Prawn trap use in Wicklow

[lasercat]

Hi folks, I'm heading to Wicklow this afternoon for a few days of fishing and I have recently acquired a prawn trap. I was wondering if anyone has any experience using these on the east coast and would have any advice on its use.

I would like to know what bait I should load it with, how long i should leave it in for and what I can expect to catch?

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[spindlefist]

Hey Lasercat,
I've one meself, I use anythin smelly in it, baitwise I mean, such as mackerel or a bunch of fresh mussel meat...
IT came with a cord, but I attached a stronger rope, just in case, I leave it down for maybe 30 mins but that's coz i get impatient, you can leave it an hour or more if you like, I've pulled up all sorts in it, from coalies, to rocklin, to small eel, crabs, shrimp/prawn... everythin uyou'd expect down the side of a pier...
I've even had one destroyed by a not so small eel- conger of approx. 10- 15lb got in and detroyed it!

good luck

[immunecfg]

some smelly fish and put something to weigh it down and drop it over the side

[dfella25]

And keep me the brown crabs you get

[lasercat]

Thanks for the advice guys. One more question, what use will i get out of the various things it catches? Obviously if im lucky enough to get some prawns they will meet a chargrilled sweet chilli style demise but the other stuff, crabs, small fish, eels, is there any point in not throwing them back?

[scrob]

Liking the sound of one of these contraptions myself, might have to add one to my arsenal. Is there much of a head of prawns around our coastline? And are they safe enough to eat - you don't need to worry about water quality/source like you do with shellfish?

[spindlefist]

Thanks for the advice guys. One more question, what use will i get out of the various things it catches? Obviously if im lucky enough to get some prawns they will meet a chargrilled sweet chilli style demise but the other stuff, crabs, small fish, eels, is there any point in not throwing them back?

Nah, throw back the babby fish and eels, nothing of use for them but to let em grow big and catch em on rod and line..
The idea really behind these traps is bait collection, so shrimp, prawns, hel, i', sure in summer if you hang them mid water you can get some fresh sandeel swiimin into them, but unless you're going to use what ya catch as bait, or eat some prawns or lobster ya catch , then release the other creatures

[lasercat]

Thanks, I'll off now and will be without internet for the next few days. I'll report the traps performance upon my return.

Thanks again for all the advice.

[Donalfitz]

Hey bro, would really love to know where u picked up the prawn trap?? Was it expensive?? Would love to get my hands on one.

[spindlefist]

eBay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lobster-Crab-Pot- ... 56361c1cd2

[lasercat]

The results are in.

I decided to leave the trap in overnight to see what it caught. When I retrieved it there were several crabs, about 10 prawns and some weird little fish. All in all very happy with the results. The ebay link provided already is the exact one that I got.

I actually set the trap off a rock mark rather than the pier, just handier for where i was. I'll try it again on a pier and post results for those interested.

[derekc]

i somtimes use prawns for bait.
i get them in lidl,
i dont find them great but handy when stuck, is it wrong to use them?

[lasercat]

Definitely wrong, prawns should be eaten immediately

[scrob]

Excellent, just bought one myself off the back of your result Can't wait to try it out!

[baitdigger]

If your stuck for something to bait it with a tin of tuna in oil (don't get tuna in brine its not as good) is excellent for prawn. Puncture a good few holes in the tin and drop it in the cage, stops crabs stealing the bait.

[spindlefist]

i somtimes use prawns for bait.
i get them in lidl,
i dont find them great but handy when stuck, is it wrong to use them?

they don;t work so good, as they've been cooked... nice fresh prawns can work a treat!

[derekc]

i somtimes use prawns for bait.
i get them in lidl,
i dont find them great but handy when stuck, is it wrong to use them?

they don;t work so good, as they've been cooked... nice fresh prawns can work a treat!

thanks,
and can you buy un cooked frozen prawns? it would certainly save a lot of hardship in digging lugs or doing the tyres.
what are the mussels like for bait?

[spindlefist]

I dunno, think most frozen prawn have at least been blanched before freezin, though ya can of course gettin bigger ones frozen, but too expensive to be using for bait, better suited to Tempura batter

Fresh mussel flesh is great, 3 or 4 mussels wrapped onto the hook with lashings of elastic, great stuff, but stinks on yer hand!

[derekc]

well if you got a good lash of them for a few euro and they worked well, it would be worth,
one you look at the crabs, a lot of fellas pay a euro a piece for them, or a dozen for a tenner.
you would definatly need a dozen every time you go out fishing.

[Cormdogg]

I get a good amount of prawn in my trap in bray harbour. Catfood is good bait and the trick is to haul every 30 min, dump all the mini fish and crush the crabs underfoot and leave em in the pot, the prawn like the crab. The ones from Bray are quite tasty actualy, the glow is off putting.