Crayfish, have them for breakfast lunch and tea. The lobsters can be found all throughout Australia, in this video Taylor explains where to find them and how to catch them. Crayfish are renowned for being a delicacy among the many varieties of seafood. How to catch them on your own however, is a fine art, and requires some vital knowledge before you attempt any catches that will help you in your success rate and in the conservation of the species.
Firstly, you need to know when you can catch crayfish. This is dependent upon where you are located as the crayfish will shut down over given periods. In Victoria, you are unable to take any crayfish from the 1st of June to the 15th of November when females are shutdown, where males are shut down from the 15th of September to the 15th of November. In general, it is important to check the local regulations on when and how you can catch crayfish in your region. This will give you an idea of what equipment you can use to capture the fish (cray loop, speargun, torch, hands) and at what time of year.
It’s also important not to remove any females which are carrying eggs so that the population can be maintained at a viable level. Circular orange shapes under the tail are often a good indicator of the presence of eggs.
Crayfish are generally found in depths of 10m - 15m in deep crevices and cracks. Painted crayfish in Queensland are often found in coffee rock and around headlands with plenty of ledges. Eastern and Southern crayfish are very similar in terms of their preferred environment. Slipper lobsters can be found in a wide range of spots and aren’t limited to the same crevices and ledges as other lobsters.
It’s always useful to have a dive buddy. The first reason for this is safety, so that in a situation where you become stuck or are unsure about your given situation you can indicate to them for assistance. It also allows for more success when working in conjunction with you partner to plan your catch method, and in some situations can allow for one person to force the crays to one end of their crevice where the other partner can catch them.
In summary, make use of a dive partner when catching crayfish. Keep the local regulations in mind and be conscious of the species conservation by avoiding crays carrying eggs to avoid any penalties. Enjoy your diving experience!