Bug pulling tips

Hello All ,

Please could you guys post a few threads regarding the art of pulling bugs ,

I have recieved a number of e-mails regarding this , there are many newbies that would like to know the corect way in retrieving a bug from its hole.

Thanx

The first is this…….if a bug is in a hole or under a ledge on the sand bottom , burrow your hand under the sand, up and under the bug. The sensation of your hand burrowing under him doesn't startle him. Then quickly come up and push him against the roof of the hole. At this point he can't move and you can get a good grip on him and pull him out. Try it , works like a charm!

The second tip , I use often , as the situation presents itself on almost every dive. When you have a hold on a bug and he is backed up in his hole, with no intention of going anywhere ; and you don't have good enough grip on him to pull him out….what you must do is shake him from side to side as vigouriously as you can. This disorientates him and he loosens his grip - at this point you are able to pull him out. Works like a charm!

Another tip: look for their escape hole and either block it...or use it(not all have one..but lots do) they only face in one direction...so if you can distract him with your one hand in front then place your other hand behind him....he'll reverse right into your hand and you got him

Grabbing the tail often confuses them too.

I often find that when they are well stuck, pushing them backwards then jirking forward again helps. if you push and pull they dont know what way to defend and will come out

Crayfishing gloves are great as they offer decent protectiona dn are cheep. However if you are starting out I think its well worth sacrificing a good pair of leather palm gloves. they offer more feeling in the fingers as they fit better but also better protection. you can get over that fear that the bug is gonna chow you when you grab him.
By the time the gloves are screwed you'll be an ace.

Talking of Gloves ,

I purchased a pair of the new reef gloves the other day ,

These gloves are insane , they have a super thin yet super strong leather underside and a neoprene top , they work really well.

The bugs are not able to chow me and they are comfortable.

My Previous set of gloves were to thick and i had trouble switching the safety on/off on my guns , the new gloves are a fantastic upgrade to my old ones.

They're lekker gloves! Saeko dive also make them, rob allen too, You can get em for around R150. I used to use full neoprene reef gloves..and after 1 season they were in their chops....my leather palms have lasted since i bought them...with no major wear and tear thus far. Some okes think they wont be as warm...but try them...definately warm enough!

Another thing...instead of kangaroo bags, I bought a net that attaches to my float (from Cape Spearfishing supplies). works great!

I like the idea of those nets. I've done a DIY job but it just doesnt look the same, How much are they?

I think it's around R 50.00

I found that the big ones arent so fast and are easier to catch. But harder to get to.

Orrrr.....

Seeing as we are spearos I have poached from guys nets before.

I just swim under water to the nets take out some big bugs and then work my way back to where I went under. And they have no idea!! Easy as pie.

Leather palm gloves work well. The Reef ones are awesome I had a pair that lasted 2 seasons.

i have always wondered at times about guys poaching out of my nets when i am out on the boat but i have always wondered what it would be like taking out of guys nets LOL

Im the kind of person you rmom warned you about!!

I must Admit i have on an occasion or 2 found myself hanging around a net before

If you want to keep a pair of gloves for longer than one season then invest in a tube of contact adhesive. Take your DRY gloves and apply a layer of glue over the seams and the palm and finger area's. Then leave the gloves for at least 24 hours before you use them. This method works well with neoprene socks, just spread a layer on the sole of your sock.
For those that want extra protection you can use "Shoe Patch" but you do loose a bit of sensitivity on the fingers though.

Hey Dieter,

what are the chances of Capespearfishing, Freedivers maybe organising a crayfishing comp to celebrate the new season?

For those of you that aren't up to date with the forthcoming season:


The new season for recreational fishing of west coast rock lobster will open on 15 November 2010 and will close on 15 April 2011. From 15 November2010to 31 December 2010 fishing will be allowed every day of the week, but from 1 January 2011 to 15 April 2011 fishing will be restricted to weekends and pub¬lic holidays only.
Fishing times for West Coast rock lobster will be from 8:00 till 16:00. The rock lobsters must be landed by 16:00. The bag limit is four (4) lobsters per person per day and the size restriction is 80 mm carapace length.
No person catching west coast rock lobster with a recreational west coast rock lobster permit may sell it. Any west coast rock lobster caught, collected or transported must be kept in a whole state.
A maximum of 20 rock lobsters may be transported per day, on condition that all the persons who caught such rock lobster are present in the vehicle, vessel or aircraft during transportation, and that such persons are in possession of recreational west coast rock lob¬ster permits.
West coast rock lobster permits will only be sold to persons above the age of 12 years.

B

Seems to be the same as last year.

I heard a rumour that in the not so distant future , they are talking of 2 bugs per person per day

Anybody else heard this.

There have been those rumors around for a few years, but I don't see how they could decrease the recreational quota when they have just increased the commercial quota! I wish they would give us 2 perlies a day!!!

I have heard through a couple of eco friends that there have been discussions to re-instate perlie quotas. Apparently they are looking at this, but with extremely high licence fees. This is only in the pipeline though, so we will not see any laws being changed in the next year or two

It's quite sad, you could make such a nice seafood dinner out of a dive in the reserve, 4 crays, 2 perlies, 5 alikrikel, possibly an octopus and some fish... and I'd be as happy as a pig in sh!t

I did exactly that last season, without the perlemoen. I made a thermidor with 8 crays, alikrik and limpet mix, a nice big octopus, 60 black mussels and yellowtail fillets. We were fourteen eating from the pot, and I had leftovers the next morning. Also nice to use those in a thai green curry.

How do you guys catch octopus while diving? Havent heard of that before? I usually pull the old watch trick on amongst some rocks when I fish

When diving for bugs and looking in little holes and things you often see them hiding, there are also a few ways to find their holes, if you see broken shellfish in a pile, go look around the pile for a hole and you can often find one in there. You can also find them crawling along the bottom. I take a stringer with me and leave it in my belly bag, when I see one I grab it and turn its head inside out and put it on the stringer as they can still crawl out. I have found plenty off slangkop and the Kom

Oh and take note that for octopus you need to have a bait collecting license. You are allowed 2 a day.