Interesting sighting on the Swan
Tried my luck at crabbing (nets) in the Swan tonight. Just the one size! I usually free dive for them and typically get a feed, but it’s been so murky lately, I thought I’d give netting a go.
I thought I’d save some bucks and catch some herring for fresh bait, but the one time I actually want to catch them in the river, all I get is lots of small pink snapper (about 30cm). After about 2 hrs I finally managed to catch some herring for bait.
Most interesting part of the night was seeing a live crayfish wandering in about 3 ft of water. I’m 100% certain it was a crayfish as the water was glassy and I had my torch on it for a few seconds. I tried to do a circle and go over it again to get a photo, but it was heading for a drop off and dissappeared. I did about 5 circles in the area but no luck.
It was very lightly coloured (pink) like when the whites are running and would have gone very close to size.
Has as anyone else ever seen a live cray in the Swan?
muttprawn
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 24/10/15
Crays in Swan
Gday mate
Several years back I was doing a prawn dive in the lower reaches and happened to see a cray.
I have had a few yarns with the fisheries as part of the crabbing log book program over a few things one being salinity/estuarine environment.
But back to the cray, there are a few theories as to why. One being people coming back in with 1 surplus to bag limits so they quickly chuck it back. With the swan being saline to up quite a way the crays can survive.
Allegedly in prior times Pink Snapper were frequently caught off Blackwall. Not sure the exact size however. I think I still have an article and will post if I can find it.
A mate and I saw a baldchin at one of our dive spots around September.
Sulo
Posts: 256
Date Joined: 13/08/11
Caught a cray in a crab net a
Caught a cray in a crab net a few years ago over near Dalkeith, tail was clipped, so presume someone was over their bag limit and dropped it over the side.
Work to Fish
Posts: 36
Date Joined: 02/03/15
Hi mate,That makes sense
Hi mate,
That makes sense about crays being dropped by someone.
The baldie would have been a nice surprise.
It’s amazing what the river throws up!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17868
Date Joined: 11/03/08
Heard of crays a few times
Heard of crays a few times but remember as a kid i remember catching small pink snapper at the causway and canning bridge
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1019
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Did a run last Sunday near
Did a run last Sunday near the southern end of the PWC area in the Swan, not far from the bridge. 20 in two hours, chicken necks. Did the last pull with 6 of the biggest crabs i have ever seen but due to already icing the 20 we had they were all let go.
I usually only head out once a year so happy to let others FW's know where they are gathering.
Cheers
Piggy
Posts: 538
Date Joined: 24/08/12
raffles
was that near the raffles?
I go boating not fishing