North Australian FISH FINDER forums

Went out Saturday for a fish, got to the ramp at Leaders to be meet by the first croc of the day at the ramp, nervously old Brian unhooked the boat and we where on our way. Put the first run of pots in then off for a troll. After a few small fish landed ( no Barra) we went to check on the pots. As we reached the first pot a two meter croc was hanging around, I said to my deckie "this is not looking good" and I guest right, the first three pots where smashed. So now I'm down to seven pots for the day.
As the day went on it seemed that the crocs where everywhere, the total of crocs sighted was 17.
Ended the day with 3 pan sized goldies, 6 crabs (4 just size) and 4 crab pots left. I have fished Leaders for a while now and have never seen so may crocs, and have never lost so many pots to crocs in a days fishing.

So the question I have is anybody else having problems with crocs in Leaders smashing their pots ? or was i just having a bad day.

Cheers

Had the same problem at SWA, the local crocs have become "trained" to take baits out of pots.

Yeh I've copped it at swa

Have caught some crocs in swa in the act merrily chomping away on the floats etc..

SWA is notorious for crocs smashing crab pots. I've lost a few over the years... Between crocs smashing the pots and pot thieves, I don't bother out that way anymore... Plenty of other seafood to chase!

There's a half dozen cheeky croc in the system we counted while putting our pots in. Chris lord of the ramp use to have a really good relationship with fisheries who would relocate the problem crocs when they turn up in numbers . In the last couple of years since Chris left don't think none have been removed.

Brian is really nervous with that croc at the ramp for the last 2-3 months. Its only a meter long but the cheeky bastard won't move on. Might need to send in the yahoos with

Balou... Or you could ring the Rangers to get it done the right way.

Once Bitten wrote:Balou... Or you could ring the Rangers to get it done the right way.

No fun in that I rather "shoot em".

I was taking the p..s in my original post but honestly I dont think a ranger would do anything if I rang up to complain about croc raiding my pots.

I have had several trips where I had had pots distorted taken. In one trip I had 8 pots distorted along tho mouth. There was one the croc must not have found. And one with a big crab in, 21 cms across the shell. I'm guessing the croc didn't want to mess with it.
Another trip I was up near the "Jew hole" junction. I had a 2 m croc guarding one of my pots, it really didn't want me to check this pot.

I haven't crabbed in this system for this reason.

balou wrote:

Once Bitten wrote:Balou... Or you could ring the Rangers to get it done the right way.

No fun in that I rather "shoot em".

I was taking the p..s in my original post but honestly I dont think a ranger would do anything if I rang up to complain about croc raiding my pots.

I'm all for having fun. But fishing around some stinking croc carcass destroys it for me

IMO we have croc rangers that specialise in the removal and or destruction of problem crocs so why not use them. I see it, that the more we report, the more they see it as a problem and the more are employed if need be should they be overwhelmed with reports. Bit of a win / win situation I reckon... Or we could shoot them (crocs) and keep them out of a job...

Then again I see crocs as part of the adventure that is NT fishing... Just not so many!

Yeah there was a few out at leaders on Saturday bigbucks the old man got a bit of
A scare when he pulled one of our pots and one splashed right next to him.
Thankfully he was using the hook pole haha.

Matt Flynn wrote:Had the same problem at SWA, the local crocs have become "trained" to take baits out of pots.

Not sure they're being "trained", just more of them in the system. I've tried crabbing in remote parts of the Tiwi Islands and every pot has been smashed at times. You can't tell me those crocs ,who hardly ever see pots, have been trained. They smell meat and they try to get it, thats it.

Fish Tank wrote:

Matt Flynn wrote:Had the same problem at SWA, the local crocs have become "trained" to take baits out of pots.

Not sure they're being "trained", just more of them in the system. I've tried crabbing in remote parts of the Tiwi Islands and every pot has been smashed at times. You can't tell me those crocs ,who hardly ever see pots, have been trained. They smell meat and they try to get it, thats it.

Training crocs....!! bl..dy brilliant idea..!

'SIT'
'STAY'
'DOWN'
'DROP IT'

Good croc..!! No more problems!!!!

Call in Dr Harry..!

Hemi wrote:

Fish Tank wrote:

Matt Flynn wrote:Had the same problem at SWA, the local crocs have become "trained" to take baits out of pots.

Not sure they're being "trained", just more of them in the system. I've tried crabbing in remote parts of the Tiwi Islands and every pot has been smashed at times. You can't tell me those crocs ,who hardly ever see pots, have been trained. They smell meat and they try to get it, thats it.

Training crocs....!! bl..dy brilliant idea..!

'SIT'
'STAY'
'DOWN'
'DROP IT'

Good croc..!! No more problems!!!!

Call in Dr Harry..!

Need to recruit "Chito" - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvid ... ptile.html