Crabs in Cockburn Sound
What's the story with Cockburn crabs?
Mate of mine that has come with me a few times loves to dive for crabs. Few spots I've taken him are always outside the sound because of the ban.....
Picks up his own boat last week and takes the family out on Saturday. Lines of pots straight in front of Palm Beach ramp all the way to the causeway.
Got pulled over by Dep of Transport who continued to assure him there was no ban on taking crabs in the sound. The argument went back and forward for a few minutes while they pointed out everybody crabbing from tinnys and all the moored boats with pots hanging off the back.
So he dived and bagged out in 20 mins.
I appreciated that DOT are not fisheries but a bit of cross agency education would definitely not go astray.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
Entrapment lol ..
Entrapment lol .. infringements of the law has taken place with the connivance of officials , deadset hopeless. Would make a interesting court case .
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
To the best of my knowledge
Cockburn sound is definitely closed to crabbing until further notice and there hasn't been any announcement to change the closure status.
DOT are giving the wrong advice, a quick phone call to Fisheries will clear up the situation quick smart.
Unless you see a counter direction issued under the signature of the director fisheries then it aint changed.
Moking
Posts: 1252
Date Joined: 30/05/12
Cockburn Sound: Closed to
Yep- I'm hanging out to do some crabbing in the Sound,but I keep doing the right thing and obeying the Rules. And also keep on seeing people with crab drop nets in close around Mangles Bay. Pisses me off seeing this,but then I worry that I'm becoming a grumpy old fisherman! I noticed that these crabbing clousure's started in Cockburn Sound 2008,so that's nine years now. It does make you think what changed in the Sound,and why hasn't the crabbing issue improved.
Cockburn Sound: Closed to crab fishing – see Cockburn Sound map below.
The Cockburn Sound crab fishery is closed to protect the blue swimmer crab breeding stock.
This closure is an important measure required for the recovery of the crab stock after recent research showed a significant decline in the number of crabs in Cockburn Sound due to environmental and biological factors.
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
little johnny
Posts: 5330
Date Joined: 04/12/11
Lol been happening
For well over a month. This weekend will be interesting.
Mitch88
Posts: 181
Date Joined: 23/09/14
Any documentation out little
Any documentation out little johnny in regards to season opening??
Cant find anything on Google....?
little johnny
Posts: 5330
Date Joined: 04/12/11
No nothing
At this stage. Heaps of big big blues in there atm. While going for occy seeing heaps every swim middle of day. Gummies and occys having a ball on them. Other day swimming from 1 spot to another seen big Occo chasing crab Occo lost, smashed him before he got to crab. Crab won this one:):)
Browndog
Posts: 581
Date Joined: 10/04/12
Yep
Yep, see heaps of big, fat, healthy blues down there every day snorkelling. Sometime hard to find a safe spot to put your foot down without getting a nip. Pretty frustrating as my usual spot for snorkelling for them (outside the ban are but very close by) seems to be holding mainly females that are only slightly above legan size, where around Palm Beach seem to be mainly very large males.
And yes, the occies and gummies are having a feast and leaving lots of empty shells, seen a few that would have made a good feed on their own.
Frustrating, fisheries never around when you need them!
Cheers,
Browndog.
sphere
Posts: 101
Date Joined: 07/01/15
The octopus within shore
The octopus within shore snorkeling range?
Browndog
Posts: 581
Date Joined: 10/04/12
Octopus
Absolutely, from Palm beach jetty all the way to Mangles bay, snorkel over the weedand check moorings and any lumps, if you don't get an occy within minutes you are blind. Look for the shells.
Cheers,
Browndog.
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
I hope that the grubs
I hope that the grubs that are taking crabs from Cockburn Sound get pounced upon by fisheries and they all get their boats etc confiscated.
If fisheries monitor this site com'n people let's see some action against these selfish barstards.
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Question
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
Answers
Could you please post up the answers you get. Fisheries have IMO done a great job on the cray scene and clobbered quite a few low life, it would be good to see them do the same to those taking crabs from a protected fishery.
moose hunter
Posts: 62
Date Joined: 14/06/13
Closed until further
Closed until further notice
just looked at wa fisheries site re cockburn crab fishing. Cockburn crab fishing closed until further notice, no other explanation sighted, didn't see a open date.
would be nice if more info was available, in writing not verbal. Have had misinformation from fisheries before.
would like to know reason why sound is closed.
peel estuary is being hammered, only came across a few undersized crabs other day, others I spoke to had same result.
does anyone know if any signage posted round ramps at cockburn sound re closed crabbing?
Moking
Posts: 1252
Date Joined: 30/05/12
Yep- Fisheries have placed
Yep- Fisheries have placed signs on all boat ramps on Cockburn Sound side. Also both jetties have multiple signs placed on them. (But it seems some people have problems reading these signs at sunset/night) As crabs are being caught.
I noticed that the boat ramps on Safety Bay side still have the old reduntant crabbing signs, not showing Closure in Cockburn Sound.
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
Notorious
Posts: 914
Date Joined: 23/02/12
Saw a lady walking the
Saw a lady walking the shallows scooping at mangles - called Fishwatch but they couldnt attend the scene to bust her. I was on a "romantic" sunset picnic with the lady so couldnt be bothered with the drama of having a go at her myself.
Palm beach is my local, at waist height there are crabs everywhere. Season should open again soon I think
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rigpig
Posts: 507
Date Joined: 21/11/12
Mangles Bay
Having a few beers at Mangles Bay Fishing Club on sunset and it's a constant parade of big blues walking past in the shallows. Drives me absolutely nuts. It's like they know we can't lean over the fence and scoop the buggers up..
bulkie
Posts: 128
Date Joined: 08/01/13
I've seen a fair few around
I've seen a fair few around that area before. Some stonkers too.