharp metal wrecks.

 

[mark00020]

I usually let them clamp onto the tip of my finger to give them something to do while I drag them out, but I don't grab huge guys like that. The little guys don't pinch that hard.