2018 crays
Submitted by merdel12 on Thu, 2018-11-08 13:55
So it's coming up to that time of the year. I've fished the whites the last 3 years and have done very well out of Freo. Any news on what state the Crays are in at the moment? Whens everyone dropping their pots in? I'll probably drop late November then start pulling in December. Hope the weather is as good as it was last year
Happy dayz
Posts: 450
Date Joined: 29/04/18
We got 19 keepers back of G
We got 19 keepers back of G i this morning in real close from 6 pots probably threw another 10 or more undersize back ,its starting to look better
Happy dayz
Alan James
Posts: 2226
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Help please
Should I be looking to place the pots close to the ledges or some distance as in 5m, 10m, 15m or so west of the ledges? I'm potting outside of Three Mile Reef.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
10 metres
10 to 20 metres out on the seaward side of the reef, on sand is best
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
To deep alan. They wont be
To deep alan. They wont be out there till next week. We are in 11 - 12m max
Start shallow then follow them to the 3 mile then if your really keen chase them as far as your arms can handle
Alan James
Posts: 2226
Date Joined: 30/06/09
..
We had four pots inside in around 11m and relocated them outside this morning as they weren't catching. This is doing my head in.
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
Sounds like you moved 1 day
Sounds like you moved 1 day to early. They will get to the 3 mile soon. Put them on sand at the back edge of the reef westedn side.
Alan James
Posts: 2226
Date Joined: 30/06/09
..
Sounds like one of those 'you should have been here yesterday' stories only on this occasion 'you should have been here tomorrow'. Thanks for the feedback guys, all advice is most welcome.
Sea goat
Posts: 987
Date Joined: 26/03/17
how often are you guys
how often are you guys checking your pots?
Alan James
Posts: 2226
Date Joined: 30/06/09
..
Every day thus far this week.
uncle
Posts: 9488
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Sometimes
A 2 day soak works ok
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Dog1.1
Posts: 11
Date Joined: 07/12/17
They are starting to move at
They are starting to move at the back of 5 Fathom Bank, had 20 in 2 pots today, all just size about 5 of those were reds.
merdel12
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 19/07/12
Still quiet off Freo only 3
Still quiet off Freo only 3 today
kirky79
Posts: 1354
Date Joined: 13/01/12
24
This morning, didn't have to check the last pot
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
12 again today from 3 pots,
12 again today from 3 pots, moved the pot that has been getting doughnuts. Potting a whole new area this year coz the back edge of the 3mile is just way too busy now, even though we used to bag out there often.
Ocean Reef very busy this morning but everyone was being patient and keeping their cool which was great to see, even with 20 boats lined up in front of us it went pretty quickly
Alan James
Posts: 2226
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Still not happening for us
Scored 2 from 6 pots today. We have now moved the pots off the ledges and onto the sand. One of the crays in the pot this morning had all legs missing other than one. It didn't appear very healthy. How does a one legged cray get into a pot. Any ideas at what could of happened here guys?
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
occy got to him in the pot
occy got to him in the pot
kirky79
Posts: 1354
Date Joined: 13/01/12
Yep as Gilly said
You just beat the occy.
Sea goat
Posts: 987
Date Joined: 26/03/17
got 2 from 2 pots this
got 2 from 2 pots this morning back of 3 mile in 13m of water....1 jumbo at least.....this is starting to seem like a lot of hard work for little reward lol! hurts when u hear everyone else getting 20+!! :)
que back at the ramp was nuts, but everyone seemed pretty relaxed which is nice to see
still trying
Posts: 1064
Date Joined: 27/06/17
Brought home 17 from 4 pots
Brought home 17 from 4 pots today couple of undersized reds as well occy had got to a pot.
rather be fishing
sea-kem
Posts: 15010
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Nice work Guy, gotta be
Love the West!
still trying
Posts: 1064
Date Joined: 27/06/17
thanks Andy we were stoked
thanks Andy we were stoked had the misses and my son with me. My freezer is ready for xmas now have brought home 40 this week in 3 trips having a good feed of crays tonight. still quite weird out there some areas very productive others nothing.
rather be fishing
sea-kem
Posts: 15010
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Bloody awesome mate, well
Bloody awesome mate, well our ramp is finished and up and running again. Just need a window to get out lol.
Love the West!
still trying
Posts: 1064
Date Joined: 27/06/17
Thats good news would have
Thats good news would have been alot of upset people if that wasn't up and running. Weather is pretty blowy now though.
rather be fishing
sea-kem
Posts: 15010
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Yeah the old blocember lol
Yeah the old blocember lol
Love the West!
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Summer wind pattern
Fremantle doctor comes in about mid morning making it a rough trip home if you are out a couple of miles, typical summer pattern.
gregory.hartmann
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 18/11/18
Busy day at the OR ramp
Bagged out for the second day in a row.
OR ramp very busy but I must admit it runs like clockwork. By the time you get your vehicle from up the stairway your mate has your boat ready to retrieve.
Greggo
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
bagged easily today.pots are
bagged easily today.
pots are going 30+ in certain locations so i hear
ChrisG
Posts: 558
Date Joined: 30/12/11
What’s the general consensus-
What’s the general consensus- pretty slow and very patch year so far?
We’re out of OR, only one bag out to date, we prob went a week early and have been in for 9 days now.
from 4 pots for first 5 days were averaging only 4-5 a day, the last 4 days we’ve been averaging 13 but man it’s not been with any confidence and no big pots of 20 plus or even close to.
aussiejoe
Posts: 93
Date Joined: 01/03/14
Very poor off Freo
We have had a shocker to date. 6 pots 6 runs 5 crayfish 2 keepers. Bagged our nearly every trip this week last year. Hope its a slow start rather than a poor year.
Nelly
Posts: 518
Date Joined: 04/05/08
Slow for us from OR aswell..
Slow for us from OR aswell.. 8 friday-9 Saturday and none today..Shifted all the gear now.Hope its a slow start and they will fire up over the week.
Alan James
Posts: 2226
Date Joined: 30/06/09
..
The group I'm in consists of 5 people with 8 pots total. We've lost one pot and have so far pulled 52 pots for a return of 18 crays, one of which was tarspot. We started off Hillarys and are now off OR. That equates to in the order of 1 cray for every 3 pots pulled. I think it would be fair to say that we had hoped for better.
ChrisG
Posts: 558
Date Joined: 30/12/11
Oh shite Alanwe just ticked
Oh shite Alan
we just ticked over 70 Crays in 4 pots for 8 and a half pulls (only pulled 2 pots one day) and I was feeling sorry for myself!
I don’t feel so bad now sorry mate.
rtomkyns78
Posts: 80
Date Joined: 13/09/13
13 yesterday and 8 today, 5
13 yesterday and 8 today, 5 in total from the previous 3 weeks working with 2 pots in total. Pros are working the back of FFB last 2 days so if that is any indication thats where I would be (off northern tip of GI).
JohnF
Posts: 2838
Date Joined: 07/07/10
24 - 24 - 22 last 3 days.
24 - 24 - 22 last 3 days.
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
Westy74
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 23/11/13
OR 13m Thursday 8 solo bag
OR 13m Thursday 8 solo bag out, Friday 24 (4 pots), sat 15 size 4 pots (3 under), today 15 size 4 pots (5 under). Not as good as last year but still bagging out each day or close to it.
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
gotta move ur pots about,
gotta move ur pots about, they are not like last year, need to 'find them'
tip for all, follow the pro's!!!!
crays still shallow getting good numbers still from 10m inside 3 mile. 3 mile has been very sparatic, with pots going 10-13 one day to 0 or 1 tye next
ChrisG
Posts: 558
Date Joined: 30/12/11
Blue ring Occy on deck of
Blue ring Occy on deck of boat next to me on ramp this morning.
found it when he got back to the jetty
Ocean Reef
careful boys!
shero82
Posts: 22
Date Joined: 20/02/13
At last!
Got my first 2 for the year in about 10m behind mewstones. Average size whites with very soft shells.
JohnF
Posts: 2838
Date Joined: 07/07/10
18 today, dropping off?
18 today, dropping off?
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
Westy74
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 23/11/13
Only 5 for me today. Seems
Only 5 for me today. Seems to me like things are slowing down.
kirky79
Posts: 1354
Date Joined: 13/01/12
19
For us. But one pot missing a batten, so possibly could of had a few more.
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Yeah only 4 today for us,
Yeah only 4 today for us, hopefully not slowing down already
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
24 easily today. I think this
24 easily today. I think this week will be ok then drop away
Alan James
Posts: 2226
Date Joined: 30/06/09
9 keepers for us today plus 4 u/s
after a 2 day soak. Not great but better than we have been doing.
devhay
Posts: 328
Date Joined: 27/10/14
managed our first two
managed our first two keepers for the season on Saturday, good size but shells super soft still.. hoping a few more on the next couple of pulls this week
uncle
Posts: 9488
Date Joined: 10/02/07
10 today
Couple of kackas.
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
still trying
Posts: 1064
Date Joined: 27/06/17
I decided last night might
I decided last night might be too windy for the dinghy then when i got up was regretting my decision
rather be fishing
Sea goat
Posts: 987
Date Joined: 26/03/17
sigh, i only got 2 again, 1
sigh, i only got 2 again, 1 in each pot. both keepers at least.... out from hillary's
putting in a lot of effort for little return! hopefully can get at least 1 decent bag before the run ends....first year trying, so guess i got a bit to learn!
little johnny
Posts: 5360
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Doing real bad
This year. Got a feed ,pulling mine out this weekend, prior to holiday makers coming into town. Seen 4 pots on bottom other day. ( fixed leads on rope). All cut,All within 30 meters shame , I won't touch them 2 of them crackers.
big john
Posts: 8756
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Lead
At least grab the lead for a jig trade.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
little johnny
Posts: 5360
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Good point
:)
merdel12
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 19/07/12
Bagged out off Freo today...
Bagged out off Freo today... So did my mate, finally started here
kirky79
Posts: 1354
Date Joined: 13/01/12
Good to hear
What was it like out there this morning? We gave it a miss.
merdel12
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 19/07/12
Pretty average, just took it
Pretty average, just took it slow as we had plenty of time so wasn't too bad. Coming in was alot nicer though.
hilly9
Posts: 282
Date Joined: 13/10/12
It was not fun off mandurah
It was not fun off mandurah either. I really need to move my pots but just don't have the time before work. Only 6 from 4 pots for us. Same spots as last year are not reproducing
Krusty
Posts: 714
Date Joined: 27/11/15
We got 4 from 2 pots this
We got 4 from 2 pots this morning.
I have never seen the traffic over to Garden so congested either, it took us around 40mins to get from the corner of Fisher st on Parkin to the Peron ramp !
My fishing spots are so secret........... even the fish don't know where they are !!
Happy dayz
Posts: 450
Date Joined: 29/04/18
Were still getting good
Were still getting good numbers off G I but they are hit and miss some pots none some with 10 plus its been a weird run so far thats for sure
Happy dayz
Ericl
Posts: 475
Date Joined: 02/05/11
Question for Merdel
What does bag out mean
, haven't even come close !!, but we'll keep trying. Agree with above, today was pretty nasty out there (for 1 keeper !)
Don't spend all your money on beer, boats, and fishing. Save some to spend foolishly
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
easy stuff today, got our bag
easy stuff today, got our bag conditions were a big improvement from yesterday!!
kirky79
Posts: 1354
Date Joined: 13/01/12
24
from 5 pots. We'll probably be out by Monday.
uncle
Posts: 9488
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Been slow for us
Did get ten today.
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
devhay
Posts: 328
Date Joined: 27/10/14
Slowly improving for us, but
Slowly improving for us, but nothing great yet.. pulled 5 keepers today and 2 that had already been lost to an occy out the back of Carnac
looking back at my pictures from last year we're pretty much on the same track.. slow numbers up till the 15th then started bagging out
Checked the occy pots too and only managed a little blue ring, not quite what we were after
merdel12
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 19/07/12
Just the 9 for us today
Just the 9 for us today after a 1 day soak off freo
blu2fish
Posts: 80
Date Joined: 23/01/13
Bagged out today
Bagged out today, 26 from 6 with one a cacker and the other returned after a two day soak as brother and I are too bloody old to be bashed around and son was feeling the same. Don't think others around us did too well and have a feeling our pots will think they're in the London Blitz as the bombers were moving in when we were leaving but unfortunately that's the way it goes, so much ocean so little room to move.
gregory.hartmann
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 18/11/18
Going out tomorrow
Picked up 5 Size on Tuesday. So see what tomorrow holds after these strong winds over the last few days. All crays in our heaviest pot. Some of you guys who aren't catching many, make sure your pots are really heavily weighted, particularly if you are on the western side of a reef. Crays will not go into a moving pot. Lesson I learnt from a pro-crayfisherman.
Greggo
ChrisG
Posts: 558
Date Joined: 30/12/11
Flew in last night after a
Flew in last night after a couple of days away with work. 3 day pull off OR. Got bag easy. Back of 3 mile now. Fishing until Sunday. Started slow but now sitting on nearly 11 average per pull since we started.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8147
Date Joined: 07/05/12
What time does the crayfish
What time does the crayfish morning ramp rush finish? Take the kids for a whiting bash and aiming for around 8-9am assuming that most people would be gone/retrieving by then.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
devhay
Posts: 328
Date Joined: 27/10/14
The rush at woodies had been
The rush at woodies had been pretty much done by 6.30 lately.. we're arriving back at the ramp just before 7 and only occasionally having to wait for more than 1 boat infront of us. Should be fine by 8-9
That being said the forecast is looking pretty good tomorrow, there might be a few punters chucking sickies I think
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8147
Date Joined: 07/05/12
Cheers bud
Cheers bud
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
7 keepers from 4 pots out
7 keepers from 4 pots out from ocean reef for us today, 1 big berried up Jenny, 1 kakka and a pot with a few empty heads too. Heard a lot of zeros at the ramp coming in this morning tho, seems the majority are doing it tough this season, hardest season I’ve personally had.
Westy74
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 23/11/13
Agreed Paul. Shortest run in
Agreed Paul. Shortest run in the shallows that I can recall since putting at OR. We have gone from bag outs from last Thursday last week to single figures this week.
uncle
Posts: 9488
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Got nine today
Then down the beach for a swim. The pros still have pots inside the 3 mile at o reef.
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Hmm that’s interesting, maybe
Hmm that’s interesting, maybe more whites still to come then?
Last pro string I saw out from OR was due west in ~ 20 meters, just behind the 3 mile a week ago.
uncle
Posts: 9488
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Theres 2 lots of pro pots.
Bit of thieving going on as well, twice we have found pots sitting in the middle of the sand with no crays.
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Ah bugger about the
Ah bugger about the tampering, been a bad white run so that’s when a few people get jealous and can’t help themselves unfortunately.
Luckily none of my pots have moved at all this year, which is great, but just goes to show that when they had moved the previous years it was most likely because they were pulled by someone else.
I can handle the odd pot getting pulled each season, it’s when they get stolen that makes your blood boil!
Marineboy
Posts: 842
Date Joined: 14/03/14
Crays
we bagged out again diving today out of hillarys, got 7 jumbo’s and the others were big suckers. The pot boys that I spoke to were struggling apart from 1 guy that is killing it in the 30m line.
My spots are so secret even the fish don't know about them !
Sea goat
Posts: 987
Date Joined: 26/03/17
got 6 this morning off
got 6 this morning off hillarys, 3 in each pot, 1 red., 1 went back as was literally just size and didnt want to risk it.
was pretty windy early on.
i too have had a few trips where my pots have somehow got up and moved a considerable distance into no mans land.........
merdel12
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 19/07/12
I threw 2 back the other day
I threw 2 back the other day which were right on size, measure went over the shell with 0 movement. What's the go here do you guys normally chuck them back or keep them? I'd hate for fisheries to get out a vernier and find my gauge to be half a Mil out or something. Hurts to throw them back if they are actually size when your bringing single figures back to the ramp
Marineboy
Posts: 842
Date Joined: 14/03/14
Size
better safe than sorry !
My spots are so secret even the fish don't know about them !
Ben85
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 20/11/11
I spoke to fishereies
I spoke to fishereies officer about this a while back and he said as long the guage sticks firm over the shell with no movement when you let go of the guage its legal.
little johnny
Posts: 5360
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Use 316 s/s ones
I only use 77 mm ones. ( Sheridan)That way there can be no mistake.some gauges you buy can be out big time. should check them just to be on safe side. I would throw them back if gauge fits over them with no movement on gauge ( using 76 mm gauge that is)
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Good idea using a slightly
Good idea using a slightly larger gauge Johnny!
Yep if the gauge fits tight then we put them back, not worth the risk incase your gauge is slight out or something like that, same as demersals really.
little johnny
Posts: 5360
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Spot on
Dhues a classic example. They shrink.
Westy74
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 23/11/13
22 today. Awesome morning and
22 today. Awesome morning and surprise catch
kirky79
Posts: 1354
Date Joined: 13/01/12
I thought they would be thinning out
by now, but we got our 24 again this morning. Don't think we'll be checking for the next couple of days though.
devhay
Posts: 328
Date Joined: 27/10/14
Shocker this morning, only
Shocker this morning, only got 1 from 4 pots..
Occy pots finally produced though, will be pickling some tonight.
uncle
Posts: 9488
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Just another 10
Still we won't starve
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
ChrisG
Posts: 558
Date Joined: 30/12/11
And.....we’re done for
And.....we’re done for 2018...was going to continue until the weekend but the forecast just seemed like hard work for the sake of it, so we pulled them out this morning.
ended up with approx 10 per day average between 2 people - not world beating but a good feed nonetheless. Seemed worse than that at 4am but suppose was okay in the end.
merdel12
Posts: 306
Date Joined: 19/07/12
Got another 24 off Freo
Got another 24 off Freo today. Weekend forecast looks crap. Probably won't get back out until tuesday
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Yeah, they’re saying strong 3m swells also.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf