Getting Setup to Hunt Spot Prawns

[demco99]

Hey Guys,

Looking to set my boat up this fall to hunt prawns around Howe Sound/ Gulf Islands/ Indian Arm. The boat already has the 4 holes in the gunnel 2 feet forward of where my portside downrigger is now. What puller do you guys recommend. Looking to run 2 sets with 2 traps on each, 4 traps total. Whats the best trap to buy? Are the collapsibles decent(minimum storage room on my 18' whaler). Thinking of storing them on my hardtop somehow, anyone got any good methods for this with bungees etc? How much $$$ am I looking at all in to get her decked out for prawning?

 

[Pippen]

Search "prawning" on here.........you'll get all the answers you need.

I would get 4 of the stackables and it would be very easy to to keep them ahead of the steering station/console while runnning or as you said just bungee them to the roof.

Due to the nature of the area and traps getting poached.....don't waste your money on the lead core line; just use regular nylon line and clip a weight on it about 30-40' below the float.

As for "puller"...........read my prawning "how to" post on BCFR.

As for a "real" puller.....I don't think you're going to find much that beats an Ace unless you were to build one yourself. Keep your eye out for a used one as they are around once in a while and you'll save yourself some $$$.

 

[Teja]

We set ourselves up for prawning in the summer of 2010. We bought an Ace Line Hauler (+/- $550) that mounts onto our existing Scotty Downrigger mounts and plugs into the existing Scott plugs and bought one of Nikka Industries' recommended stacking trap (can't remember the make but it was approx. $60) and were given one of the Flex Fold collapsing traps (takes up virtually no space when collapsed but they aren't cheap - approx $150). If we were to do it again, we wouldn't hesitate to buy another Ace Line Hauler and we would only buy the stacking traps as they don't take up that much space when stacked (and you can store other things in them) and as the stacking trap has consistently cuaght more prawns that the particular collapsible trap that we have.

 

[demco99]

Thanks for the advice guys, I will go with the stacking ones and regular nylon line. I was reading archived posts on here about one called the Fusion King Power prawn puller or something. So the Ace product is easily the best. Big investment, don't want to get something that sucks.

 

[Dogbreath]

I think Fusion King is out of business anyway and Ace is the only game in town now locally.

Traps from Ladner Traps are the best and the Chinese made copies around aren't bad although they don't fish quite as well because of the smell/won't last as long.

 

[Hoochiebob]

If you are around the south island, give Aqua tackle sports in Sidney a call. Bruno makes the traps himself and they do work very well. They are box shaped and fairly compact so they stack well and are of good quality. Make sure to inquire well in advance as his traps always seem in demand.

http://www.aquatackle.com/

 

[demco99]

Thanks guys, I have a pretty good idea of what to buy now.

When does the prawning get good around here? Got a paper chart of howe sound that I've been pouring over and have picked out some beautiful looking dropoffs/ledges around passage and anvil islands.

 

[Islandgirl]

I think Fusion King is out of business anyway and Ace is the only game in town now locally.

Traps from Ladner Traps are the best and the Chinese made copies around aren't bad although they don't fish quite as well because of the smell/won't last as long.

I have had great luck with my fusion king. Had it for over 6 years and I prawn alot. Would be a shame IF they are out of business.
If you are getting round stackables make sure they are the same size. I have 28" ones and it is hard to find that size but I prefer that size to the 30" ones on my boat. When you get both sizes they don't stack as well. I would not buy 32" ones.