SWAN RIVER PRAWNS
Hi all,
A story and £££questions about prawning
We where in our way back to the east freo "rip off" ramp after a Sunday arvo squiding session and saw a heap of people set up for prawning in Rocky bay.
Next night (Monday 25/05/2009) we thought we'd give it a go with scoop nets. I was amazed at how many boats where out.
(1) If anyone was there that night, is that a normal amount of boats?
Anyway, my mate got called into work :( so after an hour and a half we had caught 150 between us. a great feed and averge size was 15cm with a few biggies in there too.
It promted me to find out more about swan iver prawns and the best info after a short google search found this http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/media/index.php?0000&mr=402
I'm assuming the prawns we caught where the king prawns. (2) is this true?
(3)Does anyone have more info on the life cycle of these prawns?
(4) What is the best time to catch them? Our effort last night where mearly a fuke
(5) how has the history been on th swan river prawns? good years/bad years etc?
Any info would be greatly appreciated
A
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18317
Date Joined: 11/03/08
dont know much about them
dont know much about them apart from they tase great,, no realy , usually after a good rain mainly the first one the prawns tend to migrate down river with the outgoing tide to where the water is saltier so that could explain why you got a good catch and so many boats.and they are the king prawns that you mainly get
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
slothwan
Posts: 145
Date Joined: 02/02/09
TESTIFY!!! they were dam
TESTIFY!!!
they were dam tasty.
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Kings!
Yes King prawns and plenty of boats for a good reason!!
Outgoing tide as mentioned by Russ. Having the outgoing tide finish after sundown ie 8-10pm being better. I prefer the New moon than the Full but both can produce!
Been a good run this season already, the first rains we had recently was the trigger!
Good effort Slothwan, no fluke imo!
King-Prawn
Posts: 56
Date Joined: 27/05/09
Shhhh - Swan Rivers best kept secret
Hi Slothwan,
Its amazing how many people dont know about the prawns coming down with the out going tide and being able to scoop them with nets.
If your ever asked always reply that you had no luck catching them. (joking)(Kindof).
I am the fourth generation in my family to participate in the annual run.
Dont know alot about there life cycle but do know that there are more and more boats every year trying to catch them.
My great grandfather used to tell storys of cathing a thousand in one night. about 10 years ago they nearly dissappeared. ( not sure if from overfishing or pollution in the river). Any way hope they continue as would love for my children to have the opportunity to catch them as i reckon its brilliant fun once they start leaping and diving.
slothwan
Posts: 145
Date Joined: 02/02/09
Yeah, it looks like a great
Yeah, it looks like a great activity for the kids as well.
we could hear the start of the run from the boats 100m up current from us. the give away was the kids screaming with excitment. Hilarious
max199
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/05/06
Also
can scoop with poles under the old traffic bridge. Used to do that a few moons ago (years). Bloody sore back though! saw about ten boats set up at 4 pm last Sunday near the point just upriver from the Leeuwin ramp. Rocky bay around the outer channel would be good cause the current is relatively fast (outgoing). Just don't get in my way of squidding!!
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
im gonna get into these
im gonna get into these prawns!!!
Next weekend i might give it a bash.
Where to launch from tho??
Im not sure which side of the river everyone is talking about?
There is the freo and stirling bridge, how much fuirther up than that?
max199
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/05/06
Leeuwin ramp!!
The southern side. Near the Army barracks which aren't upto scratch for "boat people" but ok for our troops? Any ways, yeah......that ramp. Rocky Bay is across the river OR turn up river (right) near the point where Swan Y.C. is