Personal use for Lobster and Crab Pots

Hi all,

Have my new small vessel for fishing for the odd ray/pollack and mackerel etc all sorted and ready to go. I also have one collapsable trap for crabs and shrimp etc, and was wondering if there are any rules or problems regarding this. I will be fishing out of small habours and not far out etc and wondered if there is any probs if I drop my pot off on the way out go fishing and pick it up on the way back, would there be any issues with taking a crab home if I got one?? I am not interested in lobster and any caught would be returned. any advice welcome.

I have seen previous posts saying about a bye law being brought in, but nothing recent. I only have one pot and would be mainly be looking for the odd crab or shrimp/bait etc

Shouldn't think you would have any problem legally.
You may encounter problems dropping your pot "on sombody's patch", depends on the area you are in.
I'd say work away and see how you get on.

you are leagally intitled to use 3 pots for crab/lobster for personal use.
you have to return any female lobster.

It's not simple and straight forward, and it's not easy getting definitive info from the powers-that-be.

However, I wouldn't imagine one pot would over-excite anyone in authority, as long as you mind the minimum sizes.