Do you think auto dippers are fair ?

[paxfish]

I saw this thread earlier, and was ambivalent about it at the time.

But Yesterday, a guy worked our creek solo for at least 12 hours using an autodipper and clams for bait. All the while maneuvering a roughly 30 foot boat up and down his lines. The harvest at the end of the day was substantial, (though I didn't get close enough to ask).

I think the device allowed him to work the water much longer than he normally would be able to on a given day, and that reinforces the "effort" argument above.

I don't know the impact on the crab population in our creek though. I wish I could see through the water!

[Capt. Dale]

If he was commercial thats 4 hours longer than legal!

[crabres]

autodippers are what they are and if i was buyin your crabs you would be lookin for a new buyer and most with dippers dont tell their buyers from my experience and ive been comm crabbin since i was 18 / 24 years ago and thats my opinion anything that kills crabs quicker is senseless i could see an exception if you had a disability

[paxfish]

If he was commercial thats 4 hours longer than legal!

Interesting. He ran from roughly 0600 to 1800. Are they limited to 8 hour days?

[crabby and son]

Interesting. He ran from roughly 0600 to 1800. Are they limited to 8 hour days?

Comms have 8 hours from start time..............Gary

[rj]

Commercial Trotliners are limited to a 10 hr day starting at 1 hr before sunrise, not included in the 10 hr day is the time spent laying out & taking up gear

[paxfish]

there ya go -that's about 12 hours, I suppose.

[Nummer1]

I'm sure some wont agree, i ve seen areas invaded by crabbers with auto dippers. they can run more line, and will run a circuit as the direction of the line isn't important. this keeps others away. the fact is crabs from an auto dipper are stressed more. When using a net, not every crab on the line makes it to the boat. I dont bother netting smalls and females. The dipper makes no distinction on crab quality, catch em all and sort it out later which induces more stress, ever seen a cull box without missing appendages? after a while , i believe the constant catching and releasing cant be good. in said area which i have pounded for years i've noticed smaller crabs , none with all their legs,claws
personally i'd like to see it gone or restricted to open bay

[Scott McGuire]

I'm sure some wont agree, i ve seen areas invaded by crabbers with auto dippers. they can run more line, and will run a circuit as the direction of the line isn't important. this keeps others away. the fact is crabs from an auto dipper are stressed more. When using a net, not every crab on the line makes it to the boat. I dont bother netting smalls and females. The dipper makes no distinction on crab quality, catch em all and sort it out later which induces more stress, ever seen a cull box without missing appendages? after a while , i believe the constant catching and releasing cant be good. in said area which i have pounded for years i've noticed smaller crabs , none with all their legs,claws
personally i'd like to see it gone or restricted to open bay

I hadn't thought about deadloss of discards. Very interesting.

[cw.abeljr]

I have had an LCC license for over 30 years. I will be retiring from my job in 2 weeks and have been planning on turning to the water for my primary income when I retire. I have run trotlines from 1000 to 3500 feet over the years and have never used an autodipper. I can say that the idea has entered my mind though watching autodippers being used in the same general area that I crab. I plan on doing my crabbing to make a living but do enjoy netting them. I will start out dipping by hand but if I can't make a reasonable living I will switch to an autodipper. My feelings are if something is legal to use then who am I to bash the person using it. The law says it's legal so it's really none of my business if someone else wants to use it.

Someone brought up the rockfisherman using planner boards. It is legal so why bring it up. I do think that they need to come up with a maximum length of line the planner board can have attached to it though. Good lord some of those boards are hundreds of feet from the boat and with no flags attached are really hard to see. I see this as a safety issue and not an unfair advantage though.......Just my $.02