CA3025218A1 - Fishing trap fetcher - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention called "Fishing Trap Fetcher" was developed as a method of retrieving lobster and crab fishing traps when these traps are link to their buoy by only single weak rope. When using a single weak rope to link the trap(s) to the buoy, a weighted hook, or other retrieving device must be lowered in direction of the trap(s) guided by this single weak rope. To succeed the weak rope must be relatively vertical and tensioned, which is about impossible in real fishing conditions. This new device solves the problem by being buoyant and self-powered.

Description

My invention is a fishing trap retrieval method using a buoyant self-propelled hook. The trap(s) is link to a surface buoy with a weak rope or tag line. A hook receiver is fitted on the trap or attached to the trap with a short rope, this hook receiver is buoyant therefore always present itself in the proper orientation to the hook that is going to mate in it at retrieving time. The weak rope or tag line is attached in the center of that buoyant hook receiver.
Guided by the tag line, a buoyant and self-propelled device, or hook, is lowered into the water from a boat. That hook propels itself by pulling on the tag line that is attached to the hook receiver on the trap. By being buoyant, this hook keeps the tag line to a relative vertical, particularly when it gets closer to the hook receiver. When the hook reaches the hook receiver, it engages itself into it and locks in place, at this point the self-propelled action stops. On its way down, the hook is pulling a heavy rope attached to it, the other end of the heavy rope remains in the boat and now can be used to retrieve the trap by pulling on it.
Although not practical, the buoyancy feature of the hook can be replaced by propellers or water jets acting in a way to force the hook to have an upward force while it is pulled downwards toward the fishing trap, this would have for effect that a tag line tension would be kept between the hook and the hook receiver.

Claims

l hereby claim part of my invention a device that is buoyant and self-propelled by pulling itself along a guide rope, or tag line, in order to retrieve fishing traps.
Also claim is any device that pulls itself on a guide rope, or tag line, in order to travel towards a fishing trap.
Also claim is any device that pulls on a guide rope, or tag line, in order to travel towards a fishing trap while maintaining a tension on that tag line by means of buoyancy.
Also claim is any device that pulls on a guide rope, or tag line, in order to travel towards a fishing trap while maintaining a tension on that tag line by means of propeller or water jets acting on the surrounding water.