...to the edge of the Continental Shelf (around 100 fathoms/200 metres) and beyond, where it is thought spawning takes place. From there, some believe they head north, towards the Abrolhos Islands, while others contend they head back in, in drips and drabs, to resume life as "red" crayfish on shallower reef systems.

As resident reds, they remain in shallower water until they moult into "whites" again in Oct/Nov/Dec.

 I have just experienced very good "whites" diving on the back edge (18m) of the Five Fathom Bank this past weekend...bagged out every dive...but it is very likely these crays are gone now, heading out deeper. As amateur potters/divers we probably won't start to see good numbers of crays back inside again until late January at the earliest. I should point out that the reds numbers inside can really take off around March/April so if you aren't chasing spaniards/salmon/dolphinfish/tuna then (like I will be!) it would be a good time to go after the crays again!

I was pretty certain that they spawn inshore hence the (how do you spell it?) perulios (planktonic) cray catchers that fisheries use to work out how many we are likely to see in seven years time.  I understood that the newly hatched crays then drifted offshore with the prevailing easterly wind drift until large enough to sink to the bottom way way offshore in very deep water, then then start their slow movement back inshore ................is this right or do I have it backwards ??  Some certainly dont get too far as I have seen lots of super small 25mm total length including feelers crays in tiny holes in the reef structure behind GI  

Other than that I agree - the second wave generally starts late february and gets really good in March / early April before they march offshore again.

There used to be a huge migration of them to Big Bank in such densities that the pro cray men could see the lines of them in the bottom on their sounders and literally drop pots in their way to intercept them but that tactic hurt the numbers pretty badly - sure the deckies on the site can add plenty more interesting info !

 u ai      

They certainly head out to spawn, the pros are chasing them out to 90m already and they go right out to the shelf.

AFter they spawn, the puerulus do drift around and get caught on the monitoring rafts, and eventually settle inshore.