For more than 200 years, the lobster trap has been the most important tool for fishermen, right after the boat and motor. Invented in 1809 by Ebenezer Thorndike of Swampscott, Massachusetts, the lobster trap revolutionized lobster fishing. The traps and the hard work that lobstermen and women in Maine do to bring lobster to your table haven’t changed much over the years.
Except for those caught by deep sea trawlers, lobsters are still caught in lobster traps (also called pots). Traps used to be made of wood, but 20 years ago, metal traps came out. They are lighter and can stand up to salt water erosion. Plus the rectangular metal traps stack better than the rounded wood-slat traps. The wire-mesh cages have round openings with bait inside to entice lobsters to crawl in.
Lobster fisherman built and took care of wood traps when the seas were too rough to fish in the winter. Before motorized pot haulers were made, it was hard for fishermen to pull wooden traps out of the water because they weighed more than 80 pounds when they were wet.
A fisherman’s daily trap location is the most important factor in his catch success. Lobstermen lay their traps on rocky crevices and patches of seaweed where lobsters like to hide. Lobsters live on the ocean floor less than 100 feet deep, but they have been seen up to 1000 feet below! During the day, they hide in sand or rocks. They are nocturnal and hunt for food by using their antennas to smell and find prey. Lobsters eat everything living or dead including mollusks, worms, fish, sea urchins, crabs and even other lobsters.
Salted Herring is the prefered bait fish used by lobstermen to lure and trap lobsters. When there is a Herring shortage, bait prices increase, impacting the lobstermen’s bottom line. Bluefish, Cod, Mackerel, and Menhaden (known as Pogeys) are also used as bait.
The Department of Marine Resources says that lobster traps also catch some other types of fish, such as sea raven, cunner, cod, redfish, cusk, flatfish, mackerel, and horseshoe crab.
During lobster season in Maine, the water near the coast is marked with brightly colored buoys that show where the traps of lobstermen are. About 3 million traps off the coast of Maine are marked with color patterns and designs that are unique to each owner. Each lobsterman is limited to 800 traps in the water at one time. Under the water, each trap is held in place by a concrete block that is linked to the buoy by a rope or a warp. Traps are put down on the ocean floor and stay there for anywhere from one tide (six hours) to several days. Most lobstermen check their traps in one day.
To get their traps back, lobstermen use a “gaff,” which is a hooked pole, to lift the trap to the edge of the boat by hand or with a pulley. Lobsters short of regulation size or females with eggs are returned to sea. The carapace, which is the back part of the lobster that doesn’t include the head, claws, or tail, must be at least 3 and 1/4 inches long and no more than 5 inches long.
A traditional lobster trap has two components. The outer compartment has 1-2 funnels of nylon netting leading inside the trap. Lobsters attracted by the bait move into one of the funnels. The inner component, called the ‘parlor,’ is baited with salted herring or haddock. By the time they take the bait and reach the parlor, the lobsters are trapped.
A big reason why the Maine lobster fishery works and will continue to do so is how the traps are made. It is thought that only one lobster is caught out of every twenty that go into the trap. The lobstermen who set the traps also have to work longer hours and use more resources and fuel.
Lobster fishing is an age-old tradition along the northeastern seaboard of the United States and Canada. For centuries, fishermen have relied on lobster traps to catch these tasty crustaceans. But how deep are lobster traps set? What is the ideal depth for a productive lobster trap? In this guide, we’ll examine proper lobster trap depth and placement for optimal catches.
Lobster traps, also known as pots, are cage-like structures placed on the seafloor to catch lobsters. The basic design consists of a wood or wire frame with an opening that leads lobsters into the inner chamber. Once inside, the lobster struggles to find its way out through the narrow funnel opening.
Traps are attached to a line buoyed on the surface so fishermen can retrieve them. Bait such as stale fish is placed inside to lure hungry lobsters seeking a meal. Traps are typically deployed in long lines of 20-30 pots. Maine lobstermen are limited to 800 traps each.
Lobster populations fluctuate seasonally as they move to deeper or shallower waters, Late spring through early fall is peak season in the northeast when lobsters migrate closer to shore, Winter fishing is more challenging with lower catches, Proper trap depth matching the lobsters’ seasonal movements is key for success
Factors Determining Lobster Trap Depth
Several factors come into play when determining the optimal depth to set lobster traps:
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Seafloor terrain – Rocky or sandy bottom ledges, channels all impact depth.
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Water temperature – Lobsters move deeper or shallower as waters warm and cool.
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Storms – Big storms push lobsters into deeper water temporarily,
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Tidal shifts – Lobsters crawl closer to shore during high tides to feed.
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Time of day – Lobsters are more active at night foraging closer to shore. Daytime sets them back deeper.
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Molting season – Soft-shelled lobsters after molting stick closer to shore.
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Reproductive cycles – Egg-bearing females move offshore to hatch larvae.
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Lobster density – Crowded areas push some lobsters to less inhabited waters.
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Predators – Threats like seals or cod make them drop deeper.
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Regulations – Some areas prohibit traps in shallow waters.
Experienced lobstermen learn the nuances of these factors to optimize their trap placement strategy. Now let’s look at some typical depths used.
Common Lobster Trap Depths
While depth varies considerably based on conditions, some typical ranges for lobster trap sets are:
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Near shore sets in 10-30 feet of water, often just off beaches and coves during late spring/early fall peak season. Traps are hauled daily.
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Sets from 30-60 feet are common, especially over rocky ledges and channels which lobsters frequent. Checked every 1-3 days.
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Offshore sets from 60-120 feet target lobsters in deeper water during summer and winter. Can be left 5+ days before hauling.
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Deep water sets beyond 120 feet require heavier traps and gear but reach lobsters far offshore. Used when near shore sets are unproductive.
Again, these are just general guidelines. Let’s look at some specific examples for proper depth.
Examples of Good Lobster Trap Depths
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Setting traps in 15-25 feet of water along a rocky shoreline or just off sandbars in June capitalizes on late spring/early summer inshore lobster migration.
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Placing traps on offshore ledges at 45-55 feet in August targets lobsters drawn there to avoid rising inshore water temperatures.
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Dropping traps to 90-110 feet over mud flats in November reaches lobsters shifting to deeper winter grounds.
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Stringing traps at 130-150 feet in muddy channels offshore in January and February intercepts lobsters congregating in the deeper troughs.
Again, an intimate knowledge of underwater features and lobster movements is key to optimal placement. And depth may change seasonally or even week to week. Flexibility maximizes catches.
Minimum Legal Depth for Lobster Traps
In addition to factors like terrain and lobster movements, legal restrictions also come into play in determining lobster trap depth. Regulations prohibit setting traps in shallow waters to avoid conflict with other users and protect sensitive habitats.
For example, in Maine state waters, traps must be set in at least 50 feet of water between April 1 and October 31. From November 1 to March 31, traps can be set at a minimum depth of 20 feet. Federal waters have similar 50 foot minimums.
These legal depths are designed to accommodate lobster fishing and other uses like boating and swimming during peak season. Checking your local lobster fishing regulations is critical.
Avoiding Excessively Deep Sets
While deeper sets beyond 100 feet may be needed occasionally, extremely deep water should generally be avoided for several reasons:
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Greater depths require heavier, bulkier traps which are hard to maneuver and cost more.
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Deeper sets make it impossible to haul traps daily, lowering quality.
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Additional rope and buoy lines are expensive and more likely to tangle.
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Traps are easily lost or “ghosted” in very deep water when lines break or buoys are dragged under.
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Hazards like strong currents increase significantly deeper than 130 feet, especially offshore.
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Lobsters tend to be more abundant in shallower water closer to shore during much of the year.
Unless lobsters clearly cannot be found in shallower zones, very deep trap sets are often unproductive and inefficient. Targeting depths 100 feet or less is ideal.
Determining optimal lobster trap depth requires intimate knowledge of the lobsters’ seasonal movements and habitat combined with the area’s underwater terrain and legal requirements. While depth varies, sets between 50-100 feet are typical in high season, with adjustments made as conditions change. Avoid excessively deep or shallow sets. With the right trap placement strategy matched to lobster movements, bountiful catches will follow. Proper lobster trap depth, above all else, requires flexibility based on hard-won experience.
Maine Made Lobster Trap Companies
Two of the largest lobster trap companies in Maine are Friendship Trap, founded in 1977; and Brooks Trap Mill, founded in 1946. In addition to manufacturing and selling traps, both companies offer trap kits for lobstermen who want to build their own.
Searose Lobster Trap Co. of Scarborough, ME sells trap wire and supplies and also makes unique lobster trap furniture. The lobster trap rocking chair is Searose’s bestseller.
How Do Lobster Traps Work?! (Maine Lobster Fishing Vlog #7)
How do lobsters escape a trap?
A lobster will enter through the net “head” to go after the bait in a bait bag placed in the “kitchen.” When it tries to exit it lands in the “bedroom” or “parlor.” Some traps have more than one kitchen and bedroom. Traps are required to have an escape vent that is large enough to let all but the legal-sized lobsters escape.
Where should you place a lobster trap?
During the day, lobsters are often hidden in rock crevices and seaweed patches. So you should place lobster trapsin places with many rocky ravines and lots of seaweed patches. A lobster trap can hold many types of lobster. Next to lobster traps, Salted Herring is the favorite bait fish used by lobster catchers to lure and trap lobsters.
What should a lobster trap look like?
Traps should have an escape hole that undersized lobsters can exit the cage from as well as biodegradable “ghost” panels that will disintegrate underwater so caught lobsters don’t get trapped and die if the trap itself gets lost. If you have a regular trap with 2 compartments, put dead fish in the first compartment to use as bait.
How many traps can a lobsterman fish?
The number of traps a lobsterman is allowed to fish at any one time may vary depending on the regulations where he/she is fishing. However, the technique is basically the same. A lobsterman will put a bag full of bait (usually herring or other fish) in each trap dropped from the boat, or “set”.