Unsticking a Crab Trap

Hey everyone I'm a crabbing newbie and also fairly new to the forum. I am hoping some of you more experienced kayak anglers can help me out with what I think is a common problem.  I recently got 3 of my 4 traps stuck in the sand out in Pacifica. I tried wrapping the buoy line around my kayak, pulling up the slack, and waiting for the wave to pull up the traps. I just ended up flipping the kayak a few time out in the water. So now I have thought of two more strategies to pull them up next time out. First is to use a paddle float and wrap the line around my paddle, I'm hoping this will keep me stable when the wave puts pressure on the line. The other plan was to carry out one or two 5 gallon water bottles fitted with short lines and a clip. During the dip between waves I will tie a quick not in the taught buoy line and clip the bottles on. The ladder method is the one I am leaning towards because I am concerned the first method may snap my paddle and I think the bottle technique will allow wave after wave to work on pulling the trap loose. Does anyone here have experience with this? I'm really not too excited about losing 3 traps, and 30 lbs of lead.

Stop using 10lbs per trap. 5lbs max.

Good to know, thanks.

I have freed some seriously stuck traps before using the method you described. The key is to grab the line when at the bottom of the swell and hold it right against the side of the kayak.

When the next swell picks you up lean back away from the rope and the flotation of the kayak will generate a lot of force upward. You also want to make sure the rope is upswell from you otherwise you will dunk for sure.

Unless you are leaving your pots out for many days 5#s or even unweighted should be fine for the danielson square gear.


-Eliot

Yeah, sorry dude, I should have mentioned my comment was in regards to Promars, Danielsons are heavier so your even better off. With my Promars, I will go unweighted in swells less than 5'. Anything over that, I zip tie a 2.5lb or 5lb dive weight to the bottom. And time of soak, weight and swell height all relate to how your traps will dig in and become stuck.

Otter-
  I kinda remember trying the rope against the kayak trick with line down swell of the kayak. This may explain the constant flipping over. Thank you for the tip.

Bring a spare paddle if your going to try that method.  Hate to see you out there flipped over with a broken paddle.