Mandurah Crabing - Quick report and advise
Living in Bouvard and 500m away from the ramp its easy to go for a bash.
At the start heaps of small ones and the odd big. All in the deep (1.5m plus)
Recent deep trips have been pretty lean.
On one of the trips there was 5 boats all lined up to go in, when one of the Pro boats came up behind. I had a quick quite word to 2 boats in front and we decided to let her jump the line (eventually all but one gave way to the Pros -I mean its them working not having fun).
She thanked me and others heaps and gave some advise. They have appeared to have moved out of the deep into the shallows, and to try the drop off's on the edges.
So now the theory was tested last weekend (im always sus on Pro advise as why would you give away info to let every amateur block your fishing).
Headed a little further south than our usual tried and trusted spot, as it was swamped by others.
Ran 2 lines off five with Identical baits in all pots (im a scientist so have to control the experiment).
5 in deep water (1.5m) and 5 on the adjacent drop off in about 1m or less.
Result: 1 in 2 pulls in the deep and 9 in the first pull in the shallows from 5 nets.
Despite having 2 licences 10 is always our target if there is no hangers on, as it is all the family will eat (and all I will clean as NO ONE ELSE WILL). The pickup pull in the deep the second run had none, and we dumped another 5 in the shallow set.
So I think despite every other year they are in the shallows, and afterwards we cruised the shallows to check and there was plenty. A scooper around the same area also commented that he was selective and only keeping the "don't bother measuring" size one, and dumping some obvious size ones.
So just a little info, but as we all know things can change and with this hot spell maybe they will head back deep with the shallows warming up.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
uncle
Posts: 9504
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Thanks mate
I don't do mandurah any more long way to tow the boat for 20 crabs.mind you have got some nice ones off the wood in the swan
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8156
Date Joined: 07/05/12
I went down on Sat with my 3y
I went down on Sat with my 3y old and headed to the exact same spot I cleaned up in 9 pulls back in December. I had 5 nets and started in 1.4m for two pulls resulting in lots of undersized crabs. moved to 1.6m for two pullls and much the same and moved to 1.8m and much the same again with 1 size Jenny. Hard work for no joy!
Shoulda tried the shallows while having a flick for some whiting by the sounds of it although I watch one fella walking around with a scoop on the way back up the river and he wasn't having much joy either.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
crasny1
Posts: 7004
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Yes the reports at the ramp in Parkridge
didn't sound flash this weekend. Some poor bugger was out at 8, and when we came back at 2pm from an offshore whiting fish he asked how we went, as he only got 6 in 6hrs. His mouth almost fell to the floor when I said we got 33 but it was quickly followed by whiting.
Other boats over the weekend also struggled for a feed so despite looking like a good season was coming its been hard work this one compared to last year.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Oldbull
Posts: 179
Date Joined: 21/09/15
a few weeks ago we were
a few weeks ago we were getting around 6 in the nets but another 10 or so scooping the shallows opposite park ridge. It sounds like they have moved on. Last week in main estuary between science platform and the farm we got 15 in about 3 hours.
iamad
Posts: 26
Date Joined: 13/05/08
Slow for crabs this week
Family been out this week (Wednesaday) and managed 2 from 3 pulls (String of 10 pots).
Don't know if they went deep or shallow though.
Going out Sunday so can report back then - hopefully things improve.
iamad
Posts: 26
Date Joined: 13/05/08
Zero Zilch None
Two boats, 20 pots in the main estury PLUS 6 people with 4 scoop nets.
Not one size crab.
Even though half the group have never been crabbing before there were enough seasoned campaigners in there to swing the law of averages their way... you would have thought.
Lucky the weather was good and they still enjoyed the experience.
C.P
Posts: 345
Date Joined: 04/01/12
Bummer
I was waiting for your report so thanks for that
Very disapointing though, crabs are normally around right through to May / June
out wide
Posts: 1535
Date Joined: 30/12/08
Swan not much better..only 2
Swan not much better..only 2 in 3 hours the other morning..have been bagging out about a month ago.. although I hear their are a few if you spend the time chasing them around like in the deep water or up the creek. Was told of one spot that was going good but the guy I was talking too said the pro was moving in on them so be quick but haven't had the time so good bye to that.