Spiny freshwater crayfish (all species other than Glenelg spiny freshwater crayfish and Murray spiny freshwater crayfish)
Central Highlands Spiny Crayfish
| Common name/s | Spiny freshwater crayfish (all species other than Glenelg spiny freshwater crayfish and Murray spiny freshwater crayfish) |
|---|---|
| Minimum legal size | 9cm carapace length |
| Bag limit | 5 (of which no more than 1 crayfish may exceed 12cm in carapace length) |
| Additional information | Many other species of freshwater spiny crayfish are found in different river systems across Victoria You must not possess female spiny freshwater crayfish with eggs, or with young attached, or remove eggs from a Murray spiny freshwater crayfish. You must return females in berry (carrying eggs) or carrying young to the water immediately and without further harm. Murray spiny freshwater crayfish must be retained whole or in carcass form. This means you need to keep your cray in whole form (i.e. don't remove the tail from the carapace) until they are cooked, eaten or taken home. |
Collection methods for spiny freshwater crayfish
You may collect spiny freshwater crayfish:
- by hand
- by using up to 10 baited lines (no hooks)
- by using up to 5 labelled hoop nets in the streams, tributaries and impoundments of the following waters:
- The Tarra River system
- The Latrobe River system
- The Glenelg River system (excluding Rocklands Reservoir)
- by using a combined total of 10 labelled nets (either hoop nets or open top lift nets) in all other inland waters, including Lake Eildon, Rocklands Reservoir and Lake Dartmouth.
The number, size and shape of the equipment used is important. It is also important that your equipment is appropriately labelled. Click here for a summary of the fishing gear that can legally be used in Victoria, and how to use it.
Please note that the Murray River is governed by NSW DPI Fisheries and you will need a NSW fishing licence to fish there.
According to NSW regulations, you can only fish for Murray spiny freshwater crayfish in the Murray River and its tributaries from Albury to Tocumwal. Outside this area, the Murray River is closed to Murray spiny cray fishing.
Read more on the NSW DPI Fisheries rules and regulations carefully here.
Measuring your spiny freshwater crayfish
Spiny freshwater crayfish are measured from the rear of the eye socket to the nearest part of the rear edge of the carapace (main body shell).
Measuring devices (pictured right) can be ordered for free by calling our Customer Service Centre on 136 186. Please ensure that you are using the correct measuring device to measure your crays. The correct measure will have the full species name, Spiny Freshwater Crayfish, printed.