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Crabbing on the Gold Coast
Mud crabs
Sand crabs
The Gold Coast has a very healthy crabbing fishery, with both sand crabs and mud crabs being able to be caught all year round, despite the old adage that there must be a letter R in the month. During the
cooler months of May to August, crabs can still be caught albeit that they may not be as full of meat as during other months of the year - it really just depends upon when the crab has malted their shell last.
Rusty old bucks can certainly still be caught during the cooler months. Mud crabs which a bright green shell, or a soft underside shell, really should be released as they have just malted and won’t have
much meat in their body or claws - their flesh won’t be as firm or tasty as a rusty coloured crab - they should be let go so they can fill up to get caught next time when they are at their prime…
Mud crabs are caught in any area where mangroves are nearby. Set your crab pots where they can easily be retrieved at low tide if necessary, and ensure that the crab pot is set in a depth of water
such that it is never exposed at low tide. Hot spots include the North and South Arms of the Coomera River, Pimpama River, the Never Fail Islands, Jacobs Well, and the labyrinth of mangrove islands
around Jumpinpin. Setting your crab pot in the mouth of small creeks and drains in mangrove areas is a great choice. For best results, soak your crab pots overnight.
Crab pots
Bait
Sand crabs, also known as blue swimmers, are commonly caught around areas with a sandy seabed, especially around weedbanks / seagrass. Once again, it is important to set your crab pots where
they can easily be retrieved at low tide if necessary, and ensure that the crab pot is set in a depth of water such that it is never exposed at low tide. Hot spots include around Crab Island at Runaway
Bay, the western side of Wave Break Island, near The Timbers at the southern end of South Stradbroke Island, Tipplers Passage and the Never Fail Islands, and the Gold Banks at Jumpinpin.
Size and possession limits
Crab sizes and possession limits on this page are current as of July 2024. As size and posession limits regularly change, it is highly recommended to stay up to date with the latest rules
as listed on the Queensland Government’s website https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/rules/limits-tidal. Alternatively, download the QLD Fishing 2.0
app by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries via the App Store or Google Play.
Only male mud crabs and male sand crabs / blue swimmers are permitted to be kept. Male crabs have a triangular flap on their belly, whereas female crabs have a rounded flap.
For mud crabs, a minimum size limit of 15cm applies, as measured across the widest part of the carapace (ie. from point to point). Limit of 7 mud crabs per person or 14 per boat (with 2 or more
people on board). You can’t possess mud crabs with the shell missing, or claws without the rest of the crab.
For sand crabs / blue swimmers, a minimum size limit of 11.5cm applies, as measured from notch to notch (first notch above the widest part of the carapace). Limit of 20 sand crabs per person. You
can’t possess blue swimmer crabs with the shell missing, or claws without the rest of the crab.
You can use up to 4 crab pots per person. You can’t have more than 4 pots per person on a boat in the water. A crab pot must have a tag attached with the surname and address (number, street, town,
state and postcode) of the person using the pot/dilly – this information must be clearly visible, legible and in English. The crab pot must be attached by a rope to a solid, light-coloured float at least
15cm in all its dimensions and marked with the user’s surname. Inverted dillies (witches hats) are illegal.
Crab pots, floats, ropes, and tags are sold by all leading bait and tackle stores.
Both mud crabs and sand crabs will readily be enticed to enter a crab pot if it is loaded full of freshly caught bait - for example an unwanted (legal sized) bream, mullet, tailor, or even saltwater
catfish. Fresh is always best. For exceptional results use an oily fish such as mac tuna or bonito. Forget about rumours of using tinned catfood or rancid fish or beef products.
The next best option is to use frozen fish such as mullet, especially when coupled with chicken frames as the chicken will leave an oily trail to attract the crabs. If using chicken frames, it is important
to replace the chicken frames once or twice daily before they become rancid. Frozen bonito and mac tuna can be purchased from leading bait & tackle stores such as Doug Burts Tackle World, Gold
Coast Fishing Tackle, and The Bait Shop Gold Coast.
Avoid placing bait near the entrances of the crab pot where crabs can feed without entering the pot.
PH 0432 710 892
Crabbing on the Gold Coast
Mud crabs
Sand crabs
The Gold Coast has a very healthy crabbing fishery,
with both sand crabs and mud crabs being able to be
caught all year round, despite the old adage that there
must be a letter R in the month.
During the cooler months of May to August, crabs can
still be caught albeit that they may not be as full of
meat as during other months of the year - it really just
depends upon when the crab has malted their shell
last. Rusty old bucks can certainly still be caught
during the cooler months.
Mud crabs which a bright green shell, or a soft
underside shell, really should be released as they have
just malted and won’t have much meat in their body or
claws - their flesh won’t be as firm or tasty as a rusty
coloured crab - they should be let go so they can fill up
to get caught next time when they are at their prime…
Mud crabs are caught in any area where mangroves
are nearby. Set your crab pots where they can easily
be retrieved at low tide if necessary, and ensure that
the crab pot is set in a depth of water such that it is
never exposed at low tide.
Hot spots include the North and South Arms of the
Coomera River, Pimpama River, the Never Fail Islands,
Jacobs Well, and the labyrinth of mangrove islands
around Jumpinpin. Setting your crab pot in the mouth
of small creeks and drains in mangrove areas is a
great choice.
For best results, soak your crab pots overnight.
Bait
Sand crabs, also known as blue swimmers, are
commonly caught around areas with a sandy seabed,
especially around weedbanks / seagrass. Once again,
it is important to set your crab pots where they can
easily be retrieved at low tide if necessary, and ensure
that the crab pot is set in a depth of water such that it
is never exposed at low tide.
Hot spots include around Crab Island at Runaway Bay,
the western side of Wave Break Island, near The
Timbers at the southern end of South Stradbroke
Island, Tipplers Passage and the Never Fail Islands,
and the Gold Banks at Jumpinpin.
Size and possession limits
Crab sizes and possession limits on this page are current as of July
2024. As size and posession limits regularly change, it is highly
recommended to stay up to date with the latest rules
as listed on the Queensland Government’s website
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-
fishing/rules/limits-tidal. Alternatively, download the QLD Fishing 2.0
app by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries via the App Store
or Google Play.
Only male mud crabs and male sand crabs / blue
swimmers are permitted to be kept. Male crabs have
a triangular flap on their belly, whereas female crabs
have a rounded flap.
For mud crabs, a minimum size limit of 15cm applies,
as measured across the widest part of the carapace
(ie. from point to point). Limit of 7 mud crabs per
person or 14 per boat (with 2 or more people on
board). You can’t possess mud crabs with the shell
missing, or claws without the rest of the crab.
For sand crabs / blue swimmers, a minimum size limit
of 11.5cm applies, as measured from notch to notch
(first notch above the widest part of the carapace).
Limit of 20 sand crabs per person. You can’t possess
blue swimmer crabs with the shell missing, or claws
without the rest of the crab.
Both mud crabs and sand crabs will readily be enticed
to enter a crab pot if it is loaded full of freshly caught
bait - for example an unwanted (legal sized) bream,
mullet, tailor, or even saltwater catfish. Fresh is always
best. For exceptional results use an oily fish such as
mac tuna or bonito. Forget about rumours of using
tinned catfood or rancid fish or beef products.
The next best option is to use frozen fish such as
mullet, especially when coupled with chicken frames
as the chicken will leave an oily trail to attract the
crabs. If using chicken frames, it is important to
replace the chicken frames once or twice daily before
they become rancid. Frozen bonito and mac tuna can
be purchased from leading bait & tackle stores such as
Doug Burts Tackle World, Gold Coast Fishing Tackle,
and The Bait Shop Gold Coast.
Avoid placing bait near the entrances of the crab pot
where crabs can feed without entering the pot.
Crab pots
You can use up to 4 crab pots per person. You can’t
have more than 4 pots per person on a boat in the
water.
A crab pot must have a tag attached with the
surname and address (number, street, town, state
and postcode) of the person using the pot/dilly – this
information must be clearly visible, legible and in
English.
The crab pot must be attached by a rope to a solid,
light-coloured float at least 15cm in all its dimensions
and marked with the user’s surname. Inverted dillies
(witches hats) are illegal.
Crab pots, floats, ropes, and tags are sold by all
leading bait and tackle stores.
