Page 50 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing mag

WTime to prepare the crab pots
HILE many you’re thinking of giving popular bread and but- anglers focus mud crabbing a go. ter fish in Bundaberg on fishing Target species and are great to get kids
Bundaberg Region
by BRAD YOUNG
in October, some turn With spring well and hooked on fishing.
their attention to mud crabs.
more than four pots per person on a boat when on the water
Best bait and location
truly here, species that become more active in warmer water are starting to appear in catches.
Prawns have been cast- netted in the Burnett River, and it’s usually super easy to see where they’re located because there’ll be a small flo- tilla of tinnies with two people in each, taking turns to cast their nets.
As well as adding a degree of extra interest and excitement to the day, the rewards from a successful overnight soak of the pots are fan- tastic.
• You must have an identification tag on your pot bearing the surname and address of the person using the ap- paratus
From my experience the best bait by far for mud crabbing would have to be fresh mullet frames.
Mangrove jack have made an appearance, particularly around the bottom and top of the tide in rocky and snag- ridden areas.
Doing things right
The oily flesh of mul- let seems to travel well through the water and attracts crabs from far and wide.
Likely areas include near the rum distillery, Strathdees Rd and near the port.
For those who have never turned their hand to crabbing, a few easy basics will help you out.
• All crab pots must have a light-coloured solid float attached when not tied to a fixed object, and the float must display the user’s name and not be less than 150mm in any di- mension.
It is also easy to attach the frame to the inside of the pot using wire or clips through the eye socket.
The best bait for this species is mullet, as live fillet bait or freshly dead.
The best place to get information about prawning is from the staff at one of the local tackle stores.
First, remember you’re allowed up to four pots per person in the boat in Queensland, with each float and pot marked according to the current regulations.
• When the pot is tied to a fixed object, a tag must be attached to a part of the rope above the high-water mark that identifies the user’s name
If fresh mullet frames are not available, other successful baits include fresh fish and chicken frames.
Make sure to keep your rod handy because jack usually attack the bait while simultane- ously turning back to- wards their ‘home’, and it doesn’t take long for these smart fish to re- treat to their favourite snag and cut your line.
As well as giving you tips on where and when, they can also help you select an appropriate cast net and give you instructions on how to throw it.
Your float must be a minimum of 150mm in all directions.
When planning a crab- bing session, a bigger tide around a full and new moon are usually the best times because crabs become more ac- tive and scavenge across flats covered by a high- er tide.
The name of any mi- nor under 18 with you, must be on the pots ‘as- signed’ to them.
• A dilly for span- ner crabbing should be made of solid steel with a thickness of at least 6mm and not ex- ceed 1m in each di- mension
As well as mangrove jack, barramundi also become more active as water temperature warms up.
With a La Niña weath- er pattern forecast, it is likely we’ll have good rainfall between now and the end of the year.
If you choose to tie your pot to a fixed ob- ject rather than use a float, the pot must be tied off above the high tide mark and have a tag identifying the user vis- ible above the waterline.
• Crab pots are not permitted in freshwater. Size and possession limits of crab spe- cies for tidal water in
Mangrove and mud- covered banks are good areas for muddies as well as deeper zones nearby.
They respond well to live bait of mullet and sprat and can often be a bonus catch when tar- geting jack, especially at night.
The fresh water will be good for our sys- tems.
A broad range of products are available when purchasing pots, with the range in price generally reflecting the quality of materials and ‘strength’ of the pot.
Queensland are:
• Blue swimmer –
The presence of crab pot floats will often be a sign that a spot is holding.
Good catches of flat- head and whiting have been taken in local es- tuaries.
As always, I can be contacted via the Bush ’n Beach website, by email at fishnboat@big pond.com or post at PO Box 5812 Bundaberg West Queensland 4670.
115mm minimum and possession limit of 20
Be aware, a few peo- ple on the water may be happy to take your crabs, slash your pots to access your crabs if the pots are cable tied closed and even take your complete pot.
These species are
Until next month...
Lighter duty pots are suitable for anglers do- ing a couple of trips each year, though it is worth investing in bet- ter quality gear if you’re looking at doing regular trips through the sea- son.
• Mud – 150mm mini- mum and possession limit of seven per per- son or 14 per boat with two or more people on board
Unfortunately, it’s a risk we have to take.
Here’s a summary of crab pot regulations for tidal water in Queens- land:
• Three-spot – 100mm minimum and no pos- session limit
The upper reaches of the Elliott, Burnett and Kolan rivers all hold mud crabs and are worth a shot in the Bun- daberg area.
• No more than four pots, dillies or a com- bination of both may be used per person
• Female mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs are no take
• There must be no
• Egg-bearing spanner crabs and three-spot crabs are no take.
I hope these tips help if
The rewards from a previous trip.
Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, October 2020
www.bnb shing.com.au
• Spanner – 100mm minimum and posses- sion limit of 20
For this reason, many crabbers will drop their pots in and fish nearby, where they can keep an eye on them.