AROUND about this time of the year, big mud crabs start to crawl out of their underground burrows and lumber off in search of a feed.
It is not well known that muddies bury into the mud and form a “hole” similar to that of a rabbit or wombat.
Generally, among the extensive mangrove forests that we have throughout the port, the mud crabs rumble with giant claws capable of snapping a broom handle.
The only legal methods of catching mud crabs in Port Stephens is with a trap or a dilly net.
As a recreational fisher you are permitted to set two traps and four dilly pots (drop nets) and take home a bag limit of five mud crabs a day.
The Fisheries laws are very lenient in my opinion because if you have a passenger on board – that doubles everything.
It must be realised that “witches hat”style crab nets are banned in Port Stephens.
Blue swimmer crabs (which I prefer) are also starting to tap dance through the port from the Karuah River, along the channels from Tilligerry Creek to LemonTree Passage.
Lately I have been receiving very positive reports from Corlette, where chicken drumsticks have been used for bait in traps to catch cracker blue swimmers.
As summer approaches and the water heats up, so too will the crab and fish action.
Inside the port you can spend a great day with the family in the boat setting crab traps, then chase flathead and whiting before picking up your traps on the way home.
Good luck.
By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
