Guidelines

Is it legal to catch yabbies in NSW?

Is it legal to catch yabbies in NSW?

May be used to take yabbies in inland waters, being ground tanks, bore drains or lagoons. Not permitted in any river or public dam or in closed areas or trout waters.

What time of year do you catch yabbies?

You can catch yabbies year-round, but the best time to try is summer and early autumn. From late-autumn, through winter and into early spring, they bury themselves in the mud to conserve energy, mate and protect themselves.

Is it legal to catch yabbies?

nets in all NSW waters, from 30 April 2021. From this date Yabby traps (“opera house”) are no longer permitted as they have been implicated in the drowning of air breathing fauna such as platypus, turtles and water rats. People wishing to take yabbies recreationally must hold a current recreational fishing licence.

Can you use live bait in NSW?

You must not hold prohibited size fish or fish in excess of the legal bag limit in a live well or use them for bait even if they are injured or dead on capture. If you have purchased fish or bait from a commercial vendor, retain the receipt to present to an I&I NSW Fisheries Officer.

What is the best bait to catch yabbies?

Yabbies really like blood filled meat. He said the dark meat was the best for bait and he could prove it with the number of yabbies he caught. Whatever meat you use, try to select the stuff that has the least fat.

Is there a size limit on yabbies?

As a comparison the possession limit for bass yabbies (marine) is 100 per person per day with no size restriction. In SA and NSW the daily bag limit for yabbies is 200 per person per day with no size restriction and female yabbies carrying eggs must be returned.

How long does a yabby live?

Yabbies can live for up to seven years and because they grow fast they need to regularly shed their outer skeleton or shell which makes them prone to being attacked by larger fish such as Oscars.

How long can yabbies go without food?

Yabbies can live for months without eating, so feed them every one or two days. Make sure to remove leftover food as soon as possible to avoid water contamination.

Are opera house nets illegal in NSW?

The use of ‘opera house’ style yabby traps by recreational fishers will also be prohibited as this gear type poses a risk to air breathing animals such as platypus, water rats and turtles, which can inadvertently get caught in traps.

Is Cheese illegal to fish with?

There is a myth surrounding the use of cheese as bait. Cheese is not an illegal bait, and with the amount of anglers catching Murray cod on cheese each summer in Wangaratta, there would be dead fish floating everywhere if the other stories were true.

Where can I catch a yabby in Victoria?

Being a native freshwater species Yabbies can be caught in various waterways in Victoria including public rivers, creeks, lakes and private dams. Often overlooked private dams produce some of the best Yabby populations. If eyeing out a private Dam please do ask the owners permission prior to throwing in a line or net.

Where do you find yabbies in the wild?

They are freshwater crustaceans, native to parts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Where you find fresh water, from dams, rivers, and swamps, you’ll probably find some of these. To catch yabbies you’ll need about three things: a yabby trap, some string, and a meat bone.

Where did the first yabbys come from in NSW?

Initial stock was sourced from Crayhaven Aquacultural Industries which was the largest privately owned yabby farm in NSW. For over 20 years as yabby farmers and industry leaders we selected our best yabby strains for breeding each year. In 2004 when I sold that farm I kept some of the best yabby stock for my new farm at Swan Bay.

Where can you find yabbies crayfish in Australia?

Australian freshwater crayfish often referred to as Yabbies are found in various freshwater systems throughout Australia. Lakes, Rivers, creeks, and especially private dams house these guys. In Victoria and New South Wales, Yabbies are more common in comparison to other states.