Anyone dive to collect freshwater Crayfish in the UK?

[SurfnSpear]

:hmm
I heard about this American Signal Crayfish invading the UK and went and caught some the other evening. I used a small net bag with some sausage/catfood in it. Mine are smallish but my friend caught two bigger ones and as you can see, they were on a plate quickly!
What I wondered was if anyone took a look for them actually under the surface of the water?

Regards

 

[grahamfoster]

I've heard they can be found in nearly every uk river now so I will prob find some in the rivers of south wales? - I quite like the idea of going and catching a few as they look pretty tasty! (how were yours?) What sort of areas do you find them? Fast flowing, rocky bottom etc etc? How did you set up your trap? did you leave it overnight?

As for diving for them, i suppose if you find a decent sized pool then there is no reason why not. There are some nice plungepools on the rivers here so might be something to try on a hot summers day.

 

[SurfnSpear]

Hi Graham, I stole the little bag my wife used to put the washing machine tablets in!
Put the bait in it...attached a line and dropped it in next to a suitable river bank in about 6 inches of water. After a minute or so they all started coming out to fight over it. I coaxed them towards the side and while they were fighting with each other I slid a kids fishing net under the bait bag and waited until they crawled back on top of the bait bag. Wham! up comes the fishing net with everything in...

Apparently these signal crayfish have infested almost every ditch, stream, river, canal or lake around and in fact the big ones on the dinner plate came from a 3ft wide 6 inch deep backwater stream in some woodland. I think they just grow and grow up to 500g??
My brother was on holiday in Wales last week and found some random stream near the cottage, made some netting and caught some.
They taste great after a 24 hour relax in a crayfish jacuzzi (bucket of fresh water). Initially boiled, but could be boiled and then onto the BBQ, or even straight onto the BBQ. Buy a bottle of Nando's peri peri sauce and mix a little with some mayo and dip away!
I have now got myself a trappy trap and plan to leave it overnight to harvest for the ring of people who now want to come to my crayfish jamborree!

However, I would love to jump the plunge pools in summer just for the fun of it! Really pushing the envelope of underwater hunting!!!!! rofl

 

[Huan]

For your info.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/crayfish_dc_1006069.pdf

 

[SurfnSpear]

Thanks Huan, havent seen that doc. but going on the verbal conversation I had with the EA and the licence forms they sent me, they seem quite keen to have people remove them. They said they would grant it (trap permit) within 10 days! But wow, there seem to be a lot of kids/adults down at the rivers etc. enjoying themselves...

BR

 

[grahamfoster]

Thanks for the tips - read that piece from Huan - destructive little buggers aren't they!! Will give catching some a go but sounds like it may not help the environment quite as much as I first thought.

 

[naiad]

Sounds like fun! Is there anywhere near London?

Lucia

 

[grahamfoster]

In the absence of a tip-off for good spot, you should try next to your nearest riverside country pub! A couple of pints should liven things up and you won't go hugry if you don't catch any!

 

[Huan]

Try Liver as bait , it is the best attractant for these animals.

 

[SurfnSpear]

Huan, as I dont enjoy liver, I might try giving these underwater stormtroopers some with pleasure. I have actually created a circle of use for the off cuts of my speared fish...I chum them up and freeze small portions in twisted corners of a freezer bag. When I need a block, I cut off a frozen corner and I have an instant chum block...
...naiad...I like Graham's reply...and I guess due to the prolific spread of these signals you would probably find a crayfish community in every London Borough waterway!
You could always find an Aussie and ask him if he's seen any yabbies around!!rofl

 

[SurfnSpear]

....I have been over-indulging with family and friends on Crayfish since I last posted....it's been a summer crayfish fest most weeks with a little help from the heads of my speared fish. I cannot believe how good they taste and there are so many of the little free fella's!

Regards

 

[QUETZAL]

Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Alison]

Now they look nice

 

[Oldsarge]

The traditional Louisana Crawfish (crawdad) boil:

Seasoning Mix:
1/4 cup mustard seeds
3 Tbs coriander seeds
2 Tbs whole allspice
2 Tbs dill seeds
1 tsp whole cloves
1 Tbs crushed red pepper
8 bay leaves

The recipe:
2 recipes Seasoning Mix in cheesecloth bags
8 Quarts water
1 doz. baby new potatoes
2 large onions, peeled and cut in half crosswise
2 lemons halved
1 1/4 cups + 1 Tbs salt
1/4 cup + 1Tbs cayenne
1 large head garlic cut crosswise
1/2 lb. (1/4 kilo) kielbasa sausage
4 ears green corn, shucked and cut in half
10 lbs. crawdads

1. Put the bags of seasoning mix, the water, potatoes, onions, lemons, 1 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup cayenne and the garlic in a large stockpot. Cover and boil for 15 min.
2. Add the sausage, corn and crawdads. Using a long-handled spoon, stir round and press the contents of the pot down well into the water. Cover and return to a boil. Boil for 2 min.
3. Turn off the heat. Add the remaining salt and cayenne.
4. Using the spoon, push down the contents in the pot. Cover and let stand 15 min. Drain.
5. Divide the potatoes, onions, corn and sausage into equal portions and serve with the crawdads on large platters or trays.

Serves 4 Cajuns or 6-8 pale people from outsi' de' bayou.

 

[SurfnSpear]

...hey Oldsarge....whats that kielbasa sausage consist of?
I have not trapped for a couple of weeks so they probably think they are safe and have got cocky again. I think I will introduce them to your recipe Oldsarge!
rofl

 

[Oldsarge]

Kielbasa is the "correct" name for what is frequently sold as Polish Sausage. Actually, down South, only Boudoin sausage is considered proper but I don't know anywhere you can get that out here on the Left Coast. I suspect that any spicey, smoked sausage would work just fine. What can you get over there? Portuguese Linguisa? Italian Hot Salciccio? Does anyone near you make bangers? If so, just have them smoked and add a handfull of cayenne to the grind.

 

[naiad]

SurfnSpear, I thought those were goldfish in the pan for a moment! The neighbour's pond is not a source of food...

All this talk of food is making me hungry... I want crayfish! Where are they?

Lucia

 

[Alison]

Are there any rivers over Box Hill way Lucia? I would imagine if they are that widespread that they might be there?

 

[Alison]

Just found this, waddya know!

 

[Oldsarge]

But how does that apply to keeping them in a pot of boiling water?