Lobster Diving Techniques

[seaducer]

lobster men with shotguns? Are you serious!

Where do you buy a measuring gauge and tickle stick and catch bag?

It may be rumors and stories, but I have heard of divers surfacing to some unhappy looking dudes with guns. Also, I have read newspaper accounts of lobster fisherman who have shot at each other for raiding each others pots. I have no doubt if these same goons thought you were raiding their's they would open fire right on you.
edit- that is not to say all lobstermen are goons, just the ones that shoot at each other...

Gauges and bags you get at your LDS. A tickle stick you can make. But really, if you don't have the stones to pull em out of their holes with your hands, you don't get any

BTW sticks are illegal in some areas, so make sure you know the laws in both the waters you dive as well as dock in.

 

[terrillja]

lobster men with shotguns? Are you serious!

Protected by law in MA. You can defend your pots by use of force. Don't want to mess around with lobstermen.

 

[DandyDon]

Oh if you don't do well, call 1-800- 796-3189 for next day deliver.
Lobster Tails - Live Lobsters - Maine Lobsters - Lobster Delivery

 

[crlavoie]

Could anyone share their techniques for catching LOBSTER. I'm a recently OW certified diver from Massachusetts. A group of us are planning to go diving for LOBSTER this summer and I would like to know if there are any tips or tricks to catch the "bugs" that you could share.

These are the LOBSTERS with the CLAWS.

I am not asking for your dive sites,(though you could PM me on those) LOLOL

Thanks Dave

Unfortunately, there are absolutely NO lobsters in Mass waters. There are even less than that in and around Cape Ann. However, in theory, if you were to find yourself in an area with a rocky topography with 15-40 FSW, you will learn how to spot lobster homes very quickly. Personally, I don't use tickle sticks but that's just my preference. However, there are regulations to the dimensions of such sticks so be sure to do your homework when you get your license if you choose to go that route.

There are a handful of techiques that can be used to varying degrees of success. In truth however, they all start with one thing in common. That is sticking your hand into a hole in which you can not see and that is occuppied by a well armed individual that is programmed only to eat and defend it's space. Once you get bit (and you WILL get bitten) you'll start to figure things out like pinning their claws down and working your way down to the tail. Once you're there, it's all over. Also, be sure to have a buddy close by when you're going in after a big one so they hear you scream like a school girl at a Hannah Montanna concert when the bug gets hold of your fingers. It's really special and not to be missed.

Check out PG Dive's home page. Matt Silvia wrote a great article on Lobstering for them. It's also been posted in the New England Lobstah Divahs forum.