Crab Pots

[GAFYM]

Went crabbing last Friday down the Logan R. 42 crabs caught in 6 pots (started with 8 but someone needed the other 2 more than me) and every one of them undersized.
Anyway, 4 of my pots are square shaped and others round, all home made.

Was informed that round pots will catch more crabs than square ones.

I also believe that mesh pots (I use old prawn net) will catch more than wire ones. Something to do with electrolysis.

Any thoughts ???

[Daniel_Trenfield]

Good to see plenty of life, even if juveniles.

Be careful if you go out solo - Limit of five pots per person.

Dan

[Blackened]

G'day
I may be mistaken but the limit is 4 pots per person over age of 16.

Good on you for the catch, plenty of crabs but al that means is next time you go out you will have a good haul


I've never heard of crabs being turrned away from wire because of electrical currents, but you never know?

Dave

[indy]

I find that the old cheapo rectangular pots are the go and cheap too.

$7.50 a pot leave them in for a hour and they work a treat.

Even if some low life scum rips them off its not that upsetting.

[Sailfisher]

I also believe the limit is 4 pots person. We used to crab with wire pots, but have found the round mesh pots fish a lot better but have no idea why.

Cheers
Mrs Sailfisher

[Foxie]

A few theories why round net pots crab better than rectangle wire pots are. That in areas where there is big runs in the tide there is a electric current caused by the water flowing passed the wire. The net feels more softer and more naturnal than wire. A crab crawling down the side of a rectangluar pot will come to the corner of the pot and keep crawling away, but on a round pot its feelers will keep coming in contact with the pot and will find its way in. Also on round pots most of the sides are entry points so its easier for crabs to get in,once the crab is in the pot it can back up into the vee shape between the bottom of the pot and the funnels and feels safe

These theories came from a pro crabber working in remote NT

Cheers Foxie

[tigermullet]

I agree that the number of pots per person is 4. The best place for information on pots is on the web site www.crabngear.com.au.

Don't know about an electric charge through wire mesh pots but round is preferable to rectangular or square and rope mesh seems to perform better than wire mesh.

Colour is also something that should be considered.

I think the best bet is to have only a couple of very good pots and keep your eye on them. Mark them well and remember that it is not essential to leave them in overnight. A good pot can be expensive (and woth the expense) and you do not want to lose them.

[Reef_fisher]

Best colour is orange. Don't know why, have read lots of articles and from own experience.

The colour doesn't seem to matter as far as pot theives are concerned though.

Rather than using floats tie pot to a tree root(if going for muddies). Much less visable. If up my way (innisfail) be careful, I would rather sandfly bites than a croc bite anyday.

[baldyhead]

Just to confuse the issue, I have a pro crabber mate who fishes hard 7 days a week and he has a variety of coloured pots, orange, brown, red, blue and black. All made from trawl type mesh and all with 4 entrances with funnels. I asked him which colour works the best and he stated that from 30 years experience they all work about the same & that colour is unimportant. He sez that its where you set them that makes the difference. He also uses a water salinity gauge up the creeks and swears by it, and changes his baits daily. Heres another curly one...when he changes his baits he throws the old baits into the briny beside his pots. Reckons that he catches more crabs that way. I have been with him and watched him do it.