Crayfish: Noshing the American Invaders.

 

Methinks I was a bit eager this year. Traditionally, every crayfish across the country, both native and non, is tucked up in a hole in the riverbank waiting for the water to get above the 10 degree mark so they can venture out in search of a piscine massacre or scavenger fest of some sort.  In short crayfish ARE bastards of the highest degree.  These angry omnivores will devour just about anything that they come across and have the same level of aggression as a Millwall supporter after heartwarming cocktail of drink and drugs. 

I am of course talking about the American signal crayfish, you would be hard pressed to happen upon one of our native species as their Yank cousins have obliterated them by force and biological warfare. The ‘Signals’, recognizable by the red underside of their impressive pincers, are carriers of a disease that they are resistant to but can prove deadly to other, less fortunate members of the family. Most of the invaders were in fact escapees from crayfish farms that have  colonized our waterways and begun to wreak havoc, so much so that if you get a Signal crayfish out of water, it is ILLEGAL to put it back. If you are going to go after these freshwater beastie’s in numbers (and please do, by all means), then you will have to obtain a license from the Environment Agency, but for us ‘one-for-the-potters’, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Despite trying my best to catch crayfish from the river by the treehouse last summer (April-November is the best time to catch them), I had little success: in fact I had none. I even took to baiting my homemade trap with banana skins as well as fish heads- the scent given off by the banana skin mimics the scent of a female crayfish, creating a sort of honey trap for any horny males in the viscinity. Frustrating as it was to find my pot consistently empty, it wasn’t until midway through writing in November, that I took myself up to the village pub and was educated as to the whereabouts of the local crustacean population, a stream on the other side of the village…balls! Village pubs consistently prove themselves to be the place to go if you want information Royston Vasey-style, be it truth, myth or madness…its always the best place to start.

 

 

 
Even though I used to maintain a position behind the bar of my local pube (that’s not a spelling mistake, we ‘ere in rural Sossssaaaax often refer to them as pubes), and having gained my P45 ten years ago before trundling off to Africa, I seem to get that eyeballing from the yokels if I step foot inside: “This is a local pub for local people…we didn’t burn him”. There is something to be said for staying local, but I chose to venture into the world beyond the village boundries there is so much to see: I can prop up the bar later in life.

Bernard, for that was his name, told me about the crayfish whilst I sat at the bar thumbing through contact sheets for the book (I was starting to get cabin fever at home).

“Is that one of them thar crayfish traps?” said he as he peered over my shoulder. Nosey bugger, and yes it was. “If its crayfish you is aaaafter, yous want to go up yonder to them woods by that there church, small stream…loadsa tuggers.”

He explained to me that “tuggers” was a term used to describe the beasts, I’m going to hazard a guess that it is probably a local term…for local people. Bernard was actually quite the master of the subject and gave me plenty of tips. If I was after the big’uns, I should use a bit of bacon tied to a piece of string.  I bought Bernard a pint of ‘foot’ (another local term for the Badger Ale ‘Tanglefoot’), watched him fall flat on his face on the bar top because he was shitfaced and bade him farewell. Good knowledge fella.

 

March is probably a bit ambitious for crayfishing, but it was such a fine day packed with signs of spring, that I took off yonder in search of  a premature feast. The stream was running low and clear and even the wild garlic was pushing through, a tasty garnish for things to come?

I constructed two rudimentary rods from a few spindly lengths of hazel, tied some string to them with a small rock as a weight and then tied a slice of bacon to the end. I wandered downstream to the place Bernard had suggested above the bridge, dropped my lines and dug the ends of the hazel rods into the bank so the line was taught. This would help me see if any ‘tuggers’ were tugging.  After 15 minutes, I saw some movement on one of the rods, a gentle nodding from the tip. Carefully I lifted the line and lo and behold: a crayfish! And a rather small one at that. I must point out, its probably best to have a small net to place under the crayfish as soon as it has broken the surface, to prevent losing supper.  

 

 

Despite my best efforts over the rest of the afternoon, I had no more luck. I did read the entire contents of “Why not eat insects” a flimsy tome written in 1885 by Vincent M. Holt (Research for the next blog post…) and left with just the one tugger for supper, afterall I could have been up in court had I put it back. Here is another method of how to put together a trap for crayfish from George-lets-save-the-planet-Monbiot

So, what can you do with one small crayfish? Boil it for 5 minutes in salted water, take out the tail and crack open the claws. I only had enough to make a small canapé with a little mayo, chopped wild garlic and a smidge of smoked paprika balanced on top of a piece of toast, but what glorious mouthful! The flesh is absolutely sublime: sweet, firm and by gad I wish I had more- beats lobster and crab hands down! 

 

 

Obviously, I am aware of the damage the American invaders are doing, but they are (like the Grey Squirrel) part of the British landscape now, almost natives themselves, they are clearly here to stay, which means plenty for everyone. But after tasting that sweet flesh…I wouldn’t necessarily say their presence is a bad thing.

 
 

 
 

 

Comments

[Diane]

This made me laugh so much !!! I'd love to see a Crayfish in the wild - i'll keep looking.

[The Curious Cat]

Sounds really good! I've always wanted to go crayfish hunting! Interesting post once again! xxx

[Dave Turner]

G'day Nick.
Love what you're doing here. Cray fishing is pretty popular in Australia. Is it possible to spear the crays at night? I know it works for fresh water prawns in Queensland. Using a torch lights up their eyes to make them easily visible. Spear fishing is popular too in aus, some argue it's a more economical and kinder way to fish as you only target the one fish you need rather than risk hurting many fish you may end up throwing back.

Love the Treehouse, that photo in the snow is genius.

[steve]

Love the Crayfish post - I was out on the Kennet near Newbury last week and didn't get a bite, still too early methinks! Come July it is absolutely full with them. We use bacon or ham, any meat that goes out of date goes into the bait bag in the freezer and it all seems to work. We then use a piece of string with a tent peg tied at either end - one goes into the ground and the other has the bacon tied around it. We have about 5 lines in each and pull out between 10 and 20 an hour! A trick I learned from watching Ray Mears was to break the tail off at the second vertibrae(think that's what they are called) and then you can pull it's crapsack out and this takes all the mess away. I then shove a barbecue stick up the hole and chuck them on the barbie, crack the tail and claws open with some pliers when they have turned red and pop inside a leaf of homegrown cos lettuce with a dollop of mayo. You are right they are truly deliciious!!

[Nick Weston]

Hey steve,

Thanks for the comment- like the idea of a bait bag in the freezer- might have to start my own!

Nick

To: nickweston@hotmail.com

[Rory]

does anyone know if they have started appearing in the kennet at newbury yet???... i was there a few weeks ago and nothing!!! i have since bought a small trap.. what is the best method for this??

[Nick Weston]

Thanks for the comment Rory, Try small streams with deep rocky pools, the clearer the better. bait up with bacon and add a banana skin to the trap, gives of the same scent as the females...so ive heard!

To: nickweston@hotmail.com

[Rory]

Thanks alot mate i will try that and let you know how i get on! Oh and do i leave the trap overnight nick?

[Paulie L]

Love the taste of Crayfish, seriously delicious... Catching your own freshwater Lobster and devouring loud over bearing American immigrants whilst saving an endangered native species. What could be better! If you love Wild Food why not check out my blog http://wildfoodmushroomsfishingblogspot.com, gormet recipes from natures finest Wild ingredients!!

[Paulie L]

Gourmet, not Gormet.... Check out the blog anyway!! ;-)

[Gordon]

Got a trap dropped it in thre Thames near Abingdon this morning with a small tine of tuna cracked open went for a walk with the dogs and one hour later 3 crayfish. One was 8" long, another 6" (full of eggs), and a small one about 4". Popped in the pot within 10 minutes and had them for lunch. Great.
Back tomorrow for more

[Andy]

Hi all cray-fish lovers, can anyone please tell me where the best place is to cath the little buggers. I live on the south-side of Birmingham. My mouth is watering, just reading these posts.
Andy
andy.burnside@hotmail.co.uk

[Andy]

hi all ive got 4 traps a modified landing and a drop net can't wait for April im going to hit the Basingstoke canal hard!!!!!
I do like the idea of the string tied to little rods great idea will be doing that to All the best to you all good luck

[Steve]

Found a great place in Oxford where a stream runs through a pub, loads of people fishing for crayfish here. I was just out today and caught around 20 of them in about 2 hours just using some string with sausage tied to the end of it (they love bacon as well). Once they grabbed the sausage pull them in gently and then scoop a net under them, sometimes they get away as they are pretty fast in water when they know something is not quite right! got them all in a couple of buckets right now to boil tomorrow for lunch:)

[Steve]

A great spot is the Wey near Guildford. The first time I went, not knowing whether I'd get any I dropped a couple of traps in for two hours when I went for a canoe and came back to find close to 90 crayfish! I understand from the environment agency that once caught you can't return them so we ate them literally by the bucketload. Although good boiled I found that they were best cutting the tail and the claws off and bbq'ing with garlic butter. bbq'ing also means the shell is brittle and therefore is easier to peel...

[Nick Weston]

Wow! 90 crayfish! that is a haul...

W: www.huntergathercook.com
T: +44 (0) 7921 863768
E: nickweston@hotmail.com
TW:www.twitter.com/Nick_Weston

Hunter.Forager.Writer.Cook.

To: nickweston@hotmail.com

[s.stubbs]

was introduced to crayfishing by a friend, we caught just shy of 200 in 2 hours, boiled,peeled and frozen, we applied for tags with the EA but they run out in 2012, so off out again this morning, fingers crossed

[Melanie Daryl]

There's a lot of crayfish in this river, Nick. They are very easy to catch. You can just use your hands. Their meat is not substantial for a decent meal. But one can still fill your stomach, and it can taste really good.

[mode für mollige damen]

That kins of recipe was indeed excellent. I was not able to try it to some other restaurants and I have not seen it either.

[aed]

These angry omnivores will devour just about anything that they come across and have the same level of aggression as a Millwall supporter after heartwarming cocktail of drink and drugs.

[Restless Native]

Does Anyone know of Crayfish on the River Erme or another river in South Devon ?

[Glen Miller]

Just discovered you website Nick, totally love it. I love the philosophy of being self sufficient and living off the land so to speak. I too grew up and lived very close to Ashdown forest (Uckfield) and was heavily involved in local crayfish trapping a couple of years back.

I would used approx ten traps at a time and usually have about a 10-15kg haul each day which amounted to about 4-5 buckets full, was a bit like Bubba from Forest Gump but crayfish instead of shrimp. I found that using a tin of fish based cat food that is high in jelly of gravy very successful as bait. I’d pierce the can several times and this bait would last about 3 days in the trap, just empty the trap each day and saves rebaiting. Trapping on this level is heavily governed by Defra, and understandably so but once I got the licence that was it.

I have since moved away to Seaford on the coast so its not as worthwhile trapping any longer due to the travelling, I miss those snippy little blighters (or at least miss the taste of them) but I’d love to hone my skills elsewhere, maybe I’ll try squirrel or rabbit trapping next who knows.
Anyone wants any advice, I’ll be happy to help

Windymiller47@hotmail.com

[Nigel]

Hi I live in Sevenoaks does any body know we're my nearest place to catch signals ?

[Nigel]

My email address is graciemayjennifer@gmail.com
I'd love to know we're I can take the kids to have a day crayfish fishing near Sevenoaks Kent