lobster hunting

[marty25]

I want to catch lobster! I am a newbie to diving. I got certified last may and I have only been out a few times so I lack experience in finding and catching lobster. I have already purchased my lobster license for this year although I probably won't start diving until april or may. Any tips or suggestions would be great!
Thanks in advance

 

[WetBoy101]

Buy TWO good lights, and find ONE good dive partner!! Happy Bug Hunting!!

 

[yakdiver1]

Forget about buying lights for lobster diving in Mass. This would be a waste of money.

You must have a few things only.
1. Mass recreational Lobster permit. This can be bought online.
2. Catch bag.
3. Lobster gauge. I recommend getting two. One gauge that is made of stainless steel and only gauges for small. There is one specific kind which rarely gets caught on your bag. Most good lobster divers use this gauge. Also you want another gauge with the too big gauge on it. Most experienced guys have this gauge also to be used when needed but not as accessible as the other gauge that you will use often.

Suggested... 5mm Kevlar gloves. Rubber bands and bander.

I would not use a tickle stick to start. The fewer pieces of equipment to confuse and stress you the better. Just grab the lobster with your hand. Even with a stick you still need to use your hands to grab the lobster. I have tried a stick and do not use it. I have better luck without but many of my dive buddies do use a tickle stick.

Also, you mention starting in April or May. You can start then but there are no(very few) lobster until late June early July. Our lobster are migratory and do not come into the shallow waters until this time frame and they leave when the water gets cold.

Last tip, join a dive club. You can dive with a club and lobster with many of the experienced people in the club. I recommend South Shore Neptunes out of Quincy but there are other great clubs as well. www.southshoreneptunes.org

 

[Knotoncall]

I agree with Yakdiver on most points except the light and the stick. I get more bugs when I use a light. The stick will let you build confidence before sticking your hand in a hole as a new diver, once you are comfortable then you can loose it. Definitely get gloves, but they don't absolutely need to be kevlar, that being said the kevlar may hold up better.

The best piece of advice is to find a buddy that does it often, and preferably has a boat! Dive where the traps are, (those guys know where the lobsters are) but don't touch them and be respectful (they work too hard for their money).
Have fun!

 

[BoltSnap]

Forget about buying lights for lobster diving in Mass. This would be a waste of money.

Why don't you recommend lights for lobster diving? Wouldn't it be easier to us them to see better under the rocks and lobster hiding places?

 

[yakdiver1]

In answer to the lights question...

My opinion is, that using the light is a waste. When lobster hunting you need to sneak up on the lobster and stick your head into the hole and grab the lobster. You can see the lobster with your eyes and do not need the light. You want to be able to move quick and either grab the lobster or move on. You do not want to waste time fiddling with your light. I can pretty much guarantee, if you lobster dive as much as I and my buddies do, if you use a light you will just lose it and not buy another one anyway(at least not for lobster diving). I will catch a lot more lobsters than the guy wasting his time shining his light all over the place. also, anytime you use the light you have to dig it out using at least one hand to shine the light and then put it away. Way too much hassle when trying to catch lobster.

There are different types of divers, the ones with gear all over the place and the ones that catch lobster. The ones that catch lobster are usually minimilistic in their gear set up. Anything that does not help catch lobster is a waste.

 

[WetBoy101]

yakdiver1 - do you ever night dive for lobster?

 

[BoltSnap]

yakdiver1 - do you ever night dive for lobster?

As far as I remember it (unless they changed the law recently), it is illegal to catch lobster at night in Massachusetts. The only time you are allowed to catch lobster is during day light time.

 

[mmerriman]

correct - no lobster hunting at night. 30 min after sunset/before sunrise - that's getting out of the water. Also best way to catch - Market Basket - 5.99/# ;-)

note - for those without new licenses - your permit # has changed in 2011 requiring new tank and flag marking.

 

[mmerriman]

also - for those of you not on the atlantic coast - if it doesn't have claws - its just a bug....