What to know when Lobster Diving

[salub2007]

HI,
I plan do do some Lobster dives with two friends this summer
in the Gloucester/Rockport area of Massachusetts. My friends are
experienced, but this is all new to me. My question is what do i expect?
Is there tips to finding and catching lobsters? What equipment will i need,
and as a beginner diver would lobster dives be Okay? I have some experience diving, but not at catching lobsters. I'm sure there are some divers out there that could fill me in.
Looking forward to all and any advice. Thanks, and Safe Diving.

Sea you Later,

Mark B

 

[seaducer]

don't forget to check your gauges. Don't get bitten, and if you ignore all that then at least follow this, stay far away from commercial traps. Lobstermen have guns on board.

Look in dark areas to find lobsters, rock holes, wrecks, etc.

 

[fnfalman]

HI,
I plan do do some Lobster dives with two friends this summer
in the Gloucester/Rockport area of Massachusetts. My friends are
experienced, but this is all new to me. My question is what do i expect?
Is there tips to finding and catching lobsters? What equipment will i need,
and as a beginner diver would lobster dives be Okay? I have some experience diving, but not at catching lobsters. I'm sure there are some divers out there that could fill me in.
Looking forward to all and any advice. Thanks, and Safe Diving.

Sea you Later,

Mark B

The first tip is to get a lot of experience under your belt. If you are not comfortable in the water, easily establishing your buoyancy, changing your depths, changing your directions, swimming upside down, rightside up, sideway, etc., then in my humble opinion, you're wasting your time trying to hunt for lobster. Or do anything fancy underwater.

I don't know how it goes out in the East Coast but I would assume that it's more or less the same as the Left Coast and that means you can't just grab anything that you see, and that there's a size limit. So, the first thing that you need to have is a gauge to measure the size of the lobster. Then you need a set of Kevlar gloves so that your hands won't get cut to ribbon by the lobster's tail and shell. Then you'd need some sort of netting to hold the lobster in. Since that lobsters tend to come out and feed at night, that means night diving and lights come into play. You'd probably need a primary light, a secondary light and a tank light.

Sure, you can hunt for lobster in the morning, but they tend to be hiding in cracks and crevices. It's pretty hard to dig them out once they detected you and back into a corner.

Oh yeah, the East Coast lobsters have claws and they ain't afraid of using them claws on you.

There are books out there that give out good techniques for catching lobsters. Just remember that if you miss on the first grab, chances are it's a goner.

 

[dpbishop]

It's real easy to get separated from your buddies when lobster diving, as they will be making sudden stops and detours, and will lose sight of you while looking inside caves and under ledges. I would not recommend lobster diving until you have enough experience to fell comfortable if separated from your buddies and have an alternate air source of your own, or are diving in less than 30 feet. You might want to start by not hunting yourself, but just following your buddy while he/she hunts.

 

[JDMerk]

don't forget to check your gauges. Don't get bitten, and if you ignore all that then at least follow this, stay far away from commercial traps. Lobstermen have guns on board.

Look in dark areas to find lobsters, rock holes, wrecks, etc.

LOL yea I guess stealing lobsters out of traps would be the easiest way to get at them...I wonder if that happens often?

 

[Lursxt]

First, I recommend visiting the new england lobsta divahs board and searching it. There are many many posts both on thechnique and laws which are very important. Regarding that, you will need to get your permit and obey all the rules. I enjoy lobstering, but I didn't get into it until I had over 20 dives under my belt. If you're new, I would recommending getting a little basic diving experience first. Diving with experienced buddies is a very good way to improve your skills and learn how to catch bugs!

 

[F106A]

Carpe diem.

Even more appropriate: "He who hesitates is lost."

 

[dpbishop]

Carpe diem.

Even more appropriate: "He who hesitates is lost."

I thought we were talking lobster here, not carp. Where do you get carp for a dime?

 

[mrfixitchapman]

I thought we were talking lobster here, not carp. Where do you get carp for a dime?

Carp? Here you go.

DC

 

[F106A]

I thought we were talking lobster here, not carp. Where do you get carp for a dime?

From the second-hand sushi store, W. 34th & Dyer.