In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Say hello to lobster report cards posted by jim on December 14, 2007 at 19:56:03:

Actually Jim, the vast majority of hoop-netters are private boaters who are working all the same reefs and sites that divers do. If you can dive it, they can hoop-net it. Some of the private boaters are rigged with electric or hydraulic line-pullers that can bring up a net @ 120 ft/min. Combined with the new Promar Eclipse nets, or one of the other rigid varieties, they are very effective -- and they are out every night. My experience so far this season is, without taking into account the commercially operated local dive boats, hoop-netters accounted for many times the fishing effort of local divers. If you were anywhere around any of the launch ramps on opening weekend, I don't think you'd be so quick to dismiss the recreational fisherman's impact. Just my opinion.

SLANG