has anyone noticed the ratio between bucks and jennies these days. i went crabbing yesterday and i caught 12 crabs and may i say that they were all huge and i was very excited untill i turned them over and they were all bloody jennies i thought i would post this as this is a true sign that the number of bucks that are a legal size are diminishing. but on the other hand it is a good sign that there are some honest fisherman out there that arent taking the jennies !!!
I guess if you really think about it, females without males is pretty useless too!
there needs to be a ratio of around 1 male to 2 females to be a good breeding turn over, otherwise things start to turn ugly, although just because there is alot of jennies in one place at one time doesnt mean the ratio is out of wack it can just be linked to times of the year and certain area's, this is the time of the month where you will notice alot of active females because there stocking up the fat reserves for a big swim, breeding has pretty much ended for the males so there just chillin out at the moment, some will be having an early moult but most will be getting ready for a big feed themselves though are in different locations to the females as most will be in holes at this time of year unless there juvi males or non breeders, wait about 2 more weeks you will notice a big difference
G'day
Right now with the sandies, my numbers have been around 6 legal males to one illegal crab (under male or jenny)
With the muddies, it's about one legal crab to seven illegal
Dave
yeah these were mud crabs so sounds right
It changes from time to time as JJ has mentioned. I've crabbed a certain spot constantly for about 5 years on various tides and moons and some trips you hardly see a jenny and some trips they are prolific. Generally always scrounge up a few bucks though. Actually heading out there tomorrow night.
the ratio i got on the weekend was bout 6 legals to1...the week befor was more like 10 legals to 1 throwback
cheers rosco
Usually where I go there is lots of bucks, but about 8 : 1 more females
Would like to know the reason for the obvious discrepancy in the ratios talked about here (jennies vs bucks) between sandies and muds, but guess it must be something to do with different life cycles.
Have said it on here a few times before but surely there's an argument for a change of rules regarding mud crabs. Can any population be healthy reproductively with such a disparity in the numbers of each sex (although it does sound like good fun for the blokes). Would a bag limit that includes being able to keep one large jenny per two bucks be healthier for the system than the present rules?
one of the reasons for the disperaty of males to females could be that in Qld waters only male crabs can be taken since year dot. As more male crabs are taken then the more female crabs are left, dont have to be an einstien to work that out, irrespective of where they are caught and time of year.
Scientists only speculate and work on a theoretical model, as its not possible to count every crab. Big female crabs become sexually disfunctioned and no longer breeds after a certain time span. Hence they kill smaller buck that try their best to mate with them.
Thats my spin.
Peter
Thats true, agree totally.Originally Posted by bondy99
What I was wondering aloud about was why this isn't the case with sandies as well. Female swimmers have also been no take since day dot yet you don't see anywhere near the disparity in numbers between the sexes. I can't recall ever potting anywhere near the amount of jennies per bucks as I regularly see with muddies.
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