Go prawning with Rob Morecroft
9/Feb 2010
Prawns
The new batch of prawns are beginning to reach a size where they are good bait, and if you can be bothered peeling them quite tasty.
I watched two prawners the other night and they were catching quite a few. I think they are a bit small and would recommend waiting another 2 weeks before chasing them.
If you are desperate for a good feed of prawns then head up to Sydenham Inlet, the lake at the end of the Bemm River.
I am reliably informed that the lake is closed and a huge amount of prawns are trapped in the lake.
Christmas is nearly here so what better than to get out at night and catch a feed of prawns.
The prawns are in early this year and can be found all around Raymond Island. There are two main methods to catch these tasty little morsels.
On the dark of the moon the larger of these crustaceans will begin travelling out to sea. So a lot of boat owners travel to Lakes Entrance, anchor in the channel and dip them up as they go past.
When contemplating this method it would be wise to have all your boat's safety gear up to date, and be sure that your all round white light is on a separate switch to the red and green navigation lights, as it is an offence to have the nav lights while anchored. This is a popular way of catching these scrumptious beasties so be warned, lots of boats in the one area attract the water police.
The second method favoured by many locals is to dip each one off the bottom. Before they run to sea they grow in the estuary for a couple of months. Hiding under the sand during the day they emerge as it gets dark and begin feeding.
To catch these jumpy fish you will require the following. (see photo) A 12v
Prawns
The new batch of prawns are beginning to reach a size where they are good bait, and if you can be bothered peeling them quite tasty.
I watched two prawners the other night and they were catching quite a few. I think they are a bit small and would recommend waiting another 2 weeks before chasing them.
If you are desperate for a good feed of prawns then head up to Sydenham Inlet, the lake at the end of the Bemm River.
I am reliably informed that the lake is closed and a huge amount of prawns are trapped in the lake.
Christmas is nearly here so what better than to get out at night and catch a feed of prawns.
The prawns are in early this year and can be found all around Raymond Island. There are two main methods to catch these tasty little morsels.
On the dark of the moon the larger of these crustaceans will begin travelling out to sea. So a lot of boat owners travel to Lakes Entrance, anchor in the channel and dip them up as they go past.
When contemplating this method it would be wise to have all your boat's safety gear up to date, and be sure that your all round white light is on a separate switch to the red and green navigation lights, as it is an offence to have the nav lights while anchored. This is a popular way of catching these scrumptious beasties so be warned, lots of boats in the one area attract the water police.
The second method favoured by many locals is to dip each one off the bottom. Before they run to sea they grow in the estuary for a couple of months. Hiding under the sand during the day they emerge as it gets dark and begin feeding.
To catch these jumpy fish you will require the following. (see photo) A 12v
battery, a punt to float it in, - this is also used to hold your catch, a 12v underwater light and a dip net. Waders are optional at this time of year.
The method will take a little time to master but having done so it is easy to catch a bucket full
The method will take a little time to master but having done so it is easy to catch a bucket full
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click on photo
So how do you catch them you ask? When it is dark and you have the battery in the punt, the punt rope over the shoulder, light on, and net in your dominant hand, you are ready. Cruising over the sand slowly, waving the light from side to side under the water, you will eventually see a prawn nervously sitting on the bottom. You must remember everything in the lake is trying to eat this prawn, so he is very jumpy, and it is this that we will use to catch it.
Slide the net to the sand beside the prawn - not so close as to touch a feeler as this will immediately make this skittish morsel jump away from the net - at the same time as your net hits the sand you must rush the light at the prawn. If you coordinate these two movements correctly the prawn will jump away from the light and into the net.
A major flaw in new chums' technique is to then scoop the prawn up, but any forward movement gives the prawn time to jump out of the net. What you must do is slide the net down and immediately slide it up again, a bit like using a paint scraper forward then back- down then straight back up the same way. If all goes to plan you will hear the prawn flapping in the net as you shake it to the bottom. With experience it will only take one second to perform these movements and you will be able to carry up to ten in the net before emptying the contents into the punt.
As you can see from the photo it is a method worth persisting with, and you will be amazed how many friends you have when your fridge is full of fresh prawns.
27 Jan 2010
A contrbution by Coralie Foxton
Coralie Foxton has emailed in an alternative method of catching the prawns. She uses a "--- really strong , preferably halogen HEADlight (as in on your head) which picks up the eyes."--- "Expensive but hell, it is so much fun and we have caught kilos,---We just put the net down completely over the prawn and either tickle him till he jumps into the net, or grab him with your hand,"
Good one Coralie, It sounds like lots of fun and I recon if it works it's worth a go.
The majority of the larger king prawns have gone to sea during the last dark of the moon, but my spies tell me there are lots of small ones around which should be eating size in late March.
Has anyone caught a king fish yet? They come up and look at my lures and then swim away. Very frustrating, but I hit the tackle shop today and purchased lures that I am assured are a sure thing.
Rob Morecroft
Rob Morecroft
Beachside Loft at Eagle Bay
1 Bay Road
Eagle Point Vic 3878
ph: 0351566345 / 0409566345
Slide the net to the sand beside the prawn - not so close as to touch a feeler as this will immediately make this skittish morsel jump away from the net - at the same time as your net hits the sand you must rush the light at the prawn. If you coordinate these two movements correctly the prawn will jump away from the light and into the net.
A major flaw in new chums' technique is to then scoop the prawn up, but any forward movement gives the prawn time to jump out of the net. What you must do is slide the net down and immediately slide it up again, a bit like using a paint scraper forward then back- down then straight back up the same way. If all goes to plan you will hear the prawn flapping in the net as you shake it to the bottom. With experience it will only take one second to perform these movements and you will be able to carry up to ten in the net before emptying the contents into the punt.
As you can see from the photo it is a method worth persisting with, and you will be amazed how many friends you have when your fridge is full of fresh prawns.
27 Jan 2010
A contrbution by Coralie Foxton
Coralie Foxton has emailed in an alternative method of catching the prawns. She uses a "--- really strong , preferably halogen HEADlight (as in on your head) which picks up the eyes."--- "Expensive but hell, it is so much fun and we have caught kilos,---We just put the net down completely over the prawn and either tickle him till he jumps into the net, or grab him with your hand,"
Good one Coralie, It sounds like lots of fun and I recon if it works it's worth a go.
The majority of the larger king prawns have gone to sea during the last dark of the moon, but my spies tell me there are lots of small ones around which should be eating size in late March.
Has anyone caught a king fish yet? They come up and look at my lures and then swim away. Very frustrating, but I hit the tackle shop today and purchased lures that I am assured are a sure thing.
Rob Morecroft
Rob Morecroft
Beachside Loft at Eagle Bay
1 Bay Road
Eagle Point Vic 3878
ph: 0351566345 / 0409566345
Rob Morecroft
