Northeast - lobster fishing

I am new to lobster fishing. I have had success so far this year but am looking for alternative bait. I have a slaughter house in my town that will give me all the scraps and viscera that I would like.

Has any one tried this as bait for lobsters? I don't se why it wont work. I usually do between a 2 to 4 day soak.

I used a product years ago called Sea Hide. It was brined cow hide with hair on it. It did work well and the bait lasted a long time. For some reason I do not think you are allowed to use it as bait anymore.

Lobsters are kinda fussy. You can catch them on all kinds of stuff +now and then+
If u want to catch them consistantly, use what the local lobster guys are using. usually herring. I know a few commercial lobster guys and they won't even put pogies in their traps.;? claim they don't fish. herring only.

Isn't it illegal to use beef scraps, etc? Or is that just in fresh water?

I have been fishing mackeral with decent results but its getting damn expensive at the bait shop. I don't have the time or means to catch my own (even Blues) and I don't have any buddies in my area who fish on a regular basis. Usually I take a frozen mackerel and break it in half for the bait bag

I usually (not this year) stock up in spring on the macks. Chumming,we can fill a tote in no time. They seem to work o'k,but the herring are the best.Just kills me though to give anything to those mid water boats!

you can use the cow hide, it's available commericially by a few guys . I use Bessie Bait , i believe the issue was using hide bait with hair still on it, something about the lobsters cant digest the hair. I usually throw the Bessie Bait in a bait bag in the Parlor and throw herring on the Kitchen side. I picked up a few flats of herring at the State pier in Gloucester for $16 a flat. I actually counted the herring in one flat once and there was like 270-280 in the flat.On a rec trap allotment of 10 traps i usually use (2) 5gal pails of Bessie Bait and 8 flats of herring a season, not to mention all the fish racks i throw in after fishing.

I know it's still cheaper to buy at the store , but it's still priceless with my daughter and a boat full of her friends watching the trap come up from the deep. never mind a lobster if we get a starfish everyones screaming, ....a sand dollar and watch out:)

My friend who is a full time lobsterman uses salmon heads, skates and bluefish. He salts them in 55 gallon brine barrels for a few days before he uses them

How does bessy bait or sea hide fish? Do you have to cut it to size or is it pre measured? Do you put it in a bait bag or just hang it in the kitchen by the bait bag clear/hooks?

my first year lobster fishing as well. I've been using frozen macs with so-so results. sometimes they're full, sometimes they're empty.

tried a pogie last week, trap was empty and the bait looked as if it was barely touched after a 4 day soak.

How does bessy bait or sea hide fish? Do you have to cut it to size or is it pre measured? Do you put it in a bait bag or just hang it in the kitchen by the bait bag clear/hooks?

The hides come precut, i usually shove 2-3 pieces in a bait bag. it last a longggg time, which is good if you cant get to the traps every 2-3 days. I think thats the benefit of it. If i was going to soak the traps for 3 days and pull them religiously i would stick with all herring. My logic behind both is; the herring in the kitchen gets the lobsters in the pot, they eat the herring until its gone (2-3 days)then go looking for something else(hide)...then they start working on the hide which is very durable so they stick around working on that ...in theory anyway

i like the hide in the trap because if i don't pull the traps for a week there is still a chance of getting something. when i didn't use the hide and waited a week , forget it.

Bugs like oily fish like Macs and Blues. So far Blues have worked the best for me. The Bessy bait and pork fat alternatives last longer and work in the begining of the season when there isn't a lot of alternative out there, and does last a long time. Ask your friends to save you their bluefish or other "racks". Striper does not work well for me, ... a friend said bugs don't like them because Stripers eat lobster. Fresh seems much better than the "fake" bait.

confirmed :)

http://images51.fotki.com/v628/photos/1/1327929/6153556/DSCF0109-vi.jpg?1344968405

That is unbelievable !!!

That is unbelievable !!!

Why? I thought it was common knowledge stripers eat lobster....

Have done well jigging the Hogy Rubber Lobster lures on many rock piles

While diving, I have seen lobster eating striper racks. I think they will eat anything, but probably can detect the more oily fish easier.

I meant it was unbelievable that your wife lets you clean fish is the kitchen,.....mine would kill me

Lol. What a mess, buy your wife something nice. She deserves it.

I know a diver that used to take a lobster, while diving, drop it and watch a cow come gobble it up. the large bass aren't as scarce around divers and would linger near a diver during a dive, waiting to scoop up short lobsters!! Pretty awesome...

I meant it was unbelievable that your wife lets you clean fish is the kitchen,.....mine would kill me:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: :rofl::rofl:

Did that fish have TWO lobby's for lunch? The one in the tummy had both claws, AND, I see another 3rd claw in the sink????


I wonder if the Lobby's ever kill/injur the bass after being swallowed by crimping down on their stomack with a claw????? YIKES!!!


confirmed :)

http://images51.fotki.com/v628/photos/1/1327929/6153556/DSCF0109-vi.jpg?1344968405

how big was that bass? From my angle, it seems to have some big 'shoulders'

You better throw that short back before the lobster police get you.

I know a diver that used to take a lobster, while diving, drop it and watch a cow come gobble it up. the large bass aren't as scarce around divers and would linger near a diver during a dive, waiting to scoop up short lobsters!! Pretty awesome...

Reminds me of a time when a black sea bass kept on following me around while diving. After a while I couldn't spot him any where so I forgot about it and kept on diving for lobsters. When I stuck my head out of a hole looking for lobsters and turned, that same sea bass was practically perched on my shoulder. It only took off because it startled me and I must have 'jumped' a bit.

how big was that bass? From my angle, it seems to have some big 'shoulders'

pre-op 48inchs 29lbs still trying to beat it.
http://images56.fotki.com/v702/photos/1/1327929/6153556/026a-vi.jpg?1345088686


there were two tiny lobbies almost whole in its belly. I put that one back together for the picture. Nice eyes on the one in the sink! I never noticed that in the pic

check out this one we got tonight. We had to throw it back because it was too big. 4lbs at least!!!
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7792459998_260e5f6b1f_c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7792458348_6561b5e6f2_c.jpg

the one the right is an average 1 #er
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7792453154_4f623d7506_c.jpg

that thing is sweet! looks like it could rip a finger off no problem. well done.

Love the pic of the lobster in stomach!