lobster hunting

[BoltSnap]

What is the max lobster weight you can catch now in MA?

 

[WetBoy101]

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.

Sorry, didn't pay attention to the OP being from Mass... We (my friends and I) only hunt at night, (so lights aren't a waste of time for us) and we normally only use snorkel gear. Much more challenging.

 

[mmerriman]

size in MA - if in the gulf of Maine (inside Cape Cod) no bigger that 5" from back of eye socket to end of carapace - that's likely 2.5#. Outside gulf, i think no limit(never dive there, so I don't memorize it. Also - can't take shorts (under 3.25"), egg bearing females, or previously marked egg bearing females...

 

[BoltSnap]

size in MA - if in the gulf of Maine (inside Cape Cod) no bigger that 5" from back of eye socket to end of carapace - that's likely 2.5#. Outside gulf, i think no limit(never dive there, so I don't memorize it. Also - can't take shorts (under 3.25"), egg bearing females, or previously marked egg bearing females...

Are you implying that there are no size limit in Cape Ann area (minimum size only)?

 

[yakdiver1]

Basically the gulf of maine description below is from the northern tip of mass including cape ann to the inside tip of Ptown. There is a map of catch areas at the Mass website where your get you lobster license.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/dmf_recreational_lobster_crab_guide.pdf

The Gulf of Maine area has the 5" max carapace limit. Other areas do not have the limit. You can check the map to see.

I would differ on the post below on the max weight that can be legally caught under the guage. You can legally catch and keep lobsters weighing just under 4lbs. My club runs a biggest lobster of the year contest and the winning catch normally comes in just under 4lbs. With a male lobster with giant claws, you may go over 4lbs but I have yet to see a keeper at that weight.

The good part about the max guage is that there are a lot of oversize lobster out there now that you can find and catch(and release of course) but it is fun to catch them and see how big they can actually get

It is also fun to watch the newbies try to catch the big ones

 

[BoltSnap]

So no more 20lb lobster days anymore. Does this apply to commercial lobstermen too?

 

[mmerriman]

"I would differ on the post below on the max weight that can be legally caught under the guage. You can legally catch and keep lobsters weighing just under 4lbs. My club runs a biggest lobster of the year contest and the winning catch normally comes in just under 4lbs. With a male lobster with giant claws, you may go over 4lbs but I have yet to see a keeper at that weight."

I was just guessing on weight - I usually find barely legal or HUGE. In fact last summer I found a monster at Old Garden Beach in 20 feet of water. His claw was the length of my forearm.

"So no more 20lb lobster days anymore. Does this apply to commercial lobstermen too?"
Yes - but only inside the gulf of Maine - you can still get big ones outside (deep ocean, and south of the cape.)