How to catch crayfish and rock lobsters

I love seafood. But there is one ocean delight that holds a special place closer to my heart than any other. The crayfish!

Whether you want to refer them as lobster, rock lobster or crayfish, two things are certain: they are delicious; and, yes, you can catch your very own.

On a recent trip to Eagle Hawk Neck, Tasmania, fishing aboard Locki Nichols Fishing Charters with my family, we were lucky enough to drop a cray pot on the way out.

After soaking for just eight hours, we were left picking our jaws off the floor of the boat. There were crays for days!

We measured, sexed and only kept what the law allowed and then released the rest. It was safe to say we were stoked.

LOBSTER LAWS
Every state and territory in Australia has its own specific laws and regulations
It’s very important to check with your local fisheries government body on the rules and regulations about how, when, and where you can fish for crayfish recreationally.

Some states allow the use of cray pots. For those that do, here are a few pointers:
>> Ensure your cray pot meets all the laws and regulations that your local fisheries body enforces.
>> Use the correct bait. As the saying goes “the oilier the bait, the shorter you wait”. Crayfish find food by scent, so I suggest using tuna heads or belly flaps. They are super oily and leave a serious scent trail on the bottom that the crays won’t be able to resist.
>> Make sure you have enough rope attached to your pot. This might sound simple, but when you watch your pot, rope and float disappear into the deep blue it’s a very sad reality check.
>> Place your pots, don’t just throw them anywhere. Crayfish live in structure, so take the time to learn how to read your sounder and strategically place your pots. Also, dependent on depth, you should always allow for drift and current.
>> (ED: Keep the bait suspended in the pot, offset from the entrance, using copper wire. And create a bait pouch using a sandwich of thick plastic mesh. This way you will discourage pickers and stop critters like eels and crabs from stealing the bait.)
>> (ED: Kelp and caves are two favourite cray habitats, so drop your pots or dive them in where there are large underwater rocks with overhangs.)
>> (ED: You don't need to go deep and can dispatch pots into rocky gutters at dead low tide. Use a long-handled gaff to retrieve them.)

DIVING FOR CRAYS
For those who aren’t able to drop pots, you can usually still dive for crays.
This can be very tricky at first and takes a bit of time to master the skill. But it is so rewarding when you finally do manage to capture one in the water.  And then when you find a nest, wow!

If you are going to dive for crays you must:
>> Never dive alone. Whether on tank or free diving it is a global rule that you should never dive alone, always pair up and be sure to watch each other above and below the water.
>> Ensure your method of diving and technique for catching the crays meets all the laws and regulations that your local fisheries body enforces.
>> ALWAYS use a dive flag when beneath the surface. When diving you must realise that your safety is paramount.
>> (ED:In some places you can use spears, in others you can not, but always use a glove when diving for crays.)
>>(ED: Grab crays by the whiskers or back of the head, not the tail where you risk injury.)
>> (ED: Crays are surprisingly powerful critters so take a firm hold, drag the cray out, then surface and pop it in a fish bag).

So no matter which amazing part of Australia you reside in, you should get out there and give cray fishing a go. It may take days, weeks or even months to nab your first beauty. But when you do, it’ll leave you smiling from ear to ear.

Further reading at Catching crays in WA.