Time for a few questions: Have any of you caught a crayfish on a rod? If so can you please share the experience i.e. Bait you were useing and how it was riged, where you targeting them, what the take was like, the fight if any? I had a very unusual night Thursday i was harassed by something for a couple of hours that i could not land and i think it may have been crayfish.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Nick HB on 29/6/2013, 12:03 pm, in reply to "Crayfish??"
I caught one a few years ago, fishing off the beach with mussel bait on a ledger rig, targeting Moki. At first I thought I was snagged, but pulled it free eventually and it came in like a lump of seaweed! Tasted great though. A man and fish wouldn't get into trouble if they kept their mouth shut.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Hangler on 29/6/2013, 3:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
I've caught several from a boat, this is not unusual especially if fishing near rocks. They don't fight at all, it's just like pulling up a large crab but they have the nasty habit of letting go when very near the surface. However, never seen or heard of one caught on rod and line from the beach.
If you are successful, please keep it quiet or some bugger will cut the limit.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by racepics on 29/6/2013, 3:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Yes I've caught them (by accident) when fishing on the reef down at Blackhead/Porangahau. They'll take any bait if they're around. Usually just feel like a gentle pull away, a bit like an occy would. I presume this is caused by them trying to drag the bait back under a rock or ledge. If they get tangled in the trace enough you can catch them. Sometimes all you get is the front claw with your hook stuck in its elbow. If you think your baits are being taken by crays, cast out a 'birdnest' of old nylon with some bait tied into the middle of it. That will tangle them enough to catch them. http://www.paniasurfcasting.org http://www.surfcaster.co.nz
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Naki-Fisher on 29/6/2013, 9:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Cheers for the reply's so far I'll try and explain what I experienced: Started the night off at Wai-iti, not much happening there so packed up and left at 22:30 On the way back to NP I stopped in at the local for a lazy hour to finish off. It started off slow then a couple of spikeys were caught and realeast then I had a real good take but dropped, this happened another 2 times before I hooked and landed a nice lemon. while this was all taking place I was starting to get some strange takes, nibbles, pulls and bites. Watching the rod tip it would tap like something was playing with it then you'd get a sure bite or 3, i'd pick it up let it have another go give it a wack and start winding in a weight with no real fight once I got it to just behind the beach break (wave) it dropped off. Some notes: Rod tips were all over the place- pulls, bites wobbles, nods, shakes, when in hand some of the pulls were a good half a metre. If I struck too hard, nothing, sometimes it would bring my line in on me but not that often. I tried bringing it in slowly got close but no, changed hook sizes etc. At the start I thought eels but they're not this good. This lasted 1.5 - 2 hours and was consistent (i.e. every bait) I tried allsorts to try and land whatever it was and I ended up rather frustrated.
Species that popped into my head Eels - None caught that night and there normally easy to catch Crabs - ?? if they were they felt a good size Trev's - these buggers are this cunning/tricky been that long since catching them I can't remember what they're like?? Sharks - I was catching Spikeys through the night with the one good lemon so I don't think so I knew when I had a shark playing with me I think Crayfish??
I have no idea what it was but would love to here your thoughts?
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Hangler on 29/6/2013, 9:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
NF, I take a very keen interest in the surfcasting match scene in Europe, and in particular, the UK. Now the guys who are at the top of their game are really gun anglers, they need to be because competition is hot with such a huge population to choose from.
I have learnt a lot from a top match-man in Sussex, he fishes to a regimen I found difficult to follow but I am very glad I did. Now this isn't for the likes of Kahawhai but it works very well with general surfcasting, although it's extremely difficult to put into practice.
First he casts his rod, sets it in the rod rest and the bait is allowed to work for eleven minutes. I should explain he will have either two, but most times, three baited hooks. Should he get a really good take then he will attend the rod. If he is getting small takes, such as a gurnard, he will turn his back on the rod and go and have a cup of tea.
In his opinion fish generally work in numbers, rarely are they alone. By walking away he was quite adamant, he will frequently wind in two, sometimes three fish. He goes on to say, he has seen far more fish lost by an angler striking to soon, than he has seen landed. I am confident we have all seen that happen and will admit we have done this ourself.
I believe the eleven minute idea is so he is guaranteed five casts an hour. This allows five minutes changing rigs, he will always have a fully baited rig waiting on the beach. He simply unclips the rig he just wound in, change the rig over and cast again. As he says you don't catch fish with the hooks on the beach wasting time re-baiting. You can't argue with logic like that.
The next time you are getting takes as you describe, just once walk away, turn your back on it for at least five minutes ... that is unless the fish or whatever is feeding, pulls line. Just one or two goes can't do any harm and it could just do a lot of good.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by GaryK on 29/6/2013, 10:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Have you considered squid mate. They can play with you for hours without getting caught. If not it may well have been crays. Get Snappyboy to go for a dive out there and check it out.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Panser on 29/6/2013, 10:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
GaryK- As soon as Snappyboy hits the water all forms of life run/swim like hell. Its like the aftermath of the Chernobil explosionBorn to fish. Forced to work.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Naki-Fisher on 30/6/2013, 9:28 am, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
thanks Hangler some good advice there. I must admit i hve been a little quick to grab and strike lately.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Naki-Fisher on 30/6/2013, 2:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Snappy would love something playing with him As for squid, that is another strong contender i never thought about, cheers Gary, have you ever caught one surfcasting?.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by snappyboy on 30/6/2013, 6:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Very funny panser, i guess leaving you to swim out will lead to a major displacement of water that could lead to a tsumani...Good things come to those who bait.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Panser on 30/6/2013, 6:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Hows ur rod bud?Born to fish. Forced to work.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by snappyboy on 30/6/2013, 7:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Very StiffGood things come to those who bait.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Naki-Fisher on 30/6/2013, 9:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
snappy leave those poor squid alone. Lol
sounds like there's a bit of a story to tell here lads. Please tell
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by GaryK on 30/6/2013, 9:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
They can trim your baits up but are difficult to hook without a proper squid jig. No I havnt on normal surf or rock fishing gear.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by SNAPPA NAPIER on 1/7/2013, 7:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Caught a squid using squid as a stray line bait off Northernmost pt coromandel . It probably tried to root it eh. Sounds possibly a Squid bite. Have caught a few Crays too, years ago tho off smelly point using probably a Ledger in the starting out years. Sooooo long ago
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by Naki-Fisher on 1/7/2013, 10:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Well i'm trying to start again mate as i havn't had much luck lately, although time has not been on my side work has had me in out and round and round. I would really like to join the NP club and go for gold, but before commeting to that i need the ok from the better half as when i tend to put my mind to something it's all or nothing. Hows the recovery going? Been fishing much.
Re: Crayfish??
Posted by SNAPPA NAPIER on 2/7/2013, 7:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Crayfish??"
Na mate, can't see much point in pulling red cod and spiney crap in, tho the sea hasn't been kind. Haven't fished in the sea around here for nearly 8 weeks. Bin killing a few mudfish instead, in the odd day i have had off work. Mite go have a poke about fri or sat, or both as weather and sea look strangely decent for a change. As for the recovery its like it never happened, which is fab.
on 29/6/2013, 9:21 am
