Cockburn crab ban extended another 12 months
Submitted by diji on Wed, 2008-10-29 08:57
After this there needs to be some control and management for this fishery,it cant go back to being fished all year round by the pro's
Matt T
Posts: 875
Date Joined: 19/11/07
You're Spot on Digi
That's where the problem lies!
TerryF
Posts: 489
Date Joined: 11/08/05
Quote:I will wait for Terry
So I won't disappoint you. Of course he did - as reported in this morning's West http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=105047
The Minister decided otherwise based on the advice from his Department as reported:-
And Yep, we all know who is responsible for letting the crab stocks get hammered, and it's not the recreational crabbers.
TerryF
=====
Beavering away in the background.......
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
*sigh*
I was hoping to don the wetsuit and dive for a few crabs in Mangles Bay this year. Catching them in pots is just not as much fun and not nearly as rewarding (both the chase and the catch, plus the fitness). Besides, Mandurah crabs are rubbish in comparison, half full and less flavour.
Oh well, another year to wait to ensure a better future I guess. As long as the area is going to be responsibly managed in future. Time will tell....
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Shorty
Posts: 1549
Date Joined: 10/05/08
Maybe they can divide the
Maybe they can divide the sound up for crabbing ,,South for Recs,, North for Pros lots of folks enjoy diving and netting for them around the Mangles bay area.
I would like to see the pros banned completely from a small crab fishery that the Sound is,,,but am trying to be fair
Colin 3 > long standing and highly respect member of the prestigous Colin's club.
Salmo
Posts: 913
Date Joined: 15/08/05
2nd year females
Been reading a bit about the crabs....it seems that data collected some years ago showed a high % population of year 2 females = good breeders........
where as recently these 2nd year girls have been non-existant in surveys......instead replace with 1st year females.....these 1st year girls go to the top of the chicken house and grow fast....but are poor breeders.....by the time they get mature....the following autumn....the pros have them cooked and in the crate to market.....
if these 1st year females can be protected till next winter......just means even more crabs next year.....can only be good
soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
No Females
I'll go home without a crab if females are the only crabs that I see. That's just my way of hopefully contributing to the crab stocks of the future.
I have to agree on some further level of control for the pros once the sound is opened up again. All the gains of a three year closure could easily become undone if it is allowed to be flogged.
Three days without it and I get a little jumpy
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.
Stevef
Posts: 478
Date Joined: 27/02/08
A mate in QLD reckons that
A mate in QLD reckons that over there fisherman (Rec I presume) are not allowed to take female crabs, of any breed, at any time. I knew that this was inplace for muddies but was interested to hear the law stood for blue swimmers as well.
Steve
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
same here
I will not take females ever. Leave the breeders alone, its not like there is ever a shortage of male crabs lining up for a bit of rumpty pumpty anyways.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Wally
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 13/09/06
half full and less
half full and less flavour.
Huggy agree on the flavor ( best crabs come from the Swan) but half full happens everywhere mate. its the time of year, and personally what we do is squeeze the claw where it attaches the body of the crab ( best tasting bit), if this is soft, we put it back, no use in taking a crab that's full of water, its better to put them back to fatten up and breed a bit. Its hard to do, especially when ya get a brute from the swan that would go over 1m claw to claw but worth it in the long run imo
Wally
Wally
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
I can categorically say
I have never caught a half full crab in Mangles Bay. They are always full of meat. Same cannot be said about Mandurah, so so many half full crabs - if I threw them back I would have none. Hence I dont bother crabbing in Mandurah.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Willy
Posts: 220
Date Joined: 10/04/08
Crabs
Yep, Only take the big males. They look better, fight harder and are more of a challenge to grab at 15 meters when you are in their world.
Also
Bugger, My kids will be adults before we can snorkel for themagain in the sound
New law, Leave the Jennys, only take the bucks
Regards
Willy
Lord of the Squid Rings,
Killer of Cockroaches of the Sea
jersey
Posts: 393
Date Joined: 12/06/08
Female Crabs
I have gone to a local,well known (1 of the big 3) super market and in the fish section I have seen trays of female (Swimmer) crabs,on display,I was told that they were WA caught,Yes,they were all size,and not one i saw had berry(eggs) but this was some time back so possibly middle of winter,I ask if any one else who reads this site or has an interest in fishing,crabbing,have you seen female crabs on display,I asked a fisheries officer and he thought they may come from Carnarvon/Shark Bay,he was not in support of the taking of females but said that the catch must of been allowable?any thoughts from you people.
jersey
Salmo
Posts: 913
Date Joined: 15/08/05
Taking Jennys
My point exactly Jersey......those female crabs you see during winter/autumn in local shops are the protential year 2 breeders.
These are what they use in Carnarvon ....each one would be 5ft across
NOHA
Posts: 914
Date Joined: 24/06/07
Canarvon/Shark bay...Another
Canarvon/Shark bay...Another crab fishery on its way to collaspe. The tonnages they pull out of there can not be sustaned
.
.
No Orange Hats Allowed
V8 twin turbo diesel....Ohh what a feeling!
Twin turbo..V8 diesel..Ohh what a feeling!!
No Orange Hats Allowed
carnarvonite
Posts: 8708
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Carnarvon Crabs
There are 3 boats fishing for crabs in Carnarvon,as far as I know they run 300 pots each.They can work 7 days but only do 6 and have 2 breaks of a month each year.The average catch per boat per day is around 250-300kg.The minimum size for both blueys and womanies is 129mm not the 127 as amateurs use.
If you are doing a stop over and want a cheap feed, see the skipper of Miss Pheonix M,to order for the next day,they steam them on board,them ice them down ready to go and for the sweetest ones ask for Coral crabs--they are identical in shape to a bluey but they looks as though they have been cooked-[pink coloured]and no its not the first of April
Rodrat
Posts: 1672
Date Joined: 13/01/07
Crabs
Been crabbing like most on the site since i was a young fella. Mandurah with drop nets and in the esturay with scoop nets. Never took more then enougth for a feed that night. I prefer the big males but have had some females and they seem much sweeter. I enjoy snorkeling around mangles bay with the old welding gloves and catch bag. Great fun!
Still coped a few sore fingers even with the gloves on. The big males still make ya swear! As for the bans, well if it has to be done to ensure my kids can have the same oppurtunity in years to come then far call. I only hope that once it is open again that measures are taken to ensure they are around for many years to come.
Fishing isn't a matter of life or death, it's much more serious than that!!!
FISH FOR THE FUTURE
diji
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 31/03/07
Miss management is the reason
As noha said its happening elsewhere they just dont learn what measures have they taken none thats not a fair call.
They will re open it let the pro's flog it and close it again thats not managing a fisherie you just cant take that amount of tonnage out and expect it to survive.
They should only open it for 3 months a year and like other people have said ban the taking of females
Salmo
Posts: 913
Date Joined: 15/08/05
Close the SW-Metro crab fishery in March till November
the bag reduction will help as well