O.L. Dottyback avoiding the trap.

[chuckm]

Looooong story short,
I now have a bottle trap (square juice bottle)which worked on Saturday, within 2 hours the dottyback swam in the trap -i put a whole raw shrimp in there-however when i went to pull the trap out of the water he shot up out of the hole when i got it like 2" from the surface. i could'nt believe it! i read on a theread here that fish usually swim down when they're frightened...
My question is: now he only goes 4" near the trap, i think he is spooked. should i give it a rest for a few days, take the trap out and try again in a few days?

After round bottle traps,sliding door traps, fishing hooks, i finally found a trap that worked, but i'm worried i blew itwith that one shot. My wrasses swim in it within a minute or two, then out again. It's been a few weeks trying to catch this murderous *!#$%&.

Anybody been there before?
Any advice appreciated.

 

[chuckm]

wow, just like my dottyback-no bites!

anyway i left the food out of the trap today, and i think tomorrow as well. Then i'll try again. The melanurus wrasse and cleaner wrasse venture in and out, though the dottyback is coming near the trap, just not inside! Rats!

I'll try again tommorow....

 

[Lorenz725]

Hmmm this worked very well for my dottyback. Did you cut the bottle in half and invert the top in the bottom? I also tied a peace of fishing line to it so when it did go in I was able to pull it out fast. Good luck I am sure you will catch him.

 

[Recty]

Drill holes in the bottom of the trap, small ones but enough for water flow. Tie a small piece of mono-filament fishing line to the top of the bottle, really thin stuff so it's pretty much invisible. Then, when the fish goes it, just yank the bottle up. With the small holes in the bottom for water flow and if you pull up decently fast, the fish wont make it out the top.

Just an idea!

 

[chuckm]

Yes i did invert the top, and i have a fihing line tied to the top as well...
I may modify the holes, and make some larger ones to the bottom of the bottle.
a ster
I made just small slits on the top and bottom with a steak knife.
But maybe 1/4" holes on the bottom, wil help it drain as i pull it out.

I know that was my problem the last time. Took too log to pull it up to the surface and gave the lighting fast dotty that was bouncing off the walls of this trap, a chance to shoot out the top. There are monti caps and acros above where i have the bottle situated so i don't want to takeout those corals as i yank it up to the surface...

I did not bait the trap yesterday and did not feed.(except for seaweed clip for the tangs).


I'm thinking tonight i'll try again....thanks for the words of encouragement-i need it!