Cray/Crab Pots off the yak

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote tga fisher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2010 at 1:50pm
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Very helpful Rainbow - had thought about this from a boat but not from a yak. Cheers
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote merman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 2010 at 7:10pm
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    Rainbow do you think two of those round wire pots will be a tight sqeeze on a 4.5 ocean all at once and a bit awkward or you think do 1 of them then back for another. I dont plan on goin far just  close to shore where I can see the floats along kaikoura coast while I camp the night  . looking at buying two of tm but only person is in whakatane price seems ok  
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Rainbow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Nov 2010 at 10:42am
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Merman

I would suggest your try one at a time at first so that you get your handling routine sorted out.    Of course it all depends on the area and sea conditions where you intend to set them.    I set mine off a P13 so you should have no trouble with your 4.5.    Put one on your foot well but far enough forward so that you can paddle but still have the wires sitting on your tip of your booties for better balance.    Also make sure you have the rope and buoy sorted out before you launch as this avoids tangles that are a real hassle to undo at sea.    

When you got your routine together try the other pot across your rear well.    Always set the foot well one first so that you can sit side saddle when you bring the rear one forward.    Never tie pots to you yak.   It is better to lose one in rough seas than to can out with the pots holding the yak upside down.
 
Good luck
 
Rainbow
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Pnut Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2012 at 11:15pm
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Hi Rainbow, awesome info for a cray newbie like me!
Just wondering about those no.8 pots, do they have the regulation holes required?
Does anyone know where to get those in Auckland?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Rainbow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2012 at 4:41pm
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Any cray pot sold in a fishing shop should comply with the regs regarding escape slots.    As an aside my guess is that you might discover that in Auckland buying cray pots will be easier that finding crays.
 
Rainbow
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote boydee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2012 at 5:23pm
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haha^^
Great info Rainbow thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote fear no fish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 12:22pm
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I have a lot of success getting crays of the yak. I have 2 round collapsable pots which are weighted so they stay put. I have moderate success with these when I use them.

What I have a lot of success with is ring potting. A steel ring (bike rims work too) about 3ft in diameter with a net on the bottom. Similar to what yakkaman described earlier. Like a big landing net but without the handle. 3 point saddle for keeping it level on the drop and lift. Tie lots of bait (usually a couple of cod bodies or similar) in the bottom drop them down to soak for about 20 minutes and haul them up, bingo. Best lift for 1 pot was 13 crays, but only 4 were keepers, bugger.

The catch, yes there is one with this method. As crays become active at dusk, you need to be prepared to be on the water at night, in the dark! Not possible around a lot of our coastline and I only do it on nice calm nights. In saying that you do not need to go far. The main spot I go to I would be no more than 100m from the beach and in 2-10m of water. At New Year most of the crays I got were in 2-4m of water. I usually go out for a couple of hours max and it is a rare occasion when I go back to shore without my quota. I have 3 of these pots and drop them at about 5 minute intervals and then all you do is paddle a little circuit lifting the pots. 

Essential equipment
Headlamp - for getting the little buggers out of the net
Glow Sticks - tape one to each bouy, makes them a lot easier to find in a swell
Measure - I find I get quite a few shorties so measure them on the water
Catch Bag - or something to put your catch in (an old sack works)
Fishfinder - great for picking drop offs/shelfs where the little buggers might be hiding
Yak and paddle are helpful tooThumbs Up

Sorry Orca & Nuke Chook, our secret is out, but its too good not to share. And when I say "I" you know I mean "we" Tongue
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Pnut Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 1:37pm
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Originally posted by fear no fish fear no fish wrote:

What I have a lot of success with is ring potting. A steel ring (bike rims work too) about 3ft in diameter with a net on the bottom. Similar to what yakkaman described earlier. Like a big landing net but without the handle. 3 point saddle for keeping it level on the drop and lift. Tie lots of bait (usually a couple of cod bodies or similar) in the bottom drop them down to soak for about 20 minutes and haul them up, bingo. Best lift for 1 pot was 13 crays, but only 4 were keepers, bugger.
Hey that's pretty cool! So do you let the ring sit there and they just craw inside looking for the bait, then pull it up and the net stops them swimming away? i have read mixed feelings about the cheap square ali frames, not sure weather to get one to try or spend the extra for the round wire types like Rainbow was on about, or try something like your net.

Rainbow, you are probably right, even got to be a good day to catch fish in Auckland harbour LOL
We go out just north of Whangaporoa, fishing is pretty good normally and we have heard of a few spots to try for cray's. I'm not expecting much but want to give it a go.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote fear no fish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 2012 at 2:56pm
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Hi Pnut. Yep, thats the plan. When pulling them up you can't stop or they will get out. Still lose the out one getting the net out of the water and onto the yak.

Haven't tried the square ones. At the end of the day, with the right bait, in the right spot, they should all catch crays....some just seem to be better than others.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote maseofspades007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Nov 2022 at 12:17am
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Hey Rainbow mate, can you use a normal small craypot for crayfish, or do they have to be a certain size, and made of metal? Just curious, as I've seen the name used interchangeably i.e- Cray/crab pot. I'm in Auckland, not sure I'd have much luck out these ways. How deep do you have to go for crays? Or does that depend on where you are I suppose. Any info would be fan-f**ken-tastic. Thanking you in Advance
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote maseofspades007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Nov 2022 at 12:36am
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Did you figure out where to get the correct craypots for auckland bud? I'm still looking
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I have the same round pots that are collapsible. Whats the best thing to weight them. I don't want to weight them too much, as I'd have to pull them up when there's crays in there, however i want to know the best weight to keep them still? Any info will be awesome cheers mate. 
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Originally posted by fear no fish fear no fish wrote:

I have a lot of success getting crays of the yak. I have 2 round collapsable pots which are weighted so they stay put. I have moderate success with these when I use them.

What I have a lot of success with is ring potting. A steel ring (bike rims work too) about 3ft in diameter with a net on the bottom. Similar to what yakkaman described earlier. Like a big landing net but without the handle. 3 point saddle for keeping it level on the drop and lift. Tie lots of bait (usually a couple of cod bodies or similar) in the bottom drop them down to soak for about 20 minutes and haul them up, bingo. Best lift for 1 pot was 13 crays, but only 4 were keepers, bugger.

The catch, yes there is one with this method. As crays become active at dusk, you need to be prepared to be on the water at night, in the dark! Not possible around a lot of our coastline and I only do it on nice calm nights. In saying that you do not need to go far. The main spot I go to I would be no more than 100m from the beach and in 2-10m of water. At New Year most of the crays I got were in 2-4m of water. I usually go out for a couple of hours max and it is a rare occasion when I go back to shore without my quota. I have 3 of these pots and drop them at about 5 minute intervals and then all you do is paddle a little circuit lifting the pots. 

Essential equipment
Headlamp - for getting the little buggers out of the net
Glow Sticks - tape one to each bouy, makes them a lot easier to find in a swell
Measure - I find I get quite a few shorties so measure them on the water
Catch Bag - or something to put your catch in (an old sack works)
Fishfinder - great for picking drop offs/shelfs where the little buggers might be hiding
Yak and paddle are helpful tooThumbs Up

Sorry Orca & Nuke Chook, our secret is out, but its too good not to share. And when I say "I" you know I mean "we" Tongue

Brilliant info there mate, thanking you
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