Pot Puller - Redux

Bearbait · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

I use a Powerwinch designed as a pot puller with a capstain. I made a bracket so it attaches to the gunwale and built a fairlead. It works well but you will need a bit of ingenuity to make it work. The whole process would be much easier if you mount it permanently but I wanted it to be removable, it is small and easily stored. I bought it last year and think it was just under $300. I pull 1,000' of line with 5 weighted pots and it handles it easily. It could pull twice the weight.

CaptMac · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject: How do you catch Shrimp?

Can someone share "how-to" shrimp with a pot puller? Thank you.

Bearbait · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject:

CaptMac, We use pots to fish for Spot shrimp which live in rocky areas. I fish the pots from 300-600'. I've never heard of using pots to fish warm water shrimp but see no reason why it wouldn't work. People use all kinds of bait, from canned and dry cat food, commercially prepared bait pellets and fish parts. I've found that for short soaks ground up herring works best. Check your regs, you may be able to use them.

Bearbait · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

I spent a week on a rental boat a few weeks ago and it had an Ace pot puller on it, WOW, what a week machine. I got quite a workout helping the ace pull the 5 pot string, I think I put more work into it than the Ace did. I'm sure glad I went with the Powerwinch on my boat.

Patrout · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:23 am Post subject:

Bearbait,

There must have been something wrong with the pot puller on that rental boat.

I pull 5 pots with my Ace and it's pretty easy. I just sit on my tool box and guide the rope into the big tub that holds the rope, the float and and the anchor I use. I just have to keep enough tension on the line to let the big pulley wheel grip it.

It could be the rental boat equipment gets treated pretty rough.

Pat

Bearbait · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject:

It must have been a weak motor because I can't imagine people buying them if that's how they usually perform.

starcrafttom · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject:

Captnmac, in your area I think they just use cast nets to get shrimp. Thats what we did on the base in North carolina. Just waded or boated out into the flats and threw the cast net and let it sink then pull it in with all the shrimp. It also how I caught all my bait.

breausaw · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:12 am Post subject:

Ok, why can some pull 5 pots on a string with the ACE and others pull only 1 or 2? I’m wondering if the difference is because some use leaded line verses sinking line, there is a big difference. Sinking line is just shy of neutral bouncy were leaded line sinks almost right away and is heavier. When you have a 100-fathom shot to pull the extra weight would make a difference. Also, if you use leaded line between the post instead of floating line this would make a difference also. And what about the weight of the pots, how much are they weighted.
I’d go out and buy an ACE tomorrow it I was confident it would pull 5 pots at once, because that is the only economical/ergonomically way to shrimp from a CD, in my opinion.

mmitchell · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:28 am Post subject:

We pull two (2) pots (stackable)

Patrout · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject:

The C-Farer has one of those fold-up anchors at the end of the line. It's about 5 lbs, I think. Then we have two regular pots that weigh between 5 and 10 lbs each, unweighted. Above those are three fold-up pots, each with two 12 inch lengths of re-bar attached to keep the bottoms down and the tops up. The pots get clipped to about feet of leaded line. The rest of the line is unleaded. It doesn't float up because the leaded line keeps it down.

All-in-all. I'm still messing around with the fold-up pots. They are kind of a pain to bait and to close tightly and still be legal. But they take up so little space on the boat that they are probably worthwhile.

I know that I have to make sure the idler pulleys on the Ace are well lubricated so they don't exert too much drag on the motor. But for all the hassle, 10 dozen spot shrimp in one haul can make it all worthwhile.

Pat

Patrout · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject:

I meant to say "about 350 feet" of leaded line.
Sorry,
Pat

Bearbait · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

Pat, I agree about the colapsable pots. I made some colapsable pots and it sure was nice to have them folded for storage but were a pain to work with. I went back to standard pots. I've made 20-30 pots in the last 5 years, trying different designs, looking for the perfect pot. I'm not there yet but am getting closer. This winter I will make some extra large pots to leave in the water between trips, 1-2 weeks.

breausaw · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

Glad now I went with the standard square pots, they take up more room but are the first things to go over the side and last to be picked up.
I use a 100 fathom shot of sinking line attached to about 250 feet of floating line. The 3 pots get tied into the line buy opining up the twist, pulling the pot line through with a single half hitch, than tucking the line 4 to 5 times; spaced about 50 feet apart.

I tie the floating line into the sinking line by passing it through a braided loop and back tucking it 6 to 8 times, this allows the line to pass through the buoy puller right up to the first pot.
These knots are easy to make and untie.
After I have all the pots onboard I thread the buoy puller back up to the sinking line, release it, and re tie the union between the lines; I leave the pots tied.
The pots are weighted down with about 4 lbs of flat stock I had laying around, zip tied to the bottom.
Next year I’m going try 4 pots and see how the buoy puller handles it, may have to add an addition buoy for buoyancy.
Next year-man the summer scrambled by fast! Sad