more lobster pots!!

**pcatterall** · 22-04-12, 21:37

I have read lots of threads on this subject but untill recently had no direct experience.
During our recent trip from Preston to Falmouth we saw an increasing number of pots with some close encounters.
En route from Newlyn to Falmouth we spotted quite a few around us but ( more importantly) off the Lizard in motor sailing in quite rough conditions we had to take fairly drastic evasive action on 3 occaisions ( the pots were bang in front of us and not spotted early in the waves) at night we would have certainly hit at least one of them.
3 pots bang on course make you wonder just how many pots there must be floating around.
Is this 'score' par for the course in this area?

**sailor211** · 22-04-12, 21:40

In my experiance that area has a lot of pots, mostly with tall marks with flag so relatively easy to spot

**beserksail** · 22-04-12, 21:46

Portuguese coast is like a slalom course.

**SlimRick** · 22-04-12, 21:48

Aberdaron Bay, dodge the floating plastic milk cartons masquerading as pot markers.

**pcatterall** · 22-04-12, 22:04

Yes we saw those at Abedaron fortunatly the weather/sea was calm so easier to spot.

**Ex-SolentBoy** · 22-04-12, 22:48

No mate, you missed loads.

Penzance to Falmouth a couple of weeks ago I must have seen over 70

Our strategy is to do nothing until they are 10m or so from the bow and to then just turn a little if needed. Interestingly, we didn't have to turn for a single one, despite thinking we would.

Shows how rubbish we are at predicting our visual water track.

**Tranona** · 22-04-12, 22:49

You will find pots tend to be concentrated (unsurprising) where the crabs live and the water is shallow enough to make pots viable. So headlands are obvious places, which makes it fun when tides are running hard. A few years ago a map was published based on the reports of pot sightings and snarl ups. Needles Channel, Chritschurch Ledge, Old Harry, Portland, Berry Head, Lizard etc. Also watch out for buoys marking nets and worst of all discarded bits of cut up net and bits of poly sheeting floating just below the surface.

Hope you have fitted a rope cutter in preparation for your voyage.