WARNING - Pictures of possible trap thieves

[Sotally Tober]

I saw this warning posted on Craigslist for anyone dropping their traps in the water.

The boat pictured was trying to take the first trap while owner was setting his second trap.

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/boa/5533192120.html

 

[Pippen]

Yup.....know of that boat.

 

[uclueletcharters]

That's awesome, good thinking. Bet there pretty embarrassed caught in the act lol!! Or freaked someones going to show up on their door step with a baseball bat

 

[SpringVelocity]

idiots.

 

[Big_Shank]

Makes me wonder if you couldn't use a gopro or some other camera attached to the trap looking up towards the rope to get a nice mugshot. Something that would automatically or remotely e-mail you the photos or video. You might lose a camera and a trap initially, but at least you'd have some good solid evidence to turn over to the authorities to help apprehend and or prosecute them. I've used a gopro in my crab pot to see what's hanging around the bottom before. Not too sure how deep they will go before the pressure starts to make the seals fail though.

The police and dfo need to start doing a bait trap program, with GPS trackers on pots in the problem areas. You would think with all of the traps and bouys found or confiscated and subsequently left unclaimed, that they would have more than enough materials to get themselves started...

 

[D24M]

I 'believe' I saw the same boat at the Burrard Civic gas station Sunday afternoon at about 3:00 and told my wife of the 'rumours' that abound this boat. Ironically, it was filling up and the Vancouver police boat 'McBeath' pulled in behind it to fill up. The passengers were white-faced and lined themselves up like they were in a police line up! It was rather funny to see.

Makes me wonder if you couldn't use a gopro or some other camera attached to the trap looking up towards the rope to get a nice mugshot. Something that would automatically or remotely e-mail you the photos or video. You might lose a camera and a trap initially, but at least you'd have some good solid evidence to turn over to the authorities to help apprehend and or prosecute them. I've used a gopro in my crab pot to see what's hanging around the bottom before. Not too sure how deep they will go before the pressure starts to make the seals fail though.

The police and dfo need to start doing a bait trap program, with GPS trackers on pots in the problem areas. You would think with all of the traps and bouys found or confiscated and subsequently left unclaimed, that they would have more than enough materials to get themselves started...

 

[fishin_magician]

Those guys have been poaching for years. They are Asian. I know that for a FACT.

Let's not forget the Musqueam Indian Band and the 2-3 guys who are in the flat bottom skiff off the North Arm-Jericho pulling traps in the mornings and afternoons all winter and spring long. They are crabbing in large volume and my buddy caught them about to pull his trap off the North Arm. I know they are Musqueam as I have seen them offload at the bottom of Salish Drive. What a joke. Makes me wonder when I see "local" Dungees on the menu when even Granville Island barely has any from the North Coast.

 

[Filletandrelease]

Some well placed small barbed hooks in the first several feet of rope will fix that problem pretty quick.

 

[Rockfish]

Perhaps some do Filletandrelease, but they should rethink it.

Setting a trap to deliberately injure someone could have heavy legal consequences indeed, and it won't matter that it was intended to be against thieves. On occasion traps do get pulled in legitimate circumstances, such as when found floating away in the current in very deep water or getting snagged on a log boom. Not to mention the possibility of your trap being pulled by DFO Enforcement for some reason, such as because they don't think the lettering is of sufficient visibility (letters on the float don't meet the size requirement etc.). I also understand that on occasion RCMP Marine units could pull your trap if they consider it a hazard in a navigation channel etc. In either event, if the Feds were to embed a barbed hook in their flesh, they would be highly motivated to track you down for more than a little chat. With the name and phone number on the float, even the thieves may want to look for a little payback. The rule of unintended consequences would seem to apply here.

I am as frustrated as anyone with the increasing number of traps/crab thefts. Had our best, expensive all stainless trap stolen at the end of last season.

 

[Filletandrelease]

Perhaps some do Filletandrelease, but they should rethink it.

Setting a trap to deliberately injure someone could have heavy legal consequences indeed, and it won't matter that it was intended to be against thieves. On occasion traps do get pulled in legitimate circumstances, such as when found floating away in the current in very deep water or getting snagged on a log boom. Not to mention the possibility of your trap being pulled by DFO Enforcement for some reason, such as because they don't think the lettering is of sufficient visibility (letters on the float don't meet the size requirement etc.). I also understand that on occasion RCMP Marine units could pull your trap if they consider it a hazard in a navigation channel etc. In either event, if the Feds were to embed a barbed hook in their flesh, they would be highly motivated to track you down for more than a little chat. With the name and phone number on the float, even the thieves may want to look for a little payback.

Yes it would be unfortunate if an official was injured. No argument there but it seems in some of these areas the same thieves have been active for years. This blue Bayliner guy is certainly well known. The alternative is to just not place traps in these popular areas I guess. Thieves just get my nasty side worked up.

 

[dmurph]

30k plus boat and can't get a couple of traps and some bait. So ignorant

 

[fshnfnatic]

30k plus boat and can't get a couple of traps and some bait. So ignorant

Probably how they got that 30k boat to begin with!This thing happens more than any of us can imagine I suspect.Just
this afternoon I was heading in from a day of prawning to check on the 3 crab traps we had down.Had them marked on the chartplotter and had trouble finding the last trap.Finally found it a good 1000 ft. from where it had been and it was
empty.The other 2 produced with the exact same bait (prawn heads) in them so I could only conclude that it had been checked by someone else.Happens a lot.

 

[Aridhol]

If thieves are hitting the same points regularly does the DFO/RCMP not have the resources to do a sting? Too small potatoes for the resources?
Seems to me there's zero consequences for this kind of ****** activity.

 

[DE18]

I saw that boat 2 weekends ago looking very suspicious. I was driving back in and heading in their direction there was a guy on the back of the boat with pole ready to pull a pot, but he turned away and headed back into the cabin. Who does that if they are pulling their own pot. I say we load up bags of dog crap drive past and throw it at them.

 

[Eastmon]

Wouldnt happen for long where I grew up.

 

[Hookin'up]

seen that boat lots,
Farkin trap pirates!

 

[Kildonan]

Imagine having the balls to just go out and rob traps all the time. Who the fawk does that?!! Jeezus.

 

[Coyote Spooner]

So....most likely moored in False Creek? If they're getting fuel there?..

It would be nice to know where......

Had my traps raided on Saturday ....

 

[finaddict]

Anyone here a diver with a hand crank drill? 10 minutes under water with a 1" bit would take care of the situation. NOTE: I do not condone nor recommend any vigilantism in any way.....that would be bad.......but then again karma is a *****.................

 

[Fisherman Rob]

Well DFO is out there:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/crab-fishermen-fined-1.3532495