Catching Crabs. Aussie Style.

[Blackfish]

Greeting from Australia again everyone. One of my favorite pastimes is catching crabs, not in traps but on a simple handline and a piece of fish bait.
Many years ago when I was a young-bloke I used to do this all the time, now nearly 30 years latter I've rekindled the passion as my In-Laws have bought a house on the water close to my old crabbing spots. This is situated about 1-hour drive north of Sydney where I live.
There are 2 main types of Crabs we catch here
1) Mud Crabs. Mostly living in Mangrove/mud estuary system
Heres a example of a Mud Crab that my friend caught 2 weeks ago.
His son loves anything to do with Fishing.


Then we took him out to dinner to the local Chinese restaurant which he didn't enjoy but we did.
Ginger, Garlic and Shallots.


2) Blue Swimmers. Mostly living in a Estuary weed system.
Over last weekend we visited the In-Laws, so I took him out on a Crabbing trip targeting Blue Swimmers.
Got up at dawn, hit my old spot and were lucky the crabs were on the chew. We ended up with 11 and were back just over 1-hr latter for breakfast.
Our catch,


Max with the Biggest one,


AND this is how they ended up Joining us for lunch...... maybe not in the way they would have liked... but we did.


Regards (Aussie) Blackfish

[jason]

The crabs are huge ......Looks very yummy .....
Leave me drooling liao.....

Cheers
\Jason

[thunnus]

Whoooahhh....., crabs with sauvignon blanc ! It's obvious deadly combination ! Makes me drooling too.....

[hdmcgatha]

Now this is a first for me.... Catching crabs on hand lines... Nice CR and it realy looks like a very nice meal.

[black]

hi blackfish i really envy you guys up there,wish i'm where u are.
keep us up with the catch.

[Blackfish]

Hi there Black and everybody with the kind words,unfortunately we are coming into winter here in Sydney and the Crabs go very quite(water cools down and the crabs don't move around much) Still a couple of months left though.
My Father-in-law went last week by himself(could not find anyone to go with..... any one wants to go with him) and still got 8, so they are still around.
Thanks,
B.F.

[Binney]

Hi, those crabs are amazing!!!

Would you mind sharing where a good spot to go crab fishing is in or around Sydney or up the coast? We'd love to take our boys crab fishing.

Thank you.

[stickbom!]

yuuuuuuuuuuumy!!!!! Thanks for sharing mate On a separate note, do you happen to know any tackle shops in your area that stocks a healthy supply of Platypus nylon lines? I'm looking for Lo-Stretch & Platinum in 1000m spools

[Blackfish]

Originally Posted by Binney

Hi, those crabs are amazing!!!

Would you mind sharing where a good spot to go crab fishing is in or around Sydney or up the coast? We'd love to take our boys crab fishing.

Thank you.

Hi Binney, we go up to the Central Coast (Gosford) all you need to do is find a nice Ribbon weed bank that has a bit of tidal run coming off it and is finally exposed at low tide your in for a chance. Not sure how old your boys are but to keep the kids amused I get them to fish with, say a No8 long shank hook,the barb crushed down and a bit of Prawn bait. So if they get a bite they usually get a fish and you will also catch some good jackets with this method as well. Doing it this way small fish can be easily released with little harm..

Regards Gordon.

[Blackfish]

Originally Posted by stickbom!

yuuuuuuuuuuumy!!!!! Thanks for sharing mate On a separate note, do you happen to know any tackle shops in your area that stocks a healthy supply of Platypus nylon lines? I'm looking for Lo-Stretch & Platinum in 1000m spools

Hi Stickbom,
Hard to get a shop to stock these lines in such large spools, but try Complete Angler, either
Sydney@compleatangler.com.au

Or Villawood@compleatangler.com.au

This is a reputable company and I'm sure if they don't have it they will get it in for you.
Let us know if you have any problems.
Regards Gordon.

[stickbom!]

Thanks Gordon!!

[caliven]

This is Amazing. Hope get some accurate place to catch crab. And do you know where I can buy crab traps in sydney?

[caliven]

Hi, Do you know where I can buy cab nets as showing on this link: Saltwater traps and nets | NSW Department of Primary Industries

[Blackfish]

Originally Posted by caliven

Hi, Do you know where I can buy cab nets as showing on this link: Saltwater traps and nets | NSW Department of Primary Industries

Hi Caliven,
The best type would be Witches Hats, which you would buy from most bigger tackle stores.

Remember Brisbane Waters (Gosford) and Port Hacking (Sutherland Shire) are closed to all nets and traps (big fines if you are caught) so a hand line with a bit of meat only to be used.

Sydney Harbour, Georges River, Hawksbury etc are OK, always check Fisheries Web site or better give the local office a ring just to make sure.
They have'nt turned up in numbers yet, still a bit early, but after the bit of rain we're getting now and a bit of warm weather they might start moving.
.
Though its been a good year for Crays when we have been diving(2 per person)


Hope this helps
Regards Gordon.

[caliven]

Originally Posted by Blackfish

Hi Caliven,
The best type would be Witches Hats, which you would buy from most bigger tackle stores.

Remember Brisbane Waters (Gosford) and Port Hacking (Sutherland Shire) are closed to all nets and traps (big fines if you are caught) so a hand line with a bit of meat only to be used.

Sydney Harbour, Georges River, Hawksbury etc are OK, always check Fisheries Web site or better give the local office a ring just to make sure.
They have'nt turned up in numbers yet, still a bit early, but after the bit of rain we're getting now and a bit of warm weather they might start moving.
.
Though its been a good year for Crays when we have been diving(2 per person)


Hope this helps
Regards Gordon.

Wooo!!! This is amazing!!! Did your guys use respirator or just snorkel?
I try Wismans ferry last Christmas but get nothing through crab trap. Do I went there too early?

[Blackfish]

Hi Calvin, bad luck with the Crabs mate up at Wisemans Ferry. I used to go up to Mangrove creek and Mooney creek a bit many years ago around Christmas and did all right. But that was a few years ago.
Its been a poor season so far for the Blue Swimmers, not sure why but I suppose thats fishing.
As for the Crays, its been a great year with us bagging out (2 per person) each time we went out and some really nice big ones over a kilo as well. I believe these are the best eating ones we get in Australia. They were around in numbers till about mid November, then they moved back out to the shelf.
We take all our crays on snorkel, we go for a spearfish first then on the way back jump in and get a couple of crays.
You can only take crays with a gloved hand and snorkeling only in NSW. No scuba tanks.

We got a few Painted crays on our trip up to North West Island this year, but are not nearly as good as eating as the Eastern ones. (I have to post that report for this year when I get a chance)

Hopefully you will have better luck soon.

Good luck.
Gordon.

[caliven]

Originally Posted by Blackfish

Hi Calvin, bad luck with the Crabs mate up at Wisemans Ferry. I used to go up to Mangrove creek and Mooney creek a bit many years ago around Christmas and did all right. But that was a few years ago.
Its been a poor season so far for the Blue Swimmers, not sure why but I suppose thats fishing.
As for the Crays, its been a great year with us bagging out (2 per person) each time we went out and some really nice big ones over a kilo as well. I believe these are the best eating ones we get in Australia. They were around in numbers till about mid November, then they moved back out to the shelf.
We take all our crays on snorkel, we go for a spearfish first then on the way back jump in and get a couple of crays.
You can only take crays with a gloved hand and snorkeling only in NSW. No scuba tanks.

We got a few Painted crays on our trip up to North West Island this year, but are not nearly as good as eating as the Eastern ones. (I have to post that report for this year when I get a chance)

Hopefully you will have better luck soon.

Good luck.
Gordon.

Hi Blackfish,
I am really happy see that you reply me. I am searching some places for fishing and diving catching abalone. My friend said that it is really hard to catch them in Sydney, but I am still trying. Is that any chance we can go with you to have fun?
Cheers
Caliven

[Blackfish]

Hi Calvin.
It is illegal to catch Abalone between Port Stephens and Jervis Bay due to disease that swept through called "Perkinsus olsensi" this happened a few years ago and it has nearly wiped out all the Abalone. Though I see a few now but there is big fines if you are caught with them.

Bag and size limits - saltwater | NSW Department of Primary Industries

Its not worth it. See ............
Fishing and aquaculture news releases | NSW Department of Primary Industries
and scroll down and have a look at some of the fines.

In summer I work 6 days so I don't get in that much only once a month for a competition I dive, which your more than welcome to turn up and say hi and have a look at some of the fish
When I go back to 5 days I mostly shore dive on a monday.
I believe you must be a good swimmer and be comfortable in the water off the ocean rocks.
Plus have all the necessary gear(wet suits etc to stop you getting cold and protection from hurting yourself getting in and out of the water.)

Good luck with the Crabs, my father-in-law caught a some a few weeks ago, but not sure after all this rain we had.

Tight lines,
Gordon