Prawning on the Swan.

Hi All,

Just after some experiences from anyone that has dived for prawns in the Swan River. I have been only doing it since November last year, trying to get down to the river at least once a week. I have really noticed that the catches have dropped right off since Christmas. In Nov and early Dec people were getting 1.5 - 3kgs a dive, at the moment if you catch a kilo you seem to be doing exceptionally well. Anyone know why this may be so? I have heard that the first big winter rains will push prawns out to sea and that when this happens the prawning will pick up. Any ideas would be great. Cheers,

Scott.

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SamC's picture

Posts: 2013

Date Joined: 30/08/06

hey scott, got no idea bout

Tue, 2007-02-20 16:37

hey scott,
got no idea bout that one mate..
have u got any ideas where i can go scooping for prawns in the shallows?
heard of any draggers gettting any?
i need some bait

cheers
sam

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Cheers,

Sam

Posts: 1

Date Joined: 15/03/11

prawn scooping

Tue, 2011-03-15 11:17

hi scott my name is george over the last few years when i wanted to get fresh prawn i would go to the causeway  thats the 1st bridge going towards vic park walk along the  wall with a touch and scoop net and scoop the prawns off the wall you get all different sizes some times you can also pick up the odd crab.

Posts: 564

Date Joined: 05/08/06

ive heard around aquanis

Tue, 2007-02-20 19:27

ive heard around aquanis college and salter point in the canning river is meant to be a hotspot for dragging...tho ive never done it.

dogsoldier's picture

Posts: 943

Date Joined: 04/11/05

I can remember everyone used

Tue, 2007-02-20 20:20

I can remember everyone used to dragg net at Matilda bay has that generally fires really well

Tight lines and clear sky's

Adam Gallash's picture

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Date Joined: 29/11/05

Rains

Wed, 2007-02-21 09:01

Yep, always heard the rains were good for the prawns and the crabs.

We used to drag Matilda bay as well in the old days, used to get a fair feed too. Not too phased about eating much out of the river these days thou...

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Kal's picture

Posts: 160

Date Joined: 30/04/07

hey how are the prawns going

Sat, 2007-05-05 16:51

hey how are the prawns going at the moment ,going to hit bicton during the weeek ,just want a little heads up

max199's picture

Posts: 812

Date Joined: 09/05/06

I

Sat, 2007-05-05 21:27

I used to go regularly with my cousin just Nth of Bicton baths infront of the pens from the little beach there.Pretty popular spot. I found generally now that it's getting colder at nights with the first rains is when the big pups come out to play.Not too many but of good size.You must be there just as the sun is setting OR later when most of the other divers have been and gone because it gets pretty stirred up down there.I used a 5mm semi-dry wetti which was soo sweet. Had to use one more block of led though,(3lb).ALSO I went when the tide was coming in so the vis was alot better than when it was running out.Make sure you take your catch bag(CRAY) so when you see some blue swimmer crabs you can nab them as well.Be careful of the claws as they still hurt with a diving glove on.I use a welding glove over it.They taste superb out of the river.If you need a partner Soupster51 just PM me and I'll show ya if ya want.
Another place to try is near Aquarama. In the shallows at times there are XL prawns so all you need is a mask and fins to snorkel the shallows. At both spots I recommend using a normal torch ie. One that does not have a LED bulb as the white light emmited from the LED torch doesn't "light up" the prawns eyes nearly enough as the normal diving torch does. This is important especially when the prawns sit under the sand and only have there eyes out.GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN. MAXY

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Date Joined: 30/12/06

Bull Sharks ?

Sun, 2007-05-06 09:43

Sheesh , havent you guys who dive at night in the river and worse still walk around waist deep in the gloom ever heard of Bull Sharks ?

Kal's picture

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Date Joined: 30/04/07

yep ive heard of them there

Sun, 2007-05-06 22:47

yep ive heard of them there pretty good eating too.

max199's picture

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Date Joined: 09/05/06

Bull sharks?

Sun, 2007-05-06 13:19

What are they? As I drag myself across the floor to get my walker! If you feared alot of things in life, wouldn't it be pretty boring so to speak. So in other words don't ever go in the water? It just doesn't work that way. MAXY

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Date Joined: 23/07/10

When i have been snorkeling

Tue, 2011-03-15 11:25

When i have been snorkeling in the river these past few months, during the times when there were going to be storms forming i have observered that the fish and prawns seem to come closer to shore in huge numbers, i know this to be true because theres a spot i dive which is usually barren but when theres a storm forming it really comes to life.