The Fishing Website : Discussion Forums : Soft Shelled Crayfish

Soft Shelled Crayfish : True that, thats what i thought...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:54:40 +0000

Author: Titahi
Subject: 71635
Posted: 30 Oct 2011 at 10:54pm

[/QUOTE]

True that, thats what i thought and i thought they were easy to get because they came up into the shallows to get the light to help harden the shells. But i cant find anything to confirm that theory. So i am now curious as to why they would come into the shallows and make themselves vulnerable.

The only thing i have come up with is that they are naturally lethargic after molting which would make the law against taking them when they are soft seem reasonable, in order to give them a chance. So perhaps that is the answer to the question of why you cant take them, or why someone decided that is the "law"!

But i cant find any reason for them coming into the shallows to molt. As mentioned, i was under the impression that it was to get the sun/light on their shells to help harden them but other than someone telling me that that is the case can not find any info on the Internet to support that theory.

So last question, if anyone knows or gives a shet, any ideas why they come in to the shallows to molt?

Chur

[/QUOTE]

Found this...."Mating occurs in mature females that have recently moulted, although their shells

need not be “soft” for mating to occur, a few hours to about five weeks after the

female moult. Mating can take as little as 90 seconds, and egg laying occurs

immediately afterwards. Fertilisation is external, by way of a spermatophoric mass

deposited on the sternum of the female.

20. Most mature J. edwardsii females moult and mate some time between February and

May. Females carrying eggs occur in greatest numbers from April to October,

though a few are found during any month of the year. Females bear eggs only once

each year and most mature females carry eggs during the egg-bearing season.

Successful reproduction requires mature male and female lobsters of similar size".

Here...http://www.nzrocklobster.co.nz/f1267,55918/55918_17544_NRLMG_Annual_Report_2006.pdf

which may help explain why they molt in shallow water, as they then quickly mate, and shallow is safer for that as well as warmer in temp?

Soft Shelled Crayfish : No Stu, as you know they don't,...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:56:28 +0000

Author: M@CC@
Subject: 71635
Posted: 30 Oct 2011 at 9:56pm

No Stu, as you know they don't, but there was some huge ones in the bag as well, can't complain!, Currently in Auki, Malaita, even caught a couple of fish

Soft Shelled Crayfish : They sure have no concept of minimum...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:42:31 +0000

Author: Capt Asparagus
Subject: 71635
Posted: 30 Oct 2011 at 9:42pm

They sure have no concept of minimum size limits up there, do they? :-)

Soft Shelled Crayfish : Ok the results are in .................

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:15:51 +0000

Author: M@CC@
Subject: 71635
Posted: 30 Oct 2011 at 9:15pm

Ok the results are in .............. Yes the flesh on the soft shelled was a little more 'soft' once cooked though there was nothing in, although a slightly different texture, both tasted good. I'll also add that they were both horribly undersize, so were very sweet!, 7 more in freezer for the next week.

Soft Shelled Crayfish : Raging Bull wrote: The only...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:58:42 +0000

Author: Gareth27934
Subject: 71635
Posted: 30 Oct 2011 at 5:58pm

Raging Bull wrote:

The only thing i have come up with is that they are naturally lethargic after molting which would make the law against taking them when they are soft seem reasonable

Law, Reasonable..... can't be that.

Soft Shelled Crayfish : there is less larger predators...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:08:04 +0000

Author: JAKE D
Subject: 71635
Posted: 30 Oct 2011 at 3:08pm

there is less larger predators in the shallows

Soft Shelled Crayfish : Cigar wrote: Raging Bull...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:34:30 +0000

Author: Raging Bull
Subject: 71635
Posted: 30 Oct 2011 at 12:34pm

Cigar wrote:

Raging Bull wrote:

Well there you go, you learn something new every day. So why can't you take them when they are soft? Why are they so easy to get when they are soft?

I think your second question is the answer to the first - i.e you can't take them when they are soft because they are so easy to get.

So last question, if anyone knows or gives a shet, any ideas why they come in to the shallows to molt?

Chur

Soft Shelled Crayfish : Raging Bull wrote:Well there...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:22:44 +0000

Author: Cigar
Subject: 71635
Posted: 30 Oct 2011 at 12:22pm

Raging Bull wrote:

Well there you go, you learn something new every day. So why can't you take them when they are soft? Why are they so easy to get when they are soft?

I think your second question is the answer to the first - i.e you can't take them when they are soft because they are so easy to get.

Soft Shelled Crayfish : sweet as, I was told the reason...

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:20:06 +0000

Author: Raging Bull
Subject: 71635
Posted: 29 Oct 2011 at 9:20pm

sweet as, I was told the reason they go into shallow water was to get more light to help harden the shell. Seemed logical to me. I guess because someone decided that's what the law would be seems more logical to some.

Soft Shelled Crayfish : Raging Bull wrote:Well...

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:04:17 +0000

Author: Titahi
Subject: 71635
Posted: 29 Oct 2011 at 8:04pm

Raging Bull wrote:

Well there you go, you learn something new every day. So why can't you take them when they are soft? Why are they so easy to get when they are soft?

Cause the Law sayith so???

Cause they have brains the size of peas, and congregate in shallower water in nests when molting?