Traps and Buoys
I’m in toward the end of the first draft of Wood’s Chase and I have Pamela hiding behind a stack of lobster traps. It occurred to me that not everyone is familiar with Florida Lobster and Stone Crab traps.
During the seasons, August 6 - March 31 (with a 2-day sportsman's season a week before opening) for lobster and October 15 - May 1 for stone crab the Key’s waters are littered with trap buoys. Forget about setting the autopilot while running the inshore waters of the Atlantic (ocean side) or Gulf (backcountry), especially when the seasons overlap. I’ve described the waters as a minefield of buoys, each one capable of winding around a propeller.
The traps used in Florida are regulated by the FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission).
Lobster traps are 3’ x 2’ x 2’, and are usually constructed from wood salvaged from pallets. the bottom is poured concrete. No recreational trapping is permitted. We take lobsters by hand, with a tickle stick and net or snare.
Stone Crab traps are smaller at 2’ x 2’ x 2’. They are usually made of plastic available as a kit. Concrete is poured into the bottom. Five traps per recreational angler are allowed.
Both lobster and stone crab require licenses.
Buoys for both traps are made from Styrofoam. Commercial fishermen have their colors. Recreational trappers often leave theirs white but are required to put an “R” on the buoy.