Comparing bag / size / boat limits
Submitted by randall df223 on Mon, 2011-11-21 21:45
I bought the Nov/Dec ed of trailerboat fisherman yesterday at Brisbane airport (I needed something to read on the flight back from the Gold Coast!) and on p10 under the SA news, the writer reminded readers of the regulations in South Australia for Blue Swimmer crabs. Legal size 11 cm (compared to our 127 mm), bag limit 40 per person (compared to our 10), and get this... a boat limit of 120 when three or more persons are on board!!! (compared to our 20).
How the f..k could anyone eat that many crabs???
I think our fisheries are being very well regulated. I just wish the Fisheries Officers had the resources to catch the mongrels that abuse the rules.
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Fish! HARD!
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
what does that mean,... they
what does that mean,... they have more crabs than bushflies...no body goes crabbing...or SA fisheries are two steps behind...hmm from the outside looking in seems rather poorly managed if thats the case...
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
scotto
Posts: 2474
Date Joined: 21/04/08
Nah
They are measured differently, and a 4cm SA crab is bigger than our 127mm crab.
Word on the street is, SA has FARKLOADS of blue swimmers, and I'm lead to believe they have a very good fishery and Eco system that suits the crabs just dandy.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Yeah, base of the spines,
Yeah, base of the spines, side to side.
I hear they like all those shallow gulfs and they have crazy numbers of them as well. I CBF shelling more than a couple, so I never even usually get more than a couple in a session prawning.
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
I used to live in SA. An
I used to live in SA.
An undersize crab in SA would be legal here in WA. I find it embarrasing when we take legal crabs here in WA that dont look like they are worth peeling.
Both Gulfs in SA are chockas with crabs, and it is quite easy to get your 40 each in the summer months.
I personally only eat 3 or 4 claws and I'm done, but I always found my 40 crabs would all be consumed within 48 hours. The guys I crab with would eat 4 or 5 as soon as they come out of the pot. The missus will eat a few, my parents would eat 15 between them over a couple days. My grandfather would take a few (much to Nanna's disgust) and the last few I would take to work to share with those who are not into fishing. 40 crabs all gone in a couple days, and everyone thinks I'm a hero
wildinp
Posts: 89
Date Joined: 30/03/09
sth aust has a very different fishery
The big gulfs, slight sludge, steady water, no swell - big breeding grounds. Grew up there for 14 years and the crabs are everywhere - in the whole time it never got any more difficult to catch them. As already mentioned, they may soudn smaller, but they are definately a larger size crab to be classed as legal. And in general, they are all bigger crabs - rarely had problems with undersize and there are some monsters there!
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Definately get plenty of
Definately get plenty of crabs in both our Gulfs here in SA which are generally shallow and well suited for crabs to breed. Not uncommon for them to be 1/2 to a pushing a metre across when measured claw to claw tip
How do you eat that many? few freinds, plenty of beer and a good nosh up makes a bit of a dent. Pickle the rest of the meat and store in jars and eat as you go. Pickled crab will last quite a while.
That being said I don't think many boats come back in with anything near 120 crabs but I bet a few rakers (wading the flats with crab rakes and a floating tub) get their share. Never taken anywhere near that many myself. I usually ban crab nets on my boat as you never get many KG whiting when crabbing (the constant pulling of nets puts off the whiting) though I have to argue about this when taking out the bro in law he always wants to throw a net in. Would rather the whiting myself.
Nothing like chilli crabs on the BBQ. Pull of the top shell clean out the guts and you end up with two halves (Left side and right side each with a claw and legs etc) rub a bit of chilli infused olive oil and salt pepper to taste, little bit of garlic and or lemon juice if you like and BBQ on the grill. Yum
Wash down with very cold beer (of course)
Cheers.
Paul
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
what sort of vinegar / spices
what sort of vinegar / spices etc do you pickle it in? Do you cook the crabs before throwing them on the bbq? i put mine to sleep in ice and then drop them into into boiling water for exactly 6 mins (whole) and them drop back into iced water. cooks them perfectly every time.
Fish! HARD!
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Sorry Randall its been a
Sorry Randall its been a while since I have pickled crabs so not sure what vinegar would be best (white at a guess) herbs and spices would be up to you but chilli, garlic etc would be good depending on your taste buds.
Have boiled plenty of crabs but prefer them on the bbq (particularly if I don't have enough to stuff around with boiling them in salt water etc. Just kill them (I spike them between the eyes) then clean them as above and pop them straight on the grill (raw) and cook each side until done.
Cheers
Paul
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Bigger limit in SA = More
Bigger limit in SA = More crabs? Is it worth trying the same thing here in WA? Up the limit to 130 or 135mm maybe? Would be nice to catch big ones all the time.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
My parents pickle crab with
My parents pickle crab with 50% white vinegar 50% water. 100% vinegar would be too strong. Yes they are cooked first.
fishintruckie
Posts: 198
Date Joined: 22/07/08
Our crab fishery has suffered
Our crab fishery has suffered from over fishing in the last 10yrs. Some of the pro's in Cockburn Sound were catching 30 tonne a year! 13 licensed crabbers, think about it, Cockburn Sound isnt that big.