Conch Traps in Avalon

[StealthMode]

Has anyone noticed two guys laying conch traps everywhere in the 7th street canal; by Avalon Yacht Club and even past where Miss Avalon docks, up to the horseshoe in AV back bays?

Well, there is a problem. :mad:

For one, these guys are absolute trash, and do not care about others boating in the area, and are quite reckless as I have seen first hand.

I hate to use such language on the barn, but I heard 4 stories yesterday of these d*ckheads yelling at homeowners on the bay and accusing them of moving their conch traps. And also, yelling foul language infront of kids on Sunday morning. I personally know 2 of these homeowners, and have talked to them each about their incidence(s). All of the stories sound very similar, if not the same. They are outraged by the attitude of the conch fisherman, and their negligence of homeowners & boaters going in the canal by AYC. Well, there was one more complaint that I recieved today by phone call this morning, and I thought that the barn might be able to help...

These conch fisherman are quite disrespectful & dangerous - they have ridiculed the homeowner, and told them that they are allowed to put the trap legally anywhere they please. Even if it is next to a homeowners dockslip...they can put the conch trap whereever they please. The big problem is - the trap's buoys and lines are right in way of these bay homeowners boat slips. I mean, literally, if the boat owner reversed out of his slip, he would be in trouble of these traps only feet away from his dock. And more or less, any boat going through the canal has a chance of sucking these traps into their propellar(s). It is almost like they are trying to piss people off.

It's sad...

So...the law is the law. I understand. These guys are trying to make a buck.

But, there is a problem...a very big problem. They don't care about their negligence, which proved in court can put them in jail. My initial concern right now - is that a boat may get one of the traps stuck in their propellar, and could crash into another boat, dock or bulkhead...resulting in who knows what - a collison with another boat or dock...possible injury, death, or at the very least - damage to the boat, dock, or bulkhead. The canal is very skinny, and if you are a big boat or yacht you have to stay near the dockside of the canal where the water is deeper(and where the traps are being placed). This is not good!

Any help for info about these guys would be greatly appreciated. I'd rather talk to these guys about some possibilites/reccomendations before making a complaint to the authorites.

Anyone know the Avalon Conch fisherwomen?

These guys are reckless, and use profane language to anyone as they please. It's sad, but in reality, someone could get hurt...

SM:cool:

[fish8]

saw some of the bouy's this weekend and thought they were crab pots by rec's - I thought there was a minnimum creek width for crab pots any for the conch pots? who buys the conch anyway- I would suggest calling the marine police or coast guard - it is a hazard for anyone back there-

[Esox1]

i do not understand why there is a need to put the traps so close to the boat slips? it would make more sense to me to put them away from the docks so nobody messses with them. it cannot make that much of a difference in regards to catch rate. i could be wrong.

[JerseyBrian3]

Dont know but if my trap kept disapearing every time I left it near a home I'd find a new place to put it:cool::cool::cool:

[stockguydave]

I am not sure what the regs are for conch traps. However I am certain every town has ordinances regarding foul and/or treatening language and gestures in a public area. It sounds as if there is a definate hazard to the public. I would contact all potential enforcement groups C.G., N.J.S.P., N.J.F.&G., and the local police department. I hope something is done before an on water accident occurs.

[BT3100]

Time to break out the....

http://www.thebassbarn.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16056&d=1244482779

[tuny]

A easy solution is to contact the Marine Enforcement Unit of Fisha nd Wildlife. They would know who's pots the are and if they are set properly. You may want to call 609-748-2050. nuf' said.

[boatliftman]

there are always two sides to every story:confused: it sounds as if the fisherman were not very polite, but then again for all we know these people who are complaining may have tampered with there gear, conchs fish out pretty quick so it should not be an issue for long:) i would not suggest tampering with anyones gear

[Bubs]

Wow… this thread completely allows me to believe most people are stupid enough to believe what they read on the internet.

As a matter of fact, prior to our shark trip departure from Princeton harbor Saturday morning I saw these two baymen on the small skiff setting the conch traps. We asked them a few questions and they very politely explained to us what types of traps they were and why the location. They looked like two hardworking baymen who from what I saw and from our brief exchange seemed very cordial and very respectful.

If anyone has ever set any type of trap in the bay they know that there is a current that will be effected by the tide, the moonphase and how fast the water will is running. In the 20 years I have spent in Princeton harbor, we all know that the tide current can rip through at certain stages of the tide in certain locations. What if by accident when they were setting/deploying the traps they thought they had enough weight, but outside conditions effected the placement of the traps on the overnight soak? And accidentally ended up behind John Q. Homeowner’s bay front home? I really don’t think a trap in a no wake zone is going to cause any type of life threatening situation that any skipper cannot handle? Or has the general population become so bad navigating their own boat they need the entire bay? So my thoughts are as follows: for some reason outside of their control the traps moved and by accident ended up in front of a few slips on a weekend.

Now, in a response to the accusations launched against these baymen… I personally watched the exact opposite occur with the homeowners. I was out for a morning cruise with my wife and toddler around the harbor I saw some jerk homeowner screaming obscenities at these two fine fellows while they steadfastly worked the traps. As the two conch fishermen were getting yelled at, they politely reminded the homeowner that the water way is state owned and available for all of the public to use. Which I firmly agree with as a bay front homeowner in Avalon.

I strongly object to anyone messing with these two honest, hardworking, respectful conch fishermen who are living breathing history of South Jersey.

Don’t mess with their livelihood, go find yourself a tree to save instead. And leave these baymen alone.

[cc19]

Well said Bubs:thumbsup:. Stealthmode lost me with the litigation talk. There are always three sides to every story, each parties version and then the truth. Personally, I've always found any bayman to be very helpful and respectful. Not so with alot of recreational anglers. And I'd bet alot of money that all the folks who talk about messing with gear only talk the talk.

[barrell]

They are not allowed to set them in a marked channel. Sometimes they will put the bouys out of the channel but run the string of pots in the channel. That is also illegal and fish and game will write them up. Call the number posted above. If you can give them the number on the pot bouys. 609-748-2050

[StealthMode]

They are not allowed to set them in a marked channel. Sometimes they will put the bouys out of the channel but run the string of pots in the channel. That is also illegal and fish and game will write them up. Call the number posted above. If you can give them the number on the pot bouys. 609-748-2050

the traps are gone :bow: ...thanks Barrell, tuny, and others for the info you provided. We did not need it...that's a good thing :)

Bubs, C19, you missed the original post completely :wave:...putting traps in a skinny canal was a hazard to boaters - plain & simple. I saw these two guys place a trap within 3'-5' of a boatslip, just because they had the privelage, basically teasing the homeowner in a verbal match. It was pathetic...So, you're right, there is two sides to every story :thumbsup:, which is why I wanted to give the these pr*cks a second chance...(maybe they were hired to do it, so getting these pr*cks in trouble would be no good anyways).

so far, so good, the traps are gone for now...

Cheers,
SM:cool:

[smellinfishy]

They are all over the place #44 I believe. I would move them and have in areas that are too skinny!!

[barrell]

They are all over the place #44 I believe. I would move them and have in areas that are too skinny!!
It is illegal to touch someones gear. If you have a problem let fish and wildlife deal with it. There are maybe 30, 40 ,or 50 concrete filled pots atached to a line coming off the bouy. You cant just pull the whole mess out of your way.

[njbasspro88]

IMO Its a common courtesy thing, not who's right or wrong. Anybody purposely running into canals where they do not own a residence to place traps is obviously going to impede any watercraft in the canal, whether they put it 3 ft from a slip of in the middle of a channel. When i put out traps (crab/minnow) i always think of their proximity to anyone else who might be using the water, and i encourage others to do the same!

[zar2754]

They are all over the place #44 I believe. I would move them and have in areas that are too skinny!!

steve whats up bro, sylvesters in full swing yet i gota swing by.

[smellinfishy]

steve whats up bro, sylvesters in full swing yet i gota swing by.

Yes, we are open:thumbsup: I have off Tuesdays