newbie here.... I purchased a few sets of crab traps from craigslist including trap, line, buoy etc....
I want to ensure I am compliant. For someone new to crabbing, reading and trying to understand the rules and regulations for the specifics on what needs to be on a crab trap is very confusing. I have no issues on what info needs to be on the buoy.. that is simple and straight forward. But the info on the rot cord and escape circle is in my opinion very poorly described. Why don't they include some diagrams to ensure there is no confusion?
The 2 regulations are listed below. Here are my questions.... If regulation in (1) requires 2 unobstructed circular escape holes or rings, then why do you need another one outlined in section 2 with a rot cord? Why would crabs wait for the cord to rot before leaving if they can leave through the 2 circular holes? Where can you purchase rot cord and in the diameter they specify?
If anyone can help me with some clarity on this it would be appreciated.
1. Crab traps are required to have two unobstructed circular escape holes or rings, measuring a minimum of 105 mm in diameter.
2. Rot Cord - All crab traps must have a section in the top or sidewall that has been secured by a single length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120 (approximately 5 mm or 3/16 inch diameter). This twine is often referred to as rot cord. On deterioration this must produce a rectangular opening with a minimum size of 7 cm x 20 cm, or a square opening with a minimum size of 11 cm x 11 cm. This regulation is intended to ensure that if the trap is lost, the section secured by the cord will rot, allowing captive crabs to escape, and preventing the trap from continuing to fish. On traps with a rigid frame and a freely opening hinged lid the trap lid must be secured by a single length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120 so that the trap lid will open freely when the rot cord is broken. No other fastenings may impede the hinged lid of the trap from opening.
I want to ensure I am compliant. For someone new to crabbing, reading and trying to understand the rules and regulations for the specifics on what needs to be on a crab trap is very confusing. I have no issues on what info needs to be on the buoy.. that is simple and straight forward. But the info on the rot cord and escape circle is in my opinion very poorly described. Why don't they include some diagrams to ensure there is no confusion?
The 2 regulations are listed below. Here are my questions.... If regulation in (1) requires 2 unobstructed circular escape holes or rings, then why do you need another one outlined in section 2 with a rot cord? Why would crabs wait for the cord to rot before leaving if they can leave through the 2 circular holes? Where can you purchase rot cord and in the diameter they specify?
If anyone can help me with some clarity on this it would be appreciated.
1. Crab traps are required to have two unobstructed circular escape holes or rings, measuring a minimum of 105 mm in diameter.
2. Rot Cord - All crab traps must have a section in the top or sidewall that has been secured by a single length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120 (approximately 5 mm or 3/16 inch diameter). This twine is often referred to as rot cord. On deterioration this must produce a rectangular opening with a minimum size of 7 cm x 20 cm, or a square opening with a minimum size of 11 cm x 11 cm. This regulation is intended to ensure that if the trap is lost, the section secured by the cord will rot, allowing captive crabs to escape, and preventing the trap from continuing to fish. On traps with a rigid frame and a freely opening hinged lid the trap lid must be secured by a single length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120 so that the trap lid will open freely when the rot cord is broken. No other fastenings may impede the hinged lid of the trap from opening.