STAMPEDING mud crabs continue to thunder through the mangrove forests and muddy channels in the Port, particularly west of Soldiers Point.
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In the best mud crab season I have reported for years these thumpers are being caught by an increasing number who are leaving their fishing rods in the garage and venturing up into Tilligerry Creek, Limeburners, the Karuah River and all the feeder streams.
Unlike the laws in Queensland, which has a total ban on taking female crabs, we are permitted to capture and keep the females - only if they are not carrying eggs.
As a major period in the mud crab's reproductive cycle is conducted outside the harbour, in the open ocean, it is uncommon to find many females carrying eggs.
There is a growing concern within the community with the continual loss of turtles in the harbour which become entangled in fabric mesh traps or drown as a result of entering traps of a certain design.
Wire traps with restricted entrances is the best method to catch crabs and the safest for the turtles which are unable to enter. Current laws permit one trap per person.
For those who are continuing to go fishing, the results have been excellent with dusky flathead, mulloway, garfish and bluefin tuna inside the port.
Duff tells me that the Port is full of bait fish and the big predators are going crackers.
Fisherman of the week goes to young Thomas Cattle for his 25kg cobia caught off Wanda Beach using a yellowtail for bait - awesome effort.
Stinker