[LkyLindy]

Doc-

I know you fish Smithtown Bay.Well I went to the artificial reef the other day to see if Blackfish have arrived and lo and behold the hot spots are loaded with lobster pots. These things have just appeared and I'm cynical about what these guys are really trying to catch i.e. Blackfish! What's your thoughts on this?

 

[623424]

They might be fish pots. Down here in Southern Jersey you see a lot of Seabass Pots and they get quite a few blackfish as bycatch. In addition to that, there are a handfull of lobster pots, but they don't that get many lobsters down here, maybe 10-12 a day, but the pots always have tons of seabass and blackfish in them and that's what they sell to make money. You're not gonna make a lot of money selling a dozen lobsters a day.

 

[seaslug44]

lkylindy,

I actually brought this discussion up on these boards once before. The pots are indeed all lobster pots and they are totally legal. It is also legal for commercial lobstermen to keep blackfish that find their way into their traps for resale in New York state.

Last year the number of pots got so ridiculous that I called DEC in Stonybrook. I was informed that there was nothing they could do. The State funded the artificial reef program for all to benefit, INCLUDING commercial lobstermen, commercial dive boats and commercial fishermen. As far as I am concerned, the Smithtown reef is literally ruined as a productive fishing location as a result of all of the pots.

Sorry I do not have better news for you...