Editor:
Have you ever found dead non-target animals in an opera house cray trap that have the solid ring at the entrance?
Please take a moment to select the option which most applies to you.
We're interested in getting some information on bycatch or lack of, to use for future submissions regarding the use of opera house traps.
We're particularly interested in any evidence around dead platypus, turtles, water rats etc in your opera house trap that have the wire ring in the entrance as opposed to the older style with no ring type entrance? Your feed back is appreciated.
The poll results can be viewed once you have voted.
rayke1938:
In around 10 years of constant redclawing I would have caught 3 turtles and 5 water rats and almost in every instance the ring of the pot has rusted out, In the last 2 years I would average at least 2 trips a week to North Pine Dam and have only caught one water rat and that was in an old pot that had 100mil rings. Cheers Ray
Binder:
First time I used opera house traps, knowing no better, old style with no rings, 4 traps, 4 dead turtles. Had never heard of rings in them. Was pretty upset and did not use opera pots again for years until I saw ones with rings. Now been using them solidly for the last 3 years, only bycatch has been small fish. Did have an instance where redclaw were being eaten whilst in the traps whilst in shallow water, supposition was either water rats or eels, but never found any in the traps.
They also work well for prawns in salt water, but have seen a few crabs as bycatch (pseudo dillies?)
TristanC:
Came across this topic googling for tips on redclaw spots around Lake Samsonvale. I felt compelled to register just to share my experience from last week. I was wandering along the bank of Forgan Cove, trying vainly to find a spot that wouldn't bring in yet more tilapia, when I saw an opera house trap sitting half in the water. Wondering why it had been abandoned there, I went to investigate - and found a rotting cormorant inside. Fully inside, mind you - somehow it had managed to squeeze itself in past the rings.
Sweetwater:
--- Quote from: TristanC on January 19, 2012, 09:53:35 PM ---Came across this topic googling for tips on redclaw spots around Lake Samsonvale. I felt compelled to register just to share my experience from last week. I was wandering along the bank of Forgan Cove, trying vainly to find a spot that wouldn't bring in yet more tilapia, when I saw an opera house trap sitting half in the water. Wondering why it had been abandoned there, I went to investigate - and found a rotting cormorant inside. Fully inside, mind you - somehow it had managed to squeeze itself in past the rings.
--- End quote ---
G'Day Tristan,
That's the first time I've heard of a cormorant getting into an opera house trap. I'm assuming it was a black one, the pied cormorants are larger in the body being too large I would think.