Thread: Koura trap

I am keen to catch a few of these creepy crawlies for a feed and I have a trip next month to a sufficiently remote and unpolluted part of the country where there should be some.

Will one of these work or am I better off with a bundle of fern with a bait in the center? Is the green on the mesh to bright a color? Any other recommendations for getting a feed.
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Also what elevation and water temperature do these spiny buggers live in? Wondering if I can get some from arthurs pass. Canterbury is fucked in terms of water quality between the irrigators sucking the water out of the ground and the cow poos in whats left of the rivers.

yip that'l work

That's what I use in central Otago average 200 a night from 5 traps

Thanks guys, I have ordered two and some of that new fangled freeze dried bait for the traps and general fishing duties.

Bell out of an old old cistern

The larger ones waiting in the bath until its dinner time.

Originally Posted by john m

The larger ones waiting in the bath until its dinner time.

Wow that is an epic haul of fresh water crawlys!

Is there any size/number limit on them? I have never seen any that big but then I havent looked since I was a kid.

50 per person no size or sex restriction . We only keep the big ones and return females with eggs as there are plenty for a feed without taking the breeders.

Is it common practice to keep them in a bucket of water for a day to purge them or just chuck them in the pot straight away.

Was always under the impression koura were off limits unless under a customary licence? Sometimes we would take a few when the trout fishing was slow but never thought the were really legit to take. Some places are crawling with them in the Rotorua region. Maybe different in different regions?

Originally Posted by kiwijames

Was always under the impression koura were off limits unless under a customary licence? Sometimes we would take a few when the trout fishing was slow but never thought the were really legit to take. Some places are crawling with them in the Rotorua region. Maybe different in different regions?

These creeks here are full of them

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We have them on my parents farm at Mt Somers in moderate numbers so assume will be right through Canterbury and probably up Arthur's. Caught them as a kid. Were in some creeks and not others. Seemed to prefer the ones that ran from clearer, strong springs with good vegetation cover on the banks

Originally Posted by john m

The larger ones waiting in the bath until its dinner time.

How could a bathtub full of creepy crawlies make me feel so hungry? Good stuff

I use the same traps but never have that much luck because of eels trashing them on the coast.

You are allowed 50 per person on the coast as well. Not off limits.
One of my favorite feeds if I ever catch enough.

Biggest ones I have ever seen were at Waitati range near Dunedin.

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Looking at that bathfull is triggering a gut response.. What do you recommend for bait... Meat or fish?

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