Crayfish | Red Lobster

Photo by https://www.newzealand.com

Crayfish Diving in the Bay of Islands

A lot of people flock to New Zealand's Bay of Islands for vacation. Who wouldn't? It's the perfect place to experience adventure and relaxation all in one. There are quite a lot of activities you can do and places to visit when you are in the Bay of Islands. New Zealand's Bay of Island's marine life is very much alive. Such is why the bay is a popular fishing spot. Fishing isn't the only activity you can do while in the Bay of Islands. Because of the bay's marine life, snorkelling and diving are also quite popular. 

Some dive for the experience, while others dive to catch tonight's menu. If you are the latter, you might want to keep an eye out for Crayfish. Although they look very similar to lobsters, you can easily differentiate between the two. Crayfish do not have huge pincers like lobsters. There are two species of crayfish that are commonly found around the coastal area. One is the red crayfish, also known as  spiny rock lobsters and the larger green packhorse crayfish or smooth-tailed rock lobsters. Red crayfish can grow to around 45-50 centimetres long and can weigh just about 2-3 kilograms. Packhorse crayfish, on the other hand, can grow up to 60 centimetres long and can weigh up to 15 kilograms. 

While crayfish can be found in most places in the Bay of Islands, the best diving spots for it would probably be on the coast between Ninepin and the Cavalli's. The eastern side of the Cape Brett Peninsular can be a good choice as well. With The Rock Bay of Islands Adventure Cruise, you can simply charter a boat for the dive and tell the crew to bring you to those destinations. While catching crayfish is legal, you still have to follow New Zealand's regulations. You have legal requirements to follow if you plan on catching crayfish recreationally. The rules change regularly, so it's better to check ahead before booking your cruise.

If you're new to catching crayfish, or diving in general, you might find catching these things to be somewhat of a challenge. It will take a bit of time, effort and a lot of patience. Keep an eye out for big rocks that have ledges, crevices, deep cracks, gutters and kelp above them. When you do, you'd know that crayfish are around. Don't worry yourself too much though. Catching crays or rock lobster might be a bit challenging at first, but you'll get the hang of it. The Rock Bay of Islands Adventure Cruise crew will help you. They might also be able to get you a trainer or guide. Make your Bay of Islands experience memorable with The Rock Adventure Cruise. 

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