Thread: Crayfishing for chumps

Tips wanted for potting(and free diving) for cray fish.

Nelson is not renound for crayfish but we put out 3 pots sat and picked up sunday in spots proven by diver a couple of weeks ago.

Not a thing not even a conger eel, two pots were old proven to catch and one brand new alloy/net collapsible.

Bait was snapper frames/roe etc in one, chopped whole kahawai in another, and rotten smelly bait in another.

How is the bait held within the pot?

Originally Posted by Tommy

How is the bait held within the pot?

One was in a s/s mesh bag one in similar to an onion bag and one in a pack and slave bag with a lot of holes poked in it plus a heap just tipped in the pot.

None of the bait looked to be touched at all even the loose stuff.

Also if anyone can advise the correct limit when using a diver.
I have been told that only the diver gets his limit and have also been told the diver may get his limit and his boatman/safety guys limit as well so two limits?

I wonder if moon/tide etc has anything to do with it?

The mesh bags should be doing roughly the same thing as his bottle setup

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Also if anyone can advise the correct limit when using a diver.
I have been told that only the diver gets his limit and have also been told the diver may get his limit and his boatman/safety guys limit as well so two limits?

@veitnamcam

Cray fish limit is 6 per person per day.

In a boating Skipper and diver situation where the diver collects the crayfish and the skipper stays top side looking after the boat then you are allowed to take six for the diver and six for the skipper.

If you have a smart phone go onto the Google playstore and download the NZ Fishing Rules App

It has all the fishing regs for all species with photos to help indentifiaction.

Get fishing rules | MPI - Ministry for Primary Industries. A New Zealand Government Department.

Cheers
Pete

All divers get a serve, plus one serve for the skipper. Passengers don't count.

Dad's mate uses two half 1.5 coke bottles with para cord 'sewing' them together. Keeps the bait smell around but they have to go in to get it, and lasts a bit longer I guess. He's a gnarly old coot but he catches fish reliably

Sounds like a barren spot

Originally Posted by Tommy

I wonder if moon/tide etc has anything to do with it?

Originally Posted by Gibo

Sounds like a barren spot

Na diver was there a few weeks back and was plenty and they only took the 6 for diver as unsure of the rules.

Yes big tides/moon and I did wonder if that would put them off? I remember being told by a commercial guy you don't catch much when its rough as they don't like to come out of their holes/cracks when there is too much surge.
Was calm but would be a bit of current with the big tides?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Na diver was there a few weeks back and was plenty and they only took the 6 for diver as unsure of the rules.

Yes big tides/moon and I did wonder if that would put them off? I remember being told by a commercial guy you don't catch much when its rough as they don't like to come out of their holes/cracks when there is too much surge.
Was calm but would be a bit of current with the big tides?

I pick its moon/tide/surge Cam. Fishing is poor up here at the moment. They just don't seem to do much late Jan/Feb spawning is over and condition is back on the fish. Can only get one or two flounder in a set and a couple of snapper if I am lucky

Very much like the deer. Fawning is over, velvet is mostly grown out. They come out late to feed and go home early. Everything is on a sort of a rest period until the stags feel that surge of life running through their veins in the cooler shorter days of March then they start roamimg, checking out where the hinds have been pissing and play fighting.

I know down south they let blue cod go rotten and use that for bait but only being allowed 3 here I am eating them!

So definitely another limit for the skipper?

Hey @P38 can you link the relevant rules on the skippers quota please Pete?

All I can find is that when a diver is gathering scallops the diver may gather limits for up to two safety persons on the boat but nothing on diving for crayfish?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Hey @P38 can you link the relevant rules on the skippers quota please Pete?

All I can find is that when a diver is gathering scallops the diver may gather limits for up to two safety persons on the boat but nothing on diving for crayfish?

You are only allowed six crays if only one diver and gear.
Pots are different again as multiple persons are allowed to haul pots and allowed a share.





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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Hey @P38 can you link the relevant rules on the skippers quota please Pete?

All I can find is that when a diver is gathering scallops the diver may gather limits for up to two safety persons on the boat but nothing on diving for crayfish?

@veitnamcam

Best way to know for sure is to get it straight from the Horses Mouth.

Give MPI a ring and have a chat to a Fisheries Officer.

But this is what it says on the MPI Fishing Rules site for Rock Lobster

"Recreational fishing for the daily limit (6 legal rock lobster per fisher) is largely based on diving, but baited pots are also used".

MPI - Fisheries | Recreational | Popular Species | Rock Lobster (Crayfish)

One could argue that the "Skipper" is a "Fisher" as they have actively participated in "Fishing" for this species by driving the boat and by maintaining a safe watch over the vessel while the divers are collecting the catch. The divers are also "Fishers" as they actively collect the species.

Cheers
Pete