Discussion
Right then my fellow gastronomes.
Signal Crayfish.
These filthy blighters are over running our rivers and streams.
Now I'm led to believe that one can apply for a licence to catch them and then consume them.
So, a few chums and I are considering pitching up somewhere for the weekend and doing just this.
Anyone been through the process and can recommend the best route/sites ideally in the South/South Midlands.
MC I suspect you have some sage wisdom.
Signal Crayfish.
These filthy blighters are over running our rivers and streams.
Now I'm led to believe that one can apply for a licence to catch them and then consume them.
So, a few chums and I are considering pitching up somewhere for the weekend and doing just this.
Anyone been through the process and can recommend the best route/sites ideally in the South/South Midlands.
MC I suspect you have some sage wisdom.
Matt, I'm not aware of the 'need' for a licence. (At least I don't have one).
What you need is a fast-flowing stream in a hard water area (crayfish prefer this to build their shells) and one of these baited with a chicken carcass. The more fetid the better. Set the trap by the bank or an area overhung with willow.
Catch. Eat. Enjoy. A crayfish boil with akvavit is one of life's great pleasures.
What you need is a fast-flowing stream in a hard water area (crayfish prefer this to build their shells) and one of these baited with a chicken carcass. The more fetid the better. Set the trap by the bank or an area overhung with willow.
Catch. Eat. Enjoy. A crayfish boil with akvavit is one of life's great pleasures.
Is there any 'cleaning' that needs to go on as such or are they good straight from river to pot?
We're considering making a weekend of it you see, open fires and all that goodness, giving them time to clean would be doable but less attractive than pulling the traps out and slinging them in the pot.
This will be late spring/early summer, just planning ahead!
We're considering making a weekend of it you see, open fires and all that goodness, giving them time to clean would be doable but less attractive than pulling the traps out and slinging them in the pot.
This will be late spring/early summer, just planning ahead!
Edited by Plotloss on Friday 12th March 23:18
You do require a licence I believe (though how well this is enforced I have no idea). You'll also need permission off the land owner obviously.
With regards to cleaning, it's the same as prawns (no need). You just have to remove the digestive tract which can be done cleanly and easily by pulling the middle piece of the tail.
Sauteed in butter with a light dusting of paprika and a cool muscadet. Lovely.
With regards to cleaning, it's the same as prawns (no need). You just have to remove the digestive tract which can be done cleanly and easily by pulling the middle piece of the tail.
Sauteed in butter with a light dusting of paprika and a cool muscadet. Lovely.
"You WILL require a licence in the UK to use this or any crayfish trap"
This was on the page that Mobile Chicane linked to.
If you want to skip the license, you could always catch them with your bare hands as I used to do as a child. No special technique to it, just slowly work your hands under large stones and grab anything that flicks against your fingers.
I must add that where I did this, there were no nasties in the water, so you might want to double check your local area to make sure you won't be grabbing anything painful (apart from their claws
)or poisonous or both!.
This was on the page that Mobile Chicane linked to.
If you want to skip the license, you could always catch them with your bare hands as I used to do as a child. No special technique to it, just slowly work your hands under large stones and grab anything that flicks against your fingers.
I must add that where I did this, there were no nasties in the water, so you might want to double check your local area to make sure you won't be grabbing anything painful (apart from their claws
)or poisonous or both!. Edited by redtwin on Saturday 13th March 05:16
Mobile Chicane said:
What you need is a fast-flowing stream in a hard water area (crayfish prefer this to build their shells) and one of these baited with a chicken carcass. The more fetid the better. Set the trap by the bank or an area overhung with willow.
fast flowing water is not essential. I know a gamekeeper near me who takes 30,000 crayfish a month in the summer, and that is mostly from lakesThe bloke who owns the lake won't permit it (he traps them himself), the only chance I get is when I bring my lines in and one of the little f
kers is attached to a boilie.
I do have a canal that runs behind my place, might be worth giving that a try though I suspect they'd be very muddy in flavour.
kers is attached to a boilie.I do have a canal that runs behind my place, might be worth giving that a try though I suspect they'd be very muddy in flavour.
escargot said:
The bloke who owns the lake won't permit it (he traps them himself), the only chance I get is when I bring my lines in and one of the little fkers is attached to a boilie.
I do have a canal that runs behind my place, might be worth giving that a try though I suspect they'd be very muddy in flavour.
Worth a shot. What my rellies in Estonia do with muddy-tasting fish like carp is land it alive and keep it in the bath for 3 days, changing the water every day. 'Apparently' this gets rid of the taste.kers is attached to a boilie.I do have a canal that runs behind my place, might be worth giving that a try though I suspect they'd be very muddy in flavour.
Mobile Chicane said:
escargot said:
The bloke who owns the lake won't permit it (he traps them himself), the only chance I get is when I bring my lines in and one of the little fkers is attached to a boilie.
I do have a canal that runs behind my place, might be worth giving that a try though I suspect they'd be very muddy in flavour.
Worth a shot. What my rellies in Estonia do with muddy-tasting fish like carp is land it alive and keep it in the bath for 3 days, changing the water every day. 'Apparently' this gets rid of the taste.kers is attached to a boilie.I do have a canal that runs behind my place, might be worth giving that a try though I suspect they'd be very muddy in flavour.
the reason that the licenses are technically needed is because of native crayfish and otters - so if you are going to do it unofficially you should probably at least check that your chosen site doesn't have either of these species on it.
Edited by dcw@pr on Saturday 13th March 13:54
I think you one you want is the American crayfish, Astacus americanus. It's an import which is duffing up, sorry out-competing, yer English crayfish, much as grey sqirrels are duffing up red squirels. So make sure, before you bludgeon the multi-legged crustacean into oblivion, that it's the right kind: www.nobanis.org/files/factsheets/homarus_americanu...
ETA: Then microwave for 5 mins on 'high' and serve with Branston pickle
ETA: Then microwave for 5 mins on 'high' and serve with Branston pickle
Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 13th March 16:10
Mobile Chicane said:
Matt, I'm not aware of the 'need' for a licence. (At least I don't have one).
What you need is a fast-flowing stream in a hard water area (crayfish prefer this to build their shells) and one of these baited with a chicken carcass. The more fetid the better. Set the trap by the bank or an area overhung with willow.
Catch. Eat. Enjoy. A crayfish boil with akvavit is one of life's great pleasures.
Nothing to add to what's been said, but how fantastic to have a site that will sell you a trap for just about anything that takes your fancy What you need is a fast-flowing stream in a hard water area (crayfish prefer this to build their shells) and one of these baited with a chicken carcass. The more fetid the better. Set the trap by the bank or an area overhung with willow.
Catch. Eat. Enjoy. A crayfish boil with akvavit is one of life's great pleasures.
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