Posted by Team breakaway on 24/9/2007, 9:56 am, in reply to "Re: Crabs"
There appears to be a higher density of mid range snapper in the BOP and northern HB beaches than around Napier, add in smoothhound and Gurnard and they must make a dent in the crab population. Reef structure probably give fish a sense of safety and a ready source of food rather than trying to take on a large crab which must be a challenge for a small snapper while a 50 cent coin size crab found in rough ground is a ready made meal. The shell fish beds may act as attractants for both crabs and fish as the crabs I understand feed on the tongues of shellfish and add to the food chain in that area so the challenge is find a shellfish bed and you will find the fish. Perhaps avoiding crabs is part of the bigger picture rather find the beds and you find the fish crabs or no crabs. Close to Napier it is a challenge especially in the last few years when fish appear to not come within range, in the spring or perhaps they can no longer get the chance to get in close being nailed at kilometre by longlines or closer by trawlers!