crabbing

[mamu]

g'day folks, not really a report, but due to boredom verging on insanity, I am wanting to pick the brains of others , to improve my own skills.
What I want to know is the general movements of crabs both mud and sand in different weather conditions. I have the general jist of them moving towards the mouth in rain conditions and visa versa but how far?, is it tide affected?, water temp? water colour? bait? give up as much as you can, without revealing
your spots. (ok.... you can pm me with those...he he.)

I wish it would stop raining as bcf is making a killing out of me.
At least the boat is clean.
all the best
Matt.

[mamu]

OH, Come on, someone help me

[Scott nthQld]

basically they will move to find salt water. In samller creeks they will move closer to the mouth than in larger creeks, all they are trying to do is get out of the fresh water. Usually, when there is no rain, the crabs will stay around their holes, but when it does rain, the fresh forces them out I don't know exactly why, maybe cos with all the fresh water goes their food supply, and they need to move down stream to find it again.

Not only does it depend on how big the creek is, but how much fresh water will drain into the creek, obviously out of 2 similar sized systems, the one which gets more fresh, will have more crabs near the mouth.

Other than that I am as clueles as you on the matter, I just know from my experience that I catch more when the tide is rising. Try setting your pots near the mouth of the main creek, but just infront of any feeder creeks, as this will be a hotspot for them when you get a lot of rain, these feeder creeks will fill up with fresh faster, forcing more crabs out sooner.

[mamu]

thanks scott, I do most of my crabbing in the Logan river system fairly close to the mouth as standard. I might try closer to the pin.

On a different note but similar, same for bull sharks, do they move further downstream in rain etc?
Matt.

[kencrab]

Hey Mamu,

I'm over on the northern side of Brissy and have found in the Pine (North and South) either they are there or they're not. I haven't really found that tidetimes, other than a run in for launching the bo-at and getting to those out of the way places or the phase of the moon has made much difference. I enjoy whatever time I have on the liquid stuff (ex-Pusser).

With Sandcrabs though I have found that they follow the bottom feeding in a line parallel to the shore. So I run a line of pots towards the shore over sand or weed banks (about 10-15 meters apart), check inside the hour then run them parallel to the shore in a line with the winning pot.

Bit of mucking around but it has proved productive in front of Redcliffe Pen and in Bramble Bay.

Regards,

Ken (Tinni)

[mark ryan]

try deep holes, salt water sits in theme, so do the crab.

[Horse]

When its fresh head towards the mouth and the deeper holes as Mark said. Under normal conditions the bigger tides that let you get up into the tops of smaller creeks are good for muddies. Don't worry if the area dries out a low as crabs will still be up there

[timddo]

The best time to catch crabs is 2 hours b4 low tide to 2 hours after low tide. Find deep holes or mud flaps. Crabs tend to move off mangroves to fee in low tide and retreat to their holes in hide tide.

[sandbankmagnet]

Each spot is different I reckon as for what tide phase. I have runout spots and I have run in spots. They've gotta be somewhere.

[pickers]

if your chasing mudcrabs try this for bait.
go catch yourself some big fat assed catfish and leave them in your boat or where ever overnight to get a little bit of stink up and them put a couple of deep slices in them and bait your pots with that.....it's a natural food for them and they can't help themselves for it.
pickers

[Leighton]

Sand Crabs also love Watsons Bonito and Mac tuna, cut them up put them into gutter guard and they will last you all crabbing season providing you dont get turtled!
Free turtle watching tours, just come crabbing with me

[Benny 78]

I have found that there really is no exact science to catching the little buggers. Higher tides are a definate and I have found that chicken frames from the butcher work well. If there is a jenny in the pot it seems to attract more bucks.