Placement of traps near private docks in a small, shallow cove

[Chooch]

For the first time in a decade a commercial crabber has targeted our small, extremely shallow cove off the Mobjack Bay which initially didn't bother me at all. I'd see him in the morn at the mouth of the cove,couple hundred yards out from any docks. As the days went by, the pots kept getting closer in until the point he had his line running 30 feet off our dock, in the only channel, 2 1/2 feet at high tide, we could use to get our boat out.

We have plenty of crabs and we're happy to share but this seems extreme. Is there a certain distance they need to maintain from private docks, especially if they're laying traps in the only narrow channel to our dock and several others?

Haven't seen the guy in 3 days the pots are right in front of the docks.

Would love a couple opinions/feedback.

[mbrage97]

http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/08/08.02.03.07.htm

[Tom Powers]

Mobjack bay is in VA.

The only real restriction is the following section in state code.

28.2-710. Unlawful to place crab, eel, or fish pots in certain channels; penalty. It is unlawful to place or maintain any crab, eel, or fish pot in a navigable channel which has navigation aids installed or approved by any agency of the United States government or in any portion of a government marked channel of a river, bay, estuary, creek or inlet. The owner or user of any crab, eel, or fish pot who has located such pot in accordance with this section shall be relieved of civil liability for any damages resulting from the location of such pot.



If he is not breaking that law then other than talking to him and hoping that he is understanding, the only recourse that you really have is to petition Commission to do something with the regulations that would keep commercial crab pots a certain distance away from private piers.


Tom

[Johnfishes]

From your description the "navigable channel" isnt marked and is more of a gut than an actual river channel. Both of you have equal rights to navigate and crab this spot. My suspicion is that the crabber is probably prospecting more than anything else and will most likely abondon this spot in the near future. I would reccomend that when navigating this section determine the tide and wind and the direction that the floats are positioned and navigate accordingly. If the pots are as shallow as you indicate there should be short float lines and its a matter of determing the direction and staying to the opposite side to clear them. If the lines are longer than it should be easy to pull them clear with a docking pole and toss them free of your boat. I am surprised that with the water temps that the mature crabs would be that shallow. Dont make this out to be more than it is. Too often "we" get protective of what we percieve to be ours and we become defensive. The Chesapeake and its tributaries are endless and once we all learn to share the resources we will all benefit. Dont start a war over something that dosent belong to either of you.

[Johnfishes]

our small, extremely shallow cove

After posting my opinion, for what its worth, I reread you original post. My opinion stands but your perspective on the shallow cove unfortunatley projects the root issue. The cove isnt yours no more than the crabber who has layed claim to that area by dropping his traps.

[Chooch]

Thanks for replies fellas, I appreciate the feedback and regs..

[Jerkbait-PA]

Have you asked him if he would mind not laying his traps in the area you believe restricts you access to the water?

I would talk to the crabber before I even considered talking to anyone else including our friends on this web site.