North Australian FISH FINDER forums

Ok this is a question for you long time crabbers of Darwin.

In your oppinions, do you believe that the Red clawed or so called Rambo crabs are becomming more frequint in your catch rate this year as opposed to previuos years?

I personally have noticed a big increase in the number of rambo crabs that I am getting as opposed to the past. Was woundering if anyone else has had the same experiance or wether it has been pot luck, so to speak.

In previous years I would be lucky to see one every 2 or 3 trips but this year I have had trips where I have caught up to 9 of them in one outing. On three trips have caught more than 6.

What are your thoughts?

Now you come to mention it I've noticed that but my problem is I am not crabing my old haunts. I moved to new areas as I wasn't getting much.

I am told by the Finniss boys that the rambos are becoming more common out there.

Caught two rambos today at Saltwater Arm among about 14 crabs.

Would have got heaps more crabs if I got there an hour earlier!

The rambos (olivacea) may be more resilient to freshwater (vaguely recall reading this somewhere) and they are certainly more aggressive than the browns (serrata). If they cope with fresh better they might survive better during extended wet periods.

Just some thoughts.

Have to agree, Rambos are on the rise, and in the mini tinny thats not funny.

Funny you mention fresh water resiliants Matt as I fished a creek mouth at the Daly that is still pumping tannin. I set 2 pots in it and got 4 rambos and no greenies. Thought that was odd but not complaining as they all taste the same.

I crab out of leader creek a fair bit and I would say that "rambo" crabs have increased from about 3-4 a season to as many as 3-4 per trip this year. At the moment they seem to be in better condition then the other green ones.

Yep definitely notice more "rambo" crabs around this yearout of about 25 the other day from SWA I think about half of them were "rambos"

Went out to Dundee on the week end gone and set some pots in the Finniss on the way out. After leaving the pots to soak for 4 hours returned to find the pots had six Rambos and no green or giant crabs at all. Rambos are definatly taking over fog bay as well as Darwin harbour.

Same thing last time I was at the Finniss/fog bay, bulk rambos and only a few greeny's. even got one off the beach south of the lodge, he started chasing me when I was cahsing some bait so I got him with the cast net. bl..dy fast when they are in the open so I turned him into chilly crab for for having a crack at me.

Set the pots on fireworks night in the harbour for an hour and again got more rambos then greenies. ended with 3 rambos and 2 greenies.

I don't crab a lot Cuddles but I got 3 Saturday and 2 were Rambos. Definitely seems like a trend this year. Mud crab evolution?

ive been getting a fair few this year as well more than normal

cuddlescooper wrote:Ok this is a question for you long time crabbers of Darwin.

In your oppinions, do you believe that the Red clawed or so called Rambo crabs are becomming more frequint in your catch rate this year as opposed to previuos years?

I personally have noticed a big increase in the number of rambo crabs that I am getting as opposed to the past. Was woundering if anyone else has had the same experiance or wether it has been pot luck, so to speak.

In previous years I would be lucky to see one every 2 or 3 trips but this year I have had trips where I have caught up to 9 of them in one outing. On three trips have caught more than 6.

What are your thoughts?

Im just worried abut the day darwin port authoritys spill some yellowcake into the harbour and we get mutant crabs that when you pick them up by the back legs they can bend there claws back and get ya, or even better with 2 sets of nippers

FYI we have been seeing a large increase in rambo crabs this year around the East Kimberley . I believe they are an asian species. Can anyone clarrify this?