Ocean reef crays
Submitted by Paul_86 on Tue, 2015-12-08 07:18
First of all, great to see fisheries out on the water again before sun up keeping an eye on things. I passed a boat at 4:15am this morning on my way out to my pots who had the fisheries boat along side them haven a chat, I wonder if they got done for pulling pots before 4:30am or not.
Gotta say I'm impressed with there presence out on the water this year, doing a great job boys!
Secondly, the whites have slowed rite up for me on the back of the 3 mile now, but I'm considering lengthening my ropes and going for a longer run out to try get one last full pot. Question is does anyone know how far out/how deep the whites might be out from ocean reef area now?
Any help appreciated, cheers Paul
Image Upload:
.thumbnail.jpg "Day's catch - minus a few skippy")
sphere
Posts: 101
Date Joined: 07/01/15
Not Sure
That pot looks full enough though. Went for a leisurely shore dive yesterday. Got a couple missed a few due to amatuer mistakes then found a hole close in to the beach full of whites at the end of the dive.
You wont know if you dont try mate
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Yeah I should clarify that
Yeah I should clarify that pic is from a few weeks ago haha.
Cheers man, maybe I've just gotta try a bit harder to find some honey holes then
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Still plenty of crays mate,
Still plenty of crays mate, bagged out today, but more reds, We are on the back edge and next reef out from there in 22m. One pot on back edge hasd 10 or a dozen, other next reef out had a dozen, but as i said, more reds than whites now.
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Yeah sweet, glad to hear
Yeah sweet, glad to hear there are still a few around in close. I'll just keep moving them around until I find a few then I think.
Is that second reef much of a structure? Don't ever remember seeing much on the sounder after it got to 20m's.
Westy74
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 23/11/13
We got 9 after an 8 day
We got 9 after an 8 day soak. 4 nice whites in the first and then doughnuts and bits and shits to scrape to 9. Also pulled up a massive crazy crab which was something different.
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Crazy Crab
Easy Christmas Present for the children. I wonder how they taste:)
Had my pots in 20m off the back of 3 mile since Thursday (5 days). 2 in one pot and 1 in the other. Very small reds...just size.
Ive brought them back in shallow just for sh*ts and giggles to see of there are some whites still around. If nothing by Friday will send them deep for one last hoorah.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Yewiefish85
Posts: 795
Date Joined: 02/01/11
Ate one of the aquatic
Ate one of the aquatic (hairy red thing) ones once while camping, was the best tasting crab I have ever eaten, not much meat tho
uncle
Posts: 9506
Date Joined: 10/02/07
we got some very nice big whites
inside
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
It's great when you get some
It's great when you get some big ones and don't even need to check them with the gage!
randall df223
Posts: 6454
Date Joined: 08/08/11
Weve got a few in a couple
Weve got a few in a couple of pots out past the reef in about 23 metres in the last couple of days. Couple of big whites amongst them.
Fish! HARD!
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
only 14 today. 2 pots pulled
only 14 today.
2 pots pulled for us, 1 with an occy didnt help
Will be pulling the pots out of the water in the next couple days, not worth supplying crays to theiving pricks.
Westy74
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 23/11/13
We got 13 today + occy.
We got 13 today + occy.
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Cheers Bodie, we got 7 today
Cheers Bodie, we got 7 today between 2 of us.
Mine coming out Saturday when I've got time to give them a blast with the high pressure hose and pack them all away for next season.
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Paul, leave them in the sun
Paul, leave them in the sun for a bit, will kill off the growth.
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
I'll give that a go man,
I'll give that a go man, cheers
uncle
Posts: 9506
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Only 6 today
Do a few more 2 day soaks then thats it
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
uncle
Posts: 9506
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Funny day today
Big boats couldn't launch in lanes 3 and 4, had to pull out low tide.saw 2 crewies fall in one boat had 4 attempts to dock, guys trailer came of hitch and another was pulling his boat out and the winch was going backwards
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Wind, bloody nuisance
Being the solo boatie that I am, I couldnt actually pull the pots safely today. Should have trusted my instincts and stayed in bed.
Very strong easterly wasnt a major problem heading out, but once I got to my pots I couldnt keep the boat on an angle safe enough to pull the pots. As soon as the boat got side on things got very hairy with the waves doing their best to get inside the boat...which is not really were I wanted them to be.
A decky would have been very handy today. One person on the wheel and another hauling.
The crays will just have to wait until Sunday until I can rescue them from their jarrah framed prison:)
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
uncle
Posts: 9506
Date Joined: 10/02/07
that must have been a nightmare
side on was not good today
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Side on was ok, head on
Side on was ok, head on sucked! Such bloody good fun sticking the bow of your boat through every 2nd wave.... Not!
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Try it in a 16ft ally! Lol
Try it in a 16ft ally! Lol
uncle
Posts: 9506
Date Joined: 10/02/07
ha ha was it worth it
we got 12 , heaps of kakkas
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Not worth it for me uncle, 1
Not worth it for me uncle, 1 white and 3 reds. I moved off the sand today tho and dumped them on what I think is hard flat ground next to some drop offs so hoping for a few reds tomorrow morning. Last chance, my pots are coming out tomorrow
Bootboot
Posts: 67
Date Joined: 13/03/13
Got 14 today from two pots
Got 14 today from two pots out the back of garden island, 5 in 10m all reds and 7 in 16m, mainly whites and a bunch of undersize crays, checked at lunch sea breeze came up halfway through, made things interesting.
Sillo
Posts: 18
Date Joined: 23/11/15
We are still getting crays
We are still getting crays also (10 today) , mainly reds, pots are now being set on the flat - reef and broken country, not on sand next to dropoffs, however we have been getting a few stuck doing this.
I will probably go for another week whilst there is no moon, and then pull the pots out.
Currently we have 2 pots out deep in 33 - 35 meters and they are cathing crays but most are berried, id like to get at least 1 jumbo out deep before our season finishes.
mtre9209
Posts: 56
Date Joined: 08/12/11
We got 6 from a 3 day pull
We got 6 from a 3 day pull ober 6 pots.
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Done oulled ours out today,
Done
oulled ours out today, done for the year, will wait till the Reds next year before we have another go. Maybe a dive over the new year but had a good whites run for us
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Yeah we're all out now too,
Yeah we're all out now too, 7 reds today to finish off the white season haha. Good season, can't wait for next year!
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Done
Took the pots home today.
Achieved my first goal which was to get a few crays. Second goal also achieved...my pots survived the season without being tampered with or stolen.
Cheers to all those who offered advice on FW and all those friendly chats at the ramp.
I hope the coffee lady shows up earlier in the season next year.
Did I hear someone say that there is a second "walk" in Autumn/Winter. Any clues?
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
sea-kem
Posts: 15040
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Got 11 big reds today, will
Got 11 big reds today, will keep going through the season.
Love the West!
uncle
Posts: 9506
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Yeah we got 11 today
Pots out next week.been a great year
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Akers67
Posts: 29
Date Joined: 23/01/14
Sleep in
Yeah we also got 11 6 pots on a two day soak, packed it in for the season get to sleep woo hoo. Bring on the crabs!!!! And Dhues!!!
good liuck to the rest of you die hards
Akers67
Posts: 29
Date Joined: 23/01/14
Sleep in
Yeah we also got 11 6 pots on a two day soak, packed it in for the season get to sleep woo hoo. Bring on the crabs!!!! And Dhues!!!
good liuck to the rest of you die hards
uncle
Posts: 9506
Date Joined: 10/02/07
All done for this year
Pulled the pots out today.another 12 nice crays.crab time now
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Mostly reds or whites? Got
Mostly reds or whites?
Got into a couple crabs Friday night, most were either just size or just under. I might hit the swan up this weekend in hopes of some bigger models
uncle
Posts: 9506
Date Joined: 10/02/07
4 whites
Lots of undersize 2 occys still alot of pots out
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
crasny1
Posts: 7006
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Seems like people are still getting some
Why are so many pulling their pots out. With the whites walked off to the deep seem some are still getting enough reds (
Andy)
Would seem that if so many are removing their pots there's less out there and perhaps the "lazy" ones among us might be able to go out and pull pots at leasure time and still possibly get a feed of reds (hopefully less pots less pot theives). House reno got in the way so far this season. No time for even a fish and crab (and we are only 200m from a ramp
) let alone early Cray runs. Now the reno is nearing completion was thinking of a leasurely pot off Melros (mandurah).
Is it still worth a go or would we be wasting time? Busy as well so might have to let the pots soak for a few days. How long will bait survive in a pot if you might only be able to go out twice a week (max). Is it worth this or are you condeming crays to an inevitable Occy feast if they are trapped in the pots for to long?
Sorry for the late questions but it IS time for a few piscatorial activities now. A man has to find time to play not just work their arses off at work and home!!!!
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
As the White cray numbers
As the White cray numbers dropped my pots started getting tampered with, and then one disappeared. I have enough in freezer for Christmas and newyears for the family so I decided to pull them out. Also getting up at 3:30am to pull the pots and then working from 7:00am till 4:00pm for a few weeks straight takes its toll on ya!
There's certainly guys out there still getting a few up this way but they can have it!
I cant help with the cray situation down your way tho.
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Think you will find many
Think you will find many people have their possesion limits now so pots all coming out.
Yes still a chance at getting quite a few crays, but i would suggest looking for the 12-20m reef lumps and pot up close to them chasing reds.
For us, it was costing us about $65 a day, so in the interest of getting the best return on value, getting full bags was needed.
Broome lad
Posts: 191
Date Joined: 16/11/15
Worth a try
I'm fishing out of GI rocko got 6 good ones this morning one jumbo few kakers as well 2 day soak this time did a five day soak previous to that and got 10 keepers bait was gone but Crays still there got a couple big whites today and a few the other day so worth a shot carney 1