Awesome mate, you scooping or drop netting?

 Drop netting, was slow going towards the end but managed our 20...

I'm hearing quite a few visitors to Mandurah over the past week saying how there are not many crabs about.

When I've asked these people at the ramp how did they go, did you get a good feed etc, back come the negative responses, there's no bloody crabs about mate.

When I ask a few questions about their crabbing technique like what time did they get out to their favourite spot and how long did they stay at the one spot if the crabs are not plentiful. The answers are usually, well we get out early like 9-30 10ish and give the pots a good soaking time like 1/2 hour or so.

To me right there is the reason why they are not getting a good catch of crabs, IMO you need to be out on the water laying your string of pots no later than 0600 or there about, crabs by nature are nocturnal feeders and you want to have your pots in the water just about sunrise or shortly there after.
How long to leave the pots to soak, as soon as you have put the last pot of your string in the water go back and start pulling the first pot. And then work your way down the line if you don't get at least 4 or so keepers move, there is not many crabs where you are netting.

When I have diplomatically suggested to some people that they are starting out too late the responses are remarkable, like well I'm not going to get up at that bloody hour let me tell you.
My response is simply well you are not going to have an easy time at getting a feed of crabs, remember the early crabber catches the crabs.

 Well I went out today for the first time this summer ..on the water by 6. Moved around a bit and gave up in the end having caught about one size crab for every 20 undersize.   Having crabbed in the Harvey estuary for years, I reckon that the legal crabs are few and far between, but things should get better in mid-late January 

 Result.swan river will do me but we can't  all fit in there

 I've snorkelled a bit for crabs down there and most that we get are hiding under the sand during the day in shallow holes. Don't see many out and about unless you disturb them.  

 if wading then look for the black sand patches - thats where the crabs will be sitting.  3 out of 4 good size black holes will hold crabs.