Lobster Gear that SUCKS!!!

[UaVaj]

I recently bought these lobster gear:

Automatic Lobster Snare - The Equalizer - $65
Aquatic Specialties : EQUALIZER LOBSTER SNARE

and

Lobster - Inn - $40
Aquatic Specialties : LOBSTER BAG

and

Lobster - Guage - $1
INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS Plastic Lobster Diving Gauge


Here is my review.
While at the LDS. These gear mades sense. Even the video is convincing. The Equalizer Lobster Snare. On the water. These gear literally SUCKS!!!
Let me explain.

The snare - the internal rubber band which is the backbone of the snare is too weak to "HOLD ON TO" a decent size lobster.

The lobster bag - this bag is soo big it becomes a PIA to drag around. You could probably put 3 dozen lobster in this bag. The limit is 6 so a small bag would be more practical.

These item are going back to the LDS. Only thing I am keeping is the rubber florocent lobster measuring tool.



If anyone has had some good experience with these particular lobster gears. Loved to hear it. Also if you have any recommendation of better lobster gears. Let me know.

 

[captnstevo]

On recommendation of a few boat operators and the fish police, you are better off with a metal guage. The plastic ones can get scraped, gouged, or warp and be inaccurate. Although it may be a remote possibility, I would stick with the metal gauge.

As for the other gear, I use a small mesh and cloth bag with a rigid velcro enclosure on the top and it rolls up and velcros so that it is out of the way until you catch a bug. They make all cloth versions, but I prefer the mesh it helps immobilize the bugs.

As for capture gear, I stand behind the crooked tickle stick and net. Neither costs much and if you forget it on a boat or drop it, it's no big deal.

 

[UaVaj]

As for capture gear, I stand behind the crooked tickle stick and net. Neither costs much and if you forget it on a boat or drop it, it's no big deal.

I think you hit the nail on the head there.

The hardest part about lobstering is getting the bug out of their hole into the open. That = a small tickle stick where you can push under them without them noticing and tickling them from behind to get them to come out of their hole.

Once they are in the open. You have three option. (1) Snare, (2) Net or (3) Hand. Snare sucks becuase you have to get the snare around the tail - most lobster will feel the snare and will not let you do so with ease. Hand is fun but not exactly easy. So Net is probably the best "catch" alternative.

 

[White Knight]

I use a standard game bag and a metal measuring device when bug hunting. Everything else is a rip off. Like you said, the snare bags are big enough to put dozens of lobster in--get real, you'll be luck to catch a couple. A simple game bag of your choice works great.

 

[DennisS]

I have an equalizer and love it. I snap them with the equalizer and grab them with my other hand once they are in reach. The equalizer won't keep them captive by itself, you have to grab them as soon as you get them out of their hole.

Put the loop behind the lobster, get them to back up, snap em, yank them out and grab them. Use it to get them where you can grab them, not hold them with the equalizer. Pin them, don't let them dance around like the video. If you let them dance around like the video, they will escape. The time between snapping them and grabbing them should be about a second. Works like a charm

 

[Johnoly]

....Automatic Lobster Snare - The Equalizer - $65
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Also if you have any recommendation of better lobster gears. Let me know.

Different structure requires different gear. The deep ledge Stuart boys use a 7 foot rake, the short hole Deerfield guys grab by hand.

One thing I can say for most regular SE FL bug hunters is that most use the Oceanus Green looper.

 

[djtimmy77]

I use a DIY snare that I made . total cost is about $7. It works great.

 

[UaVaj]

I use a DIY snare that I made . total cost is about $7. It works great.

This post is worthless without pix.

If it is an (1) auto catching (equalizer) and (2) anti reverse locking (oceanus) snare. I will take one.

 

[Captain Larry]

My favorite catch bag is the Pinnacle Catch Bag. It is perfect size for our local limit of 6 bugs (28" x 21"). Plus it has a one-handed opening device, just squeeze the handle and the spring operated device opens the top so you can easily secure your catch.
The bag has a smooth nylon top so the bugs can't grab and block the opening like a pure mesh bag. It has a full length zipper across the bottom so you can easily dump your catch into the catch bucket on the boat. It also has a large fastener on the top and bottom so you can fold and latch the bag to a more compact size until you need to expand it for your catch. Easy to use with gloves.
It's a bit on the pricey side, but worth every penny. Comes in black, yellow, or blue.
Attached photo doesn't show bottom zipper very clear, and difficult to make out that the bottom half is mesh. The folded picture is with the bag folded approx 1/3 size with the latch snapped. It's difficult to see the latch because it's black, the white thin line is the price tag attachment.

https://00e31c0.netsolstores.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=111

 

[tmfdez61]

I bought exactly the same equip as UaVaj except for the plastic gauge, i agree metal is the way to go. The equalizer snare is fantastic and has paid for itself many times over. It allows for one handed operaion which is great in a heavy current. As for lobsters in a hole i put the tip in and open the loop once inside. As for the bag hey it's a mesh bag .... minimum drag ... and fits anything you catch... 99% off the divers i see on boats use it... works for me ... as with everything practice makes you better... will not trade it and actually i'm getting the repair kit for when needed.