Overview
Spanner crabs bury in clean offshore sand and are caught with flat, baited dillies rather than traditional pots.
They are strictly managed in Queensland and New South Wales with closed seasons and gear limits.
The meat is sweet and delicate, closer to prawn than to mud crab.
Where to find them
- ▸Clean sand bottom in 20–50 m.
- ▸Offshore of surf beaches on featureless ground.
- ▸Areas adjacent to reef where sand is undisturbed.
- ▸Consistent grounds year to year once found.
Tackle
- ▸Gear: flat spanner crab dillies with mesh bait bags.
- ▸Bait: oily fish such as mullet or pilchard.
- ▸Float line rated for the depth and current.
Tips from the water
- ▸Soak dillies for 20–30 minutes, no longer.
- ▸Set a line of nets across the current and work them in rotation.
- ▸Check closed seasons and possession limits carefully before setting gear.
Regulations
Size, bag and possession limits differ between states and can change each season. Check the current rules with your state fisheries authority before keeping a fish.