Making a Better Spot Pen...

ADDfishing · 08-12-2007, 12:08 PM

It's spot season! A time a lot of guys in my area start catching and stockpiling spot so we have them in the fall to get whomped on by the hammers. For the past two years, I've used a barrel which I drilled a lot of 3/8 holes in and sanded the inside down so the little sissies didn't get cut up and hurt. I keep them at the transom of the boat (which is backed in and docked at a private residence on the canal in Lewes) and still had them stolen last year. The only part that really ticks me off is that the dude threw the screw on lid away.

So I'm starting from scratch and debating gluing up some PVC and zip tying black plastic mesh around it. I guess I cant really lock up that system, because anyone could just cut the mesh open. Has anyone found a way to lock up a spot pen and not have salt water decompose the lock in ten days? Any and all ideas would be appreciated. (I'm debating putting a lock-on on the light pole and sniping thieves

)

Capt_John · 08-12-2007, 12:30 PM

My spot pen usually consists of a cast iron skillet and some hot grease.

HOLWACHAGOT · 08-12-2007, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt_John

My spot pen usually consists of a cast iron skillet and some hot grease.

I bet nobody messes with those spot Capt_John. I am sure getting walloped with the cast iron would cure the thievery, whether it be skillet or Remington.

Seriously though, it sounds like you need a cuddyback on the pen. Or fill the pen with skates and toadfish, maybe even some snakes. Or both. Then you could film the thieves getting worked over before they went to jail, or worse.

HOLWACHAGOT

Capt_John · 08-12-2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOLWACHAGOT

I bet nobody messes with those spot Capt_John. I am sure getting walloped with the cast iron would cure the thievery, whether it be skillet or Remington.

Seriously though, it sounds like you need a cuddyback on the pen. Or fill the pen with skates and toadfish, maybe even some snakes. Or both. Then you could film the thieves getting worked over before they went to jail, or worse.

HOLWACHAGOT

I actually meant that I like to fry spot. They're one of my favorite fish to eat.

HOLWACHAGOT · 08-13-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt_John

I actually meant that I like to fry spot. They're one of my favorite fish to eat.

I think I know where we might get some just before Striper season.

ADDfishing, where will you be keeping your pen again?

HOLWACHAGOT

ADDfishing · 08-13-2007, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOLWACHAGOT

I think I know where we might get some just before Striper season.

ADDfishing, where will you be keeping your pen again?

HOLWACHAGOT

A stand has been hung. You'll hear a low, "THUUUUUWWWAAAAACK!" It'll be too late by then.

ReelSmith · 08-14-2007, 10:00 AM

What do you feed the spot and how long will they stay alive in the pen??? I might try catching and keeping some down here on the Chesapeake.

ADDfishing · 08-14-2007, 11:42 AM

My and I buddies throw table scraps (meat) in there. I've never really gotten a good, definitive answer on what's the right thing to feed em, but they're eating something because they hang around. It seems that the biggest issues are around full moons - they get territorial and the big ones kill the small ones. I personally have not gotten sophisticated enough to seperate them, and I don't even know if that's absolute cause of the occasional floaters. By the way, leave the dead ones in, because they definitely get eaten. Around our way, the beginning of November is when things heat up, and the little guys are always alive. I do know that you're supposed to keep the barrel off the bottom. I think that if silt gets stirred up, it's hard on them. I just read a study on farming them, I'll try to find the URL to it in a little bit. I've got a meeting.

Fiore3 · 08-14-2007, 12:12 PM

I know of a few people in Lewes that had their spot stolen last year... Try pinning the barrel under the dock to keep it out of sight, that might help.. If they can't see it they probably waste time trying to take it...

Proheat · 08-15-2007, 11:44 AM

My cousin puts the bloodline from tuna in his traps and catches alot of spot. I have a floating spot keeper(net style) at my dock and just throw in left over bunker, etc. in the keeper and they stay alive. I'm only down on weekends and they are still alive and swimm'in when I check on them.

I don't know what you pay for spot anywhere else, but around del. they charge anywhere from 2.00 to 4.00 each for them.

Its soon time to start catching them for the upcomming striper season.

08-12-2007, 12:08 PM	#1
ADDfishing Hide- My Wifes Logged On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lewes, DE Posts: 154 Credits: 1,257.6	Making a Better Spot Pen... It's spot season! A time a lot of guys in my area start catching and stockpiling spot so we have them in the fall to get whomped on by the hammers. For the past two years, I've used a barrel which I drilled a lot of 3/8 holes in and sanded the inside down so the little sissies didn't get cut up and hurt. I keep them at the transom of the boat (which is backed in and docked at a private residence on the canal in Lewes) and still had them stolen last year. The only part that really ticks me off is that the dude threw the screw on lid away. So I'm starting from scratch and debating gluing up some PVC and zip tying black plastic mesh around it. I guess I cant really lock up that system, because anyone could just cut the mesh open. Has anyone found a way to lock up a spot pen and not have salt water decompose the lock in ten days? Any and all ideas would be appreciated. (I'm debating putting a lock-on on the light pole and sniping thieves ) __________________

08-12-2007, 12:30 PM	#2
Capt_John I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Jacksonville,NC Posts: 1,962 Credits: 2,576.6 Occupation: charter captain	My spot pen usually consists of a cast iron skillet and some hot grease. __________________ Capt. John Mallette captjohn86@yahoo.com http://www.myspace.com/captjohn86 "ALCOHOL,TOBACCO,AND FIREARMS should be a convieniece store, not a government agency". 1(910) 934-2628

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08-14-2007, 10:00 AM	#7
ReelSmith Got fish Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pasadena, Maryland Posts: 188 Credits: 5,680.4 Boat: 23' Hydrasports Home Port: Chesapeake Bay Best Catch: Steph Occupation: Transportation Engineer, Reel Repairs	What do you feed the spot and how long will they stay alive in the pen??? I might try catching and keeping some down here on the Chesapeake.

08-14-2007, 11:42 AM	#8
ADDfishing Hide- My Wifes Logged On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lewes, DE Posts: 154 Credits: 1,257.6	My and I buddies throw table scraps (meat) in there. I've never really gotten a good, definitive answer on what's the right thing to feed em, but they're eating something because they hang around. It seems that the biggest issues are around full moons - they get territorial and the big ones kill the small ones. I personally have not gotten sophisticated enough to seperate them, and I don't even know if that's absolute cause of the occasional floaters. By the way, leave the dead ones in, because they definitely get eaten. Around our way, the beginning of November is when things heat up, and the little guys are always alive. I do know that you're supposed to keep the barrel off the bottom. I think that if silt gets stirred up, it's hard on them. I just read a study on farming them, I'll try to find the URL to it in a little bit. I've got a meeting.

08-14-2007, 12:12 PM	#9
Fiore3 Stop staring at my Avatar. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Newport DE Posts: 376 Credits: 1,311.7 Home Port: Indian River Inlet, DE Best Catch: My Wife and Daughter Occupation: Research Chemist	I know of a few people in Lewes that had their spot stolen last year... Try pinning the barrel under the dock to keep it out of sight, that might help.. If they can't see it they probably waste time trying to take it...