Catching crays
Submitted by Seafari on Sun, 2012-12-23 08:16
Just wondering if you're allowed to use drop nets for catching crays in WA, like they do in other parts of the world and if so would it actually work here in WA? Basically it's a very similar system to crabbing, just much heavier gear like thicker steel ring, heavier net, longer thicker rope etc. Typically 6 nets per boat, baited up with a net bag and dropped on your favourite spot. After 20-30 mins pull the nets, release any small one's and hopefully get a keeper or two. No need for leaving pots over night, no pot winch required and you can go crayfisdhing at a moments notice.
Battyboy
Posts: 9
Date Joined: 05/12/12
No mate, fisheries would
No mate, fisheries would have your balls. Strict rules and guidelines on what u can use for a pot and bait. There's a reason pots are left over night too, 30 min pull would result zilcho
Seafari
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 17/03/12
I also suspect that fisheries
I also suspect that fisheries would have puppies because there's no escape gap in a net so everything in the net is brought onto the boat and only then are undersize thrown put back. Okay, what about bait bags when diving? In South Africa, you're not allowed SCUBA gear for catching crays nor are you allowed to use a snare (loop) Some guys use bait bags. A bait bag is placed on the seabed with a long thin line and float. The diver swims between 2 bags waiting to pounce?
kelsea
Posts: 134
Date Joined: 14/02/12
Interesting Thought
I'd be interested to know as well. I am unsure if they move around a hell of a lot in the day.
Ocean bound is where I'll be found
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Kelsea
Kelsea has it in one go, crays very rarely move about and feed in daylight hours and according to the rules and regulations you cannot pull pots in the dark from 1800 through to 0600.
Have seen them caught in drop nets at night by crabbers though, just not saying where.
strike_zone
Posts: 403
Date Joined: 09/09/10
early morning pull
you can actually pull your pots at 0430 from the start of the season thru till about march april sometime then it reverts to 0600 till the end of june
Hairyone
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 26/12/09
What would happen if you
What would happen if you accidently caught a cray in your crab net while crabbing at night? Would you be allowed to keep it or is there a law against it.
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
Unlikely
as you wouldnt be fishing for crabs at the same place as crays i.e reef!
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
But no you cannot keep it if
But no you cannot keep it if you did.
I do know of a few places at night where the crays walk around finding food on the sandy weedy crab kind of ground though !! But totally illegal, ionly know they walk around due to seeing them while night diving.
Vin
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
cokburrn sound
I've seen crays in cockburn sound in the past, once saw a big one night
diving on the wrecks off rockingham beach! I would have had it if not for the time of nigh!
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
The question is, is it
The question is, is it illegal to catch the crays at night, bring them over to your pot before surfacing, dump them in and pick them up later when it's legal? :p
Swompa
Posts: 3902
Date Joined: 14/10/12
In the process of moving it
In the process of moving it to your pot, is it caught or just in involintary transit?
Have 'seen' them in shallows, like scoop net shallows at point Peron once a long time ago.
Seafari
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 17/03/12
I still reckon a few well
I still reckon a few well placed heavily baited ring nets dropped in front of a nice ledge holding crays would entice then to come out for a feed, even in the middle of the day?
TheBradyBunch
Posts: 216
Date Joined: 20/12/09
I have seen crays caught
I have seen crays caught during the day time in drop nets an have seen it happen more than once but yes it is illegal to keep them
Seafari
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 17/03/12
okay thanks, that answers my
okay thanks, that answers my question. It's only pots with escape gaps and diving for catching crays in WA.
cityboy
Posts: 80
Date Joined: 08/11/09
Catching crays
Hi guys / girls saw fisheries out on the five fatom
Today on saftybay side pulling pots one at a time
Did see one pot put on board of ther smaller boat ;)
........enjoy the day lets go fishing........