doran crab pot thefts

just a heads up guys,with this really slow crab season the dirtbags are out in force, if you leave your pots for an overnight soak dont expect them to be there in the morning, 3 of us left ours out last night, when i rolled in around 9, junior and bill both had already come in and they were robbed and one of juniors traps was just gone, i paddled out to mine out by the golf course and mine had been hit also, i had three zip ties keeping them locked and all three on each trap were gone, the chicken and rock fish heads i had tied to the bait tubes with bailene wire was undone and the bait gone and my bait tubes had been opened and emptied and put back in the traps, and the traps were about 100 yards away from my waypoints, keep them close and just work them trough the day, sucks that you cant trust anybody out there anymore, what is this HMB,  cameron

So sorry to hear that, slow crabbing, combined with a bad economy makes for an ideal situation.  Stupid question, is it worth trying to place a lock on the cage so it can't be opended?

1st season so I can't say I've experienced it exactly. But in past instances similar to this, locking the trap means the perp gets p/o'd after hauling it up. Good chance they'll just cut the line and let the trap fall back. Everyone loses there.

That f**king sucks, dude.

I'd love to catch someone in the act of messing with one of my traps...

PETA?

PETA?

Exactly!

the chicken and rock fish heads i had tied to the bait tubes with bailene wire was undone and the bait gone and my bait tubes had been opened and emptied and put back in the traps, and the traps were about 100 yards away from my waypoints,

Why would someone take the time to empty and dispose of the bait.

Environmentalists releasing crabs and removing bait... SAVE THE CRABS FROM THE EXPLOITING FISHERMAN!!!!!!!! Someone with a go pro please get these bastards on film... Be careful though, they have no scruples and will sink/kill you... 

Thanks for the heads up!

Ron you just gave me an idea...put a gopro in the trap to watch how the crabs behave! Not for an overnight soak--just for a normal 1hr soak while you're nearby or tending your other traps. Oh yeah, and a gopro above a giant swimbait. I would watch both of those videos!

thats crazy, seems like its happening more this year then last. How far did you have your pots out? I tend to keep them shallow when leaving them for an overnight soak.

That is why I switched to hoops. Lost 3 pots and rigging over $100 worth 2 years ago at HMB on an overnight soak. They commonly empty the trap of crabs and bait and if your lucky throw your trap back in the water. They probably take the bait to re-use it which is kind of stupid because most of the scent is depleted. Joel says the locals feel they have rights to any pots except for commies. Hooping is more work but you can keep an eye on your stuff.

That is why I switched to hoops. Lost 3 pots and rigging over $100 worth 2 years ago at HMB on an overnight soak. They commonly empty the trap of crabs and bait and if your lucky throw your trap back in the water. They probably take the bait to re-use it which is kind of stupid because most of the scent is depleted. Joel says the locals feel they have rights to any pots except for commies. Hooping is more work but you can keep an eye on your stuff.

The regulations state otherwise:

29.80. GEAR RESTRICTIONS.
(a) General Provisions:
(3) It is unlawful to disturb, move, or damage any trap; or remove any saltwater crustacean
from a trap, that belongs to another person without written permission in possession
from the owner of the trap.

Just make sure you properly mark your bouys; not only with color, but with your name or other form of identification (ie CF#, Screen Name, etc)

Maybe it's time to go Samuel L Jackson on float marking.
http://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/bad-mother-fucker-wallet

I talked to a guy at HMB who said someone just cut open his traps after he zip tied them shut. MF'ers.

Sorry to hear about all the thieving going on the water guys. Not much is safe anymore. Rustling cattle and horses is huge this year all thru the west. The bad thing is it is the locals there too!
Catch 'em and beat 'em and it would be us going to jail for assault

Same story in LM. Talked to a couple of guys who let them soak overnight and they tampered with and picked clean.