queensland Prawns With Long Claws

[Dibbs]

Hey guys,

No photo sorry............

But I've been catching a heap of prawns with long claws on them in the net. Being new(ish) to the cast net, I'm catching a fair few of them and I've Never seen them before. Are they a fresh water type that has been flushed out, or are they common? I also find that no action happens with them.... hence my interest into them. Is it the type of prawn that the fish is scared of or am I just fishing the wrong spot with them (Sandgate/nudgee)? The crabs seem to like them though.

[aussie123]

They are a Macrobrachium shrimp and possibly the Macrobrachium tolmerum varient that you have caught if they were in saltwater.

The ones in fresh water are the Macrobrachium australiense varient.

[jon]

yeah mate their just shrimp, or thats what i calls them. i dont have too much luck of them either but i find if you pull the claws of them they go a bit better. prawns are heaps better man

[fishguru5]

i beleive if you googled "cherub" they will look identical to the shrimp/prawn you described

pat

[roobs]

yeah we always called them cherubim but i've only ever encountered them in fresh. we used them for catfish (tandanus) bait and they worked ok.

[T Fisher]

have used them at colledges crossing and mount crosby to catch tarpon and bass father inlaw caught a threadfin on one at kookaburra i put 2 small to medium ones on the same hook facing each other under a float when they fight with or maul each other it seems to attract fish