How to Net a Lobster Trap

Lobster traps are ideal for long-term fishing, as you can bait them, leave them to sit and then return at a later date. Lobster traps are designed to sit on the ocean floor, and are connected to each other and the surface by lengths of rope.

Things You'll Need

  • A small boat
  • A boat hook
  • A string of lobster traps
  • 4 pieces of bait (usually fish)
  • A large empty plastic bottle
  • A large bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie a plastic bottle to the end of the rope on one end of a string of four lobster traps. Place bait in the lobster traps and take them out to sea in the boat. Throw the lobster pots over the side one at a time and place the plastic bottle nose up so it is visible, but held in place by the weight of the pots.

    • 2

      Return 24 hours later and pull the plastic bottle out of the ocean. Pull the remaining slack in and once it gets too difficult to do so, use a boat hook. Hook the line into the boat hook and use the extra leverage to haul it in the rest of the way.

    • 3

      Retrieve the first trap and place it in the boat. If there's a lobster in the trap, put on a pair of protective gloves, remove it and place it in the bucket. Continue this process until all the pots have been brought to the surface.