How to Make a Florida Lobster Trap

A lobster trap is a box made of wood, metal or plastic and wire mesh that has holes cut into the ends that do not allow lobsters to leave after they have entered. Once a lobster, such as the spiny lobsters found in Florida, enters the trap through a funnel-style collapsible netting, they cannot exit. When they attempt to leave the first area, known as the kitchen, through another hole in the netting, they are caught in the bottom of the trap, known as the parlor, where they remain until the trap is pulled up. A trap for Florida lobsters can be built with thin, flexible lumber and netting.

Things You'll Need

  • Gas grill
  • Large commercial stock pots
  • Thin three trunks (made from flexible wood such as fir)
  • Sheet pans (optional)
  • Large round object, such as a wheel rim
  • Rope
  • Lumber (various lengths and widths)
  • Electric or battery-powered drill
  • Drill bits
  • Hammer
  • Galvanized nails
  • Measuring tape
  • Handsaw
  • Hinges
  • Wire mesh
  • Screw hook
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn on a gas grill set to the highest temperature. Place two or three (depending on available space) large commercial stock pots (12-quart minimum) on the grill grates. Fill the pots at least halfway with water. Bring to a boil.

    • 2

      Lay four pieces of thin tree trunk, such as fir, that is no more than three-fourths of an inch in diameter and 36 inches long and cut squarely on each end, on top of the stock pots. Close the grill lid as much as possible or cover with sheet pans. Steam the trunks for about two hours, refilling the water as needed.

    • 3

      Remove the wood from the stock pots and wrap them around a large round object, such as a wheel rim or pot. Secure wood around the object with heavy rope. Leave wood attached in this matter for at least 72 hours and as long as a week. Store in a cool, dry location.

    • 4

      Use measuring tape and a permanent marker or pencil to mark 1 inch from the ends of four pieces of lumber that is 24-by-2-by-2 inches.

    • 5

      Drill three-quarter-inch holes where the mark was placed using an electric or battery-powered drill and the appropriate drill bit.

    • 6

      Remove the tree trunks from the round object. Drill three-quarter-inch holes into the ends of the tree trunk pieces. Attach one end of the lumber to one end of the tree trunk using a hammer and a galvanized nail. Swing the other end of the lumber over to match the hole on the other part of the tree trunk, adjusting the trunk as necessary, and attach it with a nail. Repeat the process for the other pieces of tree trunk and lumber --- this forms what is known as a cell.

    • 7

      Attach a piece of 36-by-3/4-by-1-1/2-inch lumber to the side of one of the cell sections, just above the bottom section, with a nail. Attach that piece of lumber to another cell section 9 inches away from the first cell with a nail. Repeat for the remaining two cell sections.

    • 8

      Attach another 36-by-3/4-by-1-1/2-inch piece of lumber just above the first attached piece in the same manner. Repeat with approximately 20 pieces of lumber (reserving four pieces of lumber) until the entire cell frame is covered all the way around. Leave a gap of 6 to 7 inches on the other side of the trap (about the width of two pieces of lumber) at least two boards from the bottom of the back wall to allow access to the lobsters once they have been caught.

    • 9

      Create a gate using two pieces of the 36-by-3/4-by-1-1/2-inch lumber. Measure the gap you created on the top of the trap. Cut the other two pieces of the lumber with a handsaw to fit that measurement. Attach the lumber vertically to the other three remaining pieces of lumber using hinges and nails.

    • 10

      Attach the last three pieces of lumber with the gate attached to the back wall of the trap. Cut an hole immediate beneath the gate that can be fully covered when the gate is closed.

    • 11

      Cut an exit vent on the other side of the trap, about one board from the bottom --- this allows smaller lobsters that are not legal catches to escape unharmed from the trap while keeping the larger lobsters from escaping.

    • 12

      Attach wire mesh on the inside of the trap by threading rope between the wire mesh and ends of the trap. Knot the ropes on both ends securely. Arrange the wire mesh inside the trap in a funnel shape on both ends of the trap so lobsters can get in, but cannot get back out. Cut a large hole on one side of the wire mesh so the lobsters can move from the wire mesh part to the bottom of the trap.

    • 13

      Attach a screw hook to the top of the inside the top of the trap to use as a place to hook bait.