I can’t answer your question, but I can recommend that you check Walmart or Walmart.com.  That same fish finder is on there for only $105.  They had a PHAT sale on Lowrance stuff at Walmart in December.  I got my Lowrance HDS7 Live for $500 off. (Yes, I’m still learning how to use it.)  It looks like a lot of the discounts are still there on the Walmart website.  (Free shipping for anything over $50 too.)

Quote from: wannabe on January 11, 2023, 06:27:32 PM

Can someone share details on where this is happening?  If the weather is good, I might be open to come up for a day trip and meet new folks.

Doran Regional Park in Bodega

Thank you, sir!

Quote from: bbt95762 on January 09, 2023, 09:13:32 AM

Hey Paul, there is always SoCal for Spiny Lobster too - free divers out perform the kayakers.

Hi Brian

I have been hoop-netting lobsters with my wife for several years.  It has been slow for the last two years, but three years ago, we got 88 lobsters between the two of us.

Paul

Heading out to Catalina and doing night dives for lobster has been on my bucket list for a long time. 

Quote from: wannabe on January 07, 2023, 10:31:14 PM

Just curious, how thick of a wetsuit and how much weight do you wear when you free dive?

Typically 7mm open-cell wetsuit with 12-20 lbs weight based on the person's body shape and wetsuit thickness.

Paul

Thanks! 

I recently got most of my gear, but I think I would be more of a hinderance at this point.  I haven’t picked up a spear yet.  But, if you’re open to just have a spotter snorkeling at the surface in case you black out, I’m totally up to join you some time.

Thanks for making and sharing the vid.   Having backup crab gauges is a good idea.  I usually keep my main one clipped to my PFD.   

Regarding the buoys, I put PVC pipes through mine and a flag on one end.   When I get on the water, I put a weight on a tuna clip on one side so it sits vertical in the water.   That makes them so much easier to find.  I can usually see them from about half a mile away.  The only drawback is that they take up a lot more room in my kayak. 

Yeah, I had the bait shark ready to buy until I saw the $22 shipping/handling fee.   That made me cancel it immediately.  I’m also looking for an alternative. 

I’m trying to decide if I’d rather just make a live well with a bucket at the rechargeable aerator that I already have. 

Thanks for the rec.  I’ll give it a try. 

so the main thing is that Traps = Crab Pots. Hoops are not considered Traps and are their own thing "hoop nets". Thats said, if your PVC pipe has the red marker and the main float at the right size with the correct length rope, the PVC doesn't make it illegal.

Perfect!   I’ll just tie the little red buoy to my existing setup with a short line, and I’ll assume that I’m good to go.    I’ll come back here later if I find out the hard way that my interpretation was incorrect.