Fishing: Craypots rock lobster

Holidays are around the corner and everyone is probably planning to head away on the boat, to the bach or the camp ground.

There will be a lot of head scratching about what to take, such as the number of rods and how much bait. Holidays always bring back our past as hunter-gatherers and it is a great time to get back to the basics and teach the kids some life skills more important than how to "make a flat white".

Just imagine sitting back at night, pulling apart a fresh crayfish with your favourite tipple. The only problem is that I can't dive and the chances of bludging a cray off a mate are more than me winning Lotto. Setting your own craypot is the answer. They are also not that expensive now.

Jarvis Walker make a craypot that can be stowed flat and is quick and easy to assemble.

Like any longline or net that you leave unattended in the water you must have your float marked with your name and phone number.

I like to mark the craypot with two floats as it is now easily identified as mine if other pots are in the same area.

To get the jump on everyone you should leave the craypot in the water for a couple of weeks before you go away. This allows the metal and the mesh to weather, dull and blend into the environment as there is nothing bright and shiny underwater. I like to put a rock with some seaweed attached in the pot to hold it down and to make it look more natural.

Do not over-bait your pot, a single fish frame is all you need to attract the crays.

Always check the crays for any that are in berry (carrying eggs) or in soft shell as these must be returned straight away.