where's the yabs

[thefishman]

hi, is there anyone out there who knows where to catch freshwater yabbies (of the type cherrux destructors, or spiny ones) ive been keen to find some in the sydney area and was wondering if anyone knows where abouts in the sydney area or not to far from the sydney area where you can catch them. anyone who helps will be appreciated as ive asked countless people and read countless info but no one can answer the simple question of "where the hell are they" and ive also tried lots of local dams. tonight i am gonna buy some fish heads and try some more but - has anyone caught them around the sydney area, please let me know. TY

[anyluck]

Not sure where you live.
I know of a great spot not far from me in the Blue Mountains called Kanooka Brook. It is about a 15 - 20 min walk from Glenbrook station. They grow massive and can be up to 30cm long in the body. We normally use sausage to attract them and then just net them.

[Bass flicker]

LEAVE THE SPINY CRAYS ALONE!!!!!!! THEY GROW TERRIBLY SLOW AND A LARGE ONE CAN BE UP TO 40YRS OLD. THEY ARE NOT PLENTYFULL AND HAVE SUFFERED HUGELY DUE TO HABBITAT LOSS. i REPEAT DO NOT TAKE ANY SPINY CRAYS FROM THE WILD!!!!! YOU WILL BE CREATING MAJOR ENVIROMENTAL DESTRUCTION.As for the Cherrax Destuctor, farm dams are the best bet or a creek near a dam. They are in south crk around Berkshire park and Landilo. Dont use fish heads they are actually mainly herbivious and respond well to things like pumpkin and fresh horse and cow manure.

If you are using an opera house net make sure it has wire rings in it so platypus dont get in and drown!!!!!

[ritchie001]

i almost got blinded with that red font BF !! hehehe :1yikes: ..

Whats the difference between spiny crays and Cherrax Destuctor?..i thought both the same...

once i bought few good size live yabs from the local asian fish market to put in my pond thinking its a good deed, giving them another chance to live..but the bastards decided to crawl outta the pond (dunno how they did it 'cos it was well covered), wander around the street, my driveway and get ran over by the cars! :bricks:

ah well..so much for my good soul! LOL

by the way, has anyone got a good recipe for yabs, now that we know few spots to catch 'em ;)

[Dog Catcher]

LEAVE THE SPINY CRAYS ALONE!!!!!!! THEY GROW TERRIBLY SLOW AND A LARGE ONE CAN BE UP TO 40YRS OLD. THEY ARE NOT PLENTYFULL AND HAVE SUFFERED HUGELY DUE TO HABBITAT LOSS. i REPEAT DO NOT TAKE ANY SPINY CRAYS FROM THE WILD!!!!! YOU WILL BE CREATING MAJOR ENVIROMENTAL DESTRUCTION.As for the Cherrax Destuctor, farm dams are the best bet or a creek near a dam. They are in south crk around Berkshire park and Landilo. Dont use fish heads they are actually mainly herbivious and respond well to things like pumpkin and fresh horse and cow manure.

If you are using an opera house net make sure it has wire rings in it so platypus dont get in and drown!!!!!

Bass flicker

I'm nearly 100% certain those opera house nets are ILLEGAL to use in creeks & rivers

[Mr Potato Head]

We use opra house nets to catch yabbies in dams. By Yabbies i mean the normal small yabbies and im assuming thats what you mean? You cannot use any sort of traps around sydney's fresh waterways..

http://www.countrynews.com.au/pics/CTY/20040621/yabbie2.jpg


Yabby (or opera house) traps are known
to catch and drown animals such as platypus
and turtles which are protected under the
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
In association with the National Parks
and Wildlife Service; wildlife experts;
commercial yabby fishers and the Advisory
Council on Recreational Fishing; NSW
Department of Primary Industries has
implemented a number of changes to rules
regarding use of yabby traps to minimise
capture of other animals.



E
All yabby traps need to be fitted with a
90 mm rigid ring in any entrance funnel
to reduce the incidence of capture of
adult turtles.



E
Traps are banned in waters where
platypus are found. These are public
waters including impoundments, rivers
and streams east of the Newell
Highway (excluding private farm dams)
and three designated stretches of river
west of the Newell Highway – the
Edward River (upstream of Stevens
weir), The Murray River (upstream of
the Echuca/Moama road bridge) and the
Murrumbidgee River (upstream of
Darlington Point road bridge).



E
Rigid mesh, such as metal wire or hard
plastic is prohibited from use on traps.


This is from Freshwater Fishing Handbook 2008

[Dog Catcher]

Yep Yep that's what I thought Spud

A mate who's property I go yabby'n @ out bush told me that years ago

He has a creek out the back & think that's why he brought upthe subject.

When using those opera house nets inthe dams I leave a portion of them sticking up out of the water so if a wittle Kalabunga turtle gets trapped it can surface for air

[Mr Potato Head]

I dunno if they are the same turtles but we get em all through our dams.. heaps of the things, I wanna get rid of them so i can stock fish into the dams!

[Dog Catcher]

You wont get rid of then, cause they'll only come back they can do walkies you know :rofl:

So even if you drag net the dam they eventually walk back in

[Mr Potato Head]

Ill have to teach jess how to use the shotty... she can sit on the dam wall and blast em!

[anyluck]

BF
We do not leave a net in the water ways as this can caues obvious dammage to the environment.
We simply use sausage to lure the Yabs out of hiding and then move in with a landing net. Nothing gets cought that is not meant to.

[thefishman]

gee guys, thanks for the post and all the great info. i will allmost certainly be able to catch a yabby in the near future now. wooot wooot

[thefishman]

now i just gotta home in on this place called kanooka brook. is there a particular road or place i can correspond with kanooka brook thats a bit closer than a 20 minute walk? is kanooka brook a bushwalking track or a creek? is it close to any amenities? i will also use sausage and a landing net i have for my aquarium. thanks

[kingyfisher]

The 'longneck',or 'sideneck' ,Turtles are carnivores.
One wandered into our backyard,so we put it in the fish pond,within days some of the fish disappeared.

[thefishman]

hmmm, i wonder if turtles eat yabbies. its definately illegal to keep turtles in a pond unless you have a lisence

[TomMc]

hmmm, i wonder if turtles eat yabbies. its definately illegal to keep turtles in a pond unless you have a lisence

and then you can only buy one from other breeders, you cant take reptiles from the wild at all.

[anyluck]

Fishman:
I cant find it on a map and only know of Kanooka Brook due to the fact I grew up in the area.
It is hard to explain but I will try.
Walt west from Glenbbrook station for 5 min on the train line. There is a dirt thrack on the left hand side that you take and follow for approx 10 min. This will take you to the Glenbrook Gorge at a place called "The Duck Hole". This is where they used to pump water from to the staion to fill up the old steam engines so if you see some rusting materials laying around you know you are on the right track.
From the duck hole you follow the creek down stream for about 5 min and Kanooka Brook is on your right hand side. It is quite narrow at the mouth but as you walk upstream it opens up a bit.
You will need more than a net used in fish tanks to land a Yab from here. I sugest a net at least 1- 2 feet in width.
Trust me this is a decent bush walk but the results could be rewarding. NO GARANTEES.

You can always PM me when you are planning to head up and I may be free to act as a guide.

Good Luck

[thefishman]

that sounds good and for anything like that i usually check out google maps which shows the area surrounding glenbrook station quite clear. i'll be heading there on tuesday if weather permits and if you would like to come along then i dont mind sharing my catch if i get more than 5 yabbies for my pond (with four traps). im going to use fish heads which ill get tomorrow and it should be good. wont take me very long to get there either on the m4. i am aiming for about 10 or 11AM to be in the mountains. thanks for the help i appreciate it and im hopeful of cashing in on my new knowledge with a few nice size crays.

[Dog Catcher]

Most small Dams on properties have yabby's in them & you dont need nets to catch them either.

I've been doing it for years & enjoy doing so & have to go out & get myself another pet yabby for the fish tank.

Popeye my last pet yabby died after 2 years my fault for not covering his tank when hitting the fly's with the old Pea Beau.

Anyways all you need is about 10 ft or so of some 6 lb mono tie a bit of meat to one end & a stick to the other which you poke into the ground.

Leave some slack into the line & when you see it go tight there's a yabby or turtle on the end of it .

Pull in the line velly slowly untill you see the yabby's whiskers sticking out of the dirty water then just grab him.

Dont use hooks they'll harm the Kalabunga one's

Pays to have around a dozen or so of these lines in the water & all you do is walk around the dam checking to see which lines are tight.

A good indication if a Dam holds yabby's is broken off claws on the banks

[Jewman70]

are you talking about nippers?? if so refuge bay inthe hawkesbury has heaps..hard to find but look it up on a map...i use to get heaps with my uncle when i was young..also left a live yakka on the dropp off..thenwalk out to the sand flats....came back to find a hammerhead LOL

[thefishman]

nah mate was actually talking about fresh water yabbies to put into my fish pond. in the end i found some nice ones. thanks guys

[Dog Catcher]

You better keep an eye on them thefishman esp if it's a soft bottom in your fish pond else they'll go missing.

[rowdey]

yabs best bait fresh i caught a 10pound silver in my dam hook' 12foot of line 2litermilk bottle 2 longys of tooheys oh and canoo:lol: