Anyone been crabing on the Hawkesbury lately?
Set out early yesterday morning. Launched the boat and set the traps [HN].
Everthing was looking good. Wind was right, tide was right, crew was right and the sunrise on the Hawkesbury a sight to behold. Even read the article in Fishraider to make sure this time we would be on the money.
Then headed off for a bit of action outside. Live bait was hard to come by. I'm sure the Flint & Steel parking lot has a lot to do with it. Dozens of berley trails making their way to sea on the out-going tide must have the bait fish off the usual marks to attend the feast. Only landed one yakka off West Head then headed to the Valiant Wreck. Passed over a huge bait ball on the way, so out went the yakka. Within five minutes the reason for the baitball became obvious. I had a four foot mako on the line. Great fight. Thought I had a kingy until I saw the dorsal fin. Landed the critter without incident and continued to the Valiant.
Well guess what! We found the bait fish. There were more slimeys and yakkas here than I would have thought possible. Filled the bait tank in no time flat. Our hopes were raised and we thought we were in for a great morning.
Sad to say that was it. Not another fish landed. Not to worry fresh crab and mako will go down well back at the local with a few cold ones.
Heading back inside our excitement was building. How many crabs will be waiting to be rescued?
Well let's cut to the chase and the title of this thread.
Some Hawkesbury Lowlife has stolen five of our hats.
Of the others not a single crab. One might speculate that there were no crabs in the first place, but when you find one of your hats 500 metres from where you set it and on the other side of the river, WELL?
Were the others raided? Did the stolen pots have crabs? We will never know.
So how do we stop this kind of behaviour?
Boat rego number on the float?
I can't wait to get my hands on a Hawkesbury Lowlife!!!!
Wazza