Paul...
 
While in Okinawa, I knew several people who were dropping traps for cones
and for bait they were using (of all things) lettuce!
 
The late Bill Naylor of San Diego set traps off Cabo San Lucus a few
times.  His traps consisted of tin cans tied off with fishing line. I
don't know what bait he used (probably clams), but he caught hundreds of
Trophon beebei.  Anyone who purchased T. beebei from me at the 1989 COA
bourse got specimens from Bill's catch.
 
Kim Hutsell
Field Research, Marine Malacology
San Diego
 
Paul R. Monfils wrote:
>
> The only shells you are likely to get by trapping methods are those gastropod
> species which are scavengers, that is, which commonly feed on dead flesh.
> Conus and Oliva are not likely - they feed primarily on live prey.  Strombus
> would be even less likely - they are vegetarians.  Some Murex species can
> definitely be trapped though, as can members of the families Buccinidae,
> Melongenidae, Nassariidae, Fasciolariidae, and sometimes Naticidae.  Of
> course, hermit crabs will be attracted to bait, so you may get other kinds of
> shells that way.
> Paul M.