Timed Release Fishing Traps

TR4RT (Timer Release for Ropeless Fishing) from Sub Sea Sonics is a programmable timer release system for ropeless fishing. The system was designed to be simple, reliable, and cost-effective for single-trap, near-shore fishing in water depths of up to 500 feet. The TR4RT system differs from other ropeless fishing systems by meeting specific criteria based on input from Dungeness Crab and Spiny Lobster fishers. The system is designed to minimize the exposure of whales to entanglement hazards, be capitalizable and operable at low cost, easily integrated into existing fishing processes, and have no undue impact on the time and effort required to handle fishing gear.

The TR4RT system works by securing the normal trap line and floating to the top of the trap with a bungee and release loop attached to a cam on the timer. The time is set by turning the cam, and when the time setting is reached, the line and float are released. There are no other complicated controls or deck units involved, making the system simple to use and operate.

Testing of the TR4RT system has shown the gear to be highly reliable with minimal impact on existing fishing operations, and the system has been successfully tested with lobster traps, black sea bass traps, and crab traps to depths of about 300 feet in a variety of ocean conditions and bottom types. A tablet-based app is also available for gear tracking if needed. The system is being used not just for fishing, but also for general equipment recovery applications using pop-up buoys.