A days Crayfishing (pics)

[lannyman8]

any1 know where you can get them around York area. ive tried before but had no luck due to lack of cray fish DOH......lol

 

[Ph34r]

try creeks with dirty water, or remote rivers. I usually bait with raw bacon and pull out every five minutes to check for crayfish, boots and treasure chests.

 

[lannyman8]

Thanks Ph34r will give it a go next time im home maybe......

 

[charlieh]

please people make sure your definatly taking only the signal (american) crayfish and not the UK native white clawed crayfish, if you are in any doubt as to how to identify between then, leave them alone and dont fiddle with them, as its considerbaly more of an offense to take out native ones without the relevent Natural England Licenses as they are a protected species, and in some cases they arent very easy to tell apart.

Also the trap in the first pic doesnt appear to have its EA trapping license tag attached to it, i assume you removed this after taking it out the water,

sorry to sound all anal about this, but the main reason for the decline in the native ones is people moving the signals about as food, which is why trapping licenses arent given out easily, also in most cases stone turning is quicker than trapping and doesnt require a license if your removing for eating (as long as they arent natives)


it prevents things like this happening: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/118057.aspx

 

[DFCA]

I have also found that purging them in a dustbin with slow running water for a couple of days helps to reduce the earthy taste of the flesh....I know this is not possible when you are out foraging and want a quick meal.

I knew that I had read about purging them somewhere before (I thought it was Huge Fearnley-Thingy) - now I thought it was to get some badness out of them before cooking and not just to improve the flavour.

What is the best thing to do? I see lots of people seems to catch and cook without any worries, are there anythings that one should be wary of?

ATB
Dave

 

[Ruvio]

I've got an old filing cabinet turned on it's back with wire mesh over the top just in case the little buggers try to escape.
Fill it with water, leave them in there for a few hours/overnight. Hey presto, purged crayfishies.

I'll take a photo once it stops siling it down if you'd like

 

[DFCA]

So I am guessing that on a weekend out you could catch a few and keep them in a bucket - change the water overnight and then scoff away the next day?

At risk of sounding paranoid, is there any risk associated with eating them at all?

ATB
Dave

 

[JonathanD]

There is a risk of eating anything, the risks are minimal though as long as you check them over to make sure they are in tip top condition.

 

[Wilderbeast]

Looks delicious, anywhere to trap crayfish at the moot?

 

[dwardo]

If you guys are purging them in water i gather you have to dispose of that water in a safe way? i.e. kill anything in it first or pour it onto grass and not straight into the water system?

 

[Ruvio]

Mine just goes on the lawn or the veggie patch

 

[rik_uk3]

Great pictures but far too big big, all you need for the internet is 640x480 resolution tops.

 

[CLEM]

Proper envious me