The strangest, but TASTIEST crabs I've ever caught! (catch, clean, cook)

Ahoy legends, this week I head out in search of the strangest, but tastiest crabs I’ve ever caught, Spanner Crabs! These crazy little critters are found off the coast of Australia and sport some of the tastiest meat I’ve ever eaten.. you just have to catch them!
Sit back and relax as I take you on my first every spanner crabbing mission and show you how to get into it yourself!
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[@captaincaptain1826]

I drive a commercial spannercrab boat in qld. Optimum soak time is an hour and a half to 2 hours. You can catch them in depths from 15 meters to 100 meters. Best bait to use is pillies. If you are interested in catching some please do not break legs of the crabs when untangling as they only have a 20% survival rate. They will get extremely tangeled and it can get very monotonous and frustrating. But with patience you can free the legs with no damage to the crabs.

[@russellhodkinson9855]

G'day mate what type of ground can I find them on?

[@Yenchantress1isaStarr]

Good info! TY

[@--ag]

I never even heard of spanner crabs. I learn something new everyday. Thank you for posting.

[@davidleatherbarrow2640]

Moreton Bay Brisbane.

[@billrobbins5874]

First crab catch ever seen on a tray before, too!

[@twicedemita2151]

There sold a lot on the east coast of Australia

[@fire90king92]

Ive never seen these types of crab traps and never seen these type of crabs. its awesome to watch these videos and learn something new

[@peterichards4317]

THE best tasting crab I’ve ever eaten. Sweetest meat. Solid effort Sammy. With ya bait baskets try using cable ties to tie em on ya trays. Those clips aren’t bad but as you found ya basket can detach from em pretty easily

[@colinpryor6590]

As a kid when we would go to 1770 you could dig the spanner crabs out of the sand island just off of the caravan park at the mouth of the creek.

[@terrytailor]

Great stuff Sam. I think it would be about 40 years since I've tasted spanner crabs. Looking forward to it! 😉

[@tedjames2534]

The illustrious tezza strikes again

[@TONYPalagyi]

Great episode bringing back great memories. Studied dolphins in Moreton Bay in the 80's and would catch spanners and cook them on the boat. Mix in a few prawns and Moreton Bay bugs and some XXXX and life can't get much better. These days it's Dungeness in Washington state. Thanks for a very enjoyable trip down memory lane and good on ya for sharing your adventures. Cheers

[@GarysBBQSupplies]

How do our Dungies compare to Spanners Tony?

[@Qdoesthings]

First time viewer here, amazing video absolutely love spammer crabs or what we here in Hawaii call em Kona crab Much love from Hawaii 🤙🏼

[@SammyHitzkeFishing]

Thanks very much for watching! Glad you enjoyed the video! 🍻🍻

[@oculusangelicus8978]

Some people life such a good life. I'm a landlubber living in a landlocked province of Canada and getting to catch sea creatures alone, would be a life to live, but living in a portion of the world where the weather is lovely all year round, even if winter is nothing but rain, and being able to go out and catch seas-food whenever you want is something I would live for, because I love eating fish of all kinds but also catching fish is one of my favorite hobbies. You have a great life my friend living in a zone where the weather is considerably better than where I live, living on the coast of one of the lost plentiful fisheries in the world doesn't hurt either, and then having the kit to go out and do it all in the first place is another thing that makes it Fabulous. I love shellfish as a general rule as well, although Crabs tends to be a little too sweet for my comfort I recon I could make the adjustment fairly easily, besides I bet there's a much more stringent set of regulations when it comes to Lobster as that is my most sought after shell fish apart from clams and oysters. However it is likely a good thing that I do not live in the same situation as you do, because I would li8kely doe of a combination of Critical cholesterol levels and heavy metal poisoning because I would simply not be able to stop myself from eating too much of them! LOL

[@paulmarnane1192]

Thanks Sammy. Appreciate the opportunity to learn with you. One suggestion: a few packers under the esky will allow the lid to open fully. Tight lines. Paul.

[@jazza_883]

Great video as always. Love watching something different 👍🏻

[@atcay81]

Loved this new and exciting upload Sammy. Can't wait for more ☺️ I've never heard of spanner crabs so I learnt something new too lol

[@markthompson6598]

Thanks, Sammy for a great show. 10/10

[@johnhaugie4555]

Great post Sammy! Really enjoy your videos! Rock on!! Cheers!

[@Adynparker]

Another video been waiting for !! Let’s get into it 🤙🏽

[@SammyHitzkeFishing]

Thanks for tuning in mate! Enjoy 🍻🍻

[@jamesslack2917]

We harvest Red Crabs and Dungeness Crabs here in Northern California, never seen this type of crab or trap, interesting looking both of them. Red Crab claw meat is my favorite but the whole Dungeness crab tastes great too. Great video and thanks for the time making them, from across the pond, tight lines

[@lovingburnettheads2190]

No doubt about it, you are multi talented. Cheers for another great episode

[@michaelbarrett2346]

Must be time for a beer. Sunday entertainment just arrived.

[@SammyHitzkeFishing]

Hahah into it mate 🍻🍻🍻😊

[@danieltaylor757]

Bloody marv mate. I put a few trays out off Flinders Beach with my cousin before we moved to the US. We got 4 and i was pretty excited...17 is bloody amazing on your first sesh. Good on ya mate!

[@franiannarone8196]

Wow! Always good to try something new🦀

[@officialdropnation]

Sammy keepin it reel! 🎣

[@bigbopper143]

Thanks Sammi. I really enjoyed this episode 👈

[@ha-y-nkinealoha1852]

Awesome catch my friend, In Hawaii we call them Kona Crab the best crab for eating raw super sweet!!😋😋😋

[@robmoller2658]

Tip for ya sammy. Hose them around the hairy bits, gets rid of the fine sandy grit .

[@chrisbetter3820]

Hi Legend, Regarding your bait , Keep it cut up in salt. A good sprinkle. That will get rid of the ammonia and it will draw the blood out. (All this prevents little fishes picking at it). It’s gonna smell (a bit!!!😂) , but the crabs can’t resist. You’ll notice the difference!!! Chris from the UK

[@PeterfromQld]

Spanners are definitely my favourite. Great vid Sammy

[@herby375]

That was great!

[@harrymiram5562]

First time seeing your channel. Here in Hawaii, spanner crabs aka Kona crab. Sweet tasting meat! First time seeing your trays/dillies as nets! Love to see different fishing/crabbing techniques... A-L-O-H-A from Hawaii

[@alexcarter8807]

Kona crab is the same crab. They're all over the Pacific.

[@GarysBBQSupplies]

When we are pulling our pots for the day, we usually place the "pot" flat on the deck and coil the line up neatly on top of it, then we use small bungies in a cross pattern to hold it down, then place the next one on top of it and do it again. Great video! Never heard of a spanner crab. Thanks for the video. :)

[@manueldinoris843]

Nice work Sammy, not to shabby for your first time, what a great catch mate, 17 crabs on your first go,well done and thanks for sharing champion

[@stevemartin6776]

Who in the heck knew that there’s a spanner crab? I was today informed now I want to go to Australia!

[@davidjenkins7644]

Hey Sammy, I used to be a rigger in the best way not to tangle rope is to put it in a rope bag. If you have a look at people climbing up the side eclipse using rates will see that they've got one especially with have a look it's a lot easier than coiling. I do with my anchor rope. Cheers mate

[@michaelbrown2678]

Cool Trip Sammy! I like the way you mix it up! 👊🏻😎🥃🇺🇸

[@huynhpham9488]

I love your fishing and catching the delicious crabs yummy....... So thrilling and fantastic

[@waynelee-leong9856]

Always crackin a beer with ya mate, cheers!!. Great vid 🍻🍻🎣🎣

[@tylerfalcon2162]

First video Iv ever seen of yours and it was great definitely gained a new subscriber! Much love from the States man!

[@geoffdempsey2128]

Love your work mate from South Australia: )

[@SammyHitzkeFishing]

Thanks for watching mate 🍻

[@rickyridgeway66]

Loved it mate thank you mate

[@arnoldrudder9624]

Fantastic 😊mate,haven’t been crabbing for years. Got the taste for it now 👍👍🍺

[@garryhancock3394]

First timer on the channel and really enjoyed your crab hunt.

[@THE-FISHERMAN-424]

NICELY DONE MATE GREAT JOB IAM WATCHING FROM AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 TIGHT LINES 🙂👍🐟

[@peppipoohductionswakashunt3157]

Went on a charter for a bucks a few years back and we got a heap of spanners, boys been boys we convinced one of them to let one latch on to his fory, the whole boat was in tears laughing, man it was gold, still have the video on one of my old phones and send it to him at random times for a laugh.

[@Skyliner04s]

I´m usually a quiet viewer. Especially since I´m from Europe. But your videos are so much fun that I NEED to thank you! Have a wonderful day!

[@gmoriano]

Crab n gear are the bomb

[@garysmeltzer1933]

Very interesting vid Sammy thx mate

[@kcheong00]

Hey mate I have a trick to steaming crabs, have to be willing to sacrifice some hydration though. Steam with a can of cheap beer It makes a huge difference and imparts great flavour and brings out more sweetness. Trick my mother taught me

[@RedVMember]

Great Ep Sammy, Ive never tried spanner crab either and look delicious. Now I want to go grab (Attempt to) a few to try

[@proteusnet]

Nice catch Sammy!

[@smithysfishing]

I follow commercial fisherman in Hawaii called Reel Adventures Hawaii (Nick Morris) and they call them Kona crab over there. They use a round dilly. Everything else much the same. Good episode again. You need some good weather to get into these blues this week!

[@cuocsongnhasanomy5642]

Love Love your video my friend!

[@jouseevis]

Awesome channel mate. Love it

[@weekendvibes365]

Never ever saw these type of crabs before, they almost look like a mixture of crabs and lobsters, i would definitely give it a go, nice curry with some coconut milk! Thanks for sharing !

[@stuartelder7344]

Love the vid Sammy, l'm in south west Vic, l've been trying to get out crabbing here but have motor issues, it sucks but we get velvet crabs and big sand crabs. Bloody nice haul, you've made me more determined to get my motor going, tight lines brother 🎣 🐟

[@scottyzfishing5660]

Nice Sammy that was cool mate never fished for the spanner myself as had one years ago and found it very dry , but that was cool to watch something different mate 👌🤙

[@jessicabale1360]

Great vid 👍

[@ventura9513]

had a couple mates from Yeppoon who were pro spanner crabbers,, they called them Frames, their licences had a certain numbers of frames they were allowed to run

[@TascastFishing]

Bloody great session, cant be crabby with that!

[@howardbodiford7130]

Great video 👍

[@magneticislandfishingcharters6]

The fisherman turned bird man. Well done Sammy

[@SammyHitzkeFishing]

Hahaha 👌👌👌

[@jrusso96]

The lids on those eskies tend to warp in the sun without the clips on to keep it in shape. Great video mate!

[@shouldbefishin8528]

🤤 great job mate🍻🍻

[@crazybully]

I grew up on Moreton Island 35 years ago and the spanner crabs where a regular part of our diet , I remember the old man and his mates coming back with hundreds and giving them to friends and all the campers at Bulwer

[@craigparker4108]

Then your father was part of the over fishing problem & Spanner crabs were in trouble. Why, because they are much slower to mature sexually & breed. Please don't attack the messenger, just research it & lets all be responsible for the future of sustainable fishing.

[@crazybully]

@@craigparker4108 No mate , We were locals on the island so respected the fishery as it fed our family, The spanner crab fishing was done once a week and locals would take turns catching them and help each other out,not like they go out every day and catch hundreds for the hell of it, the pros on the other hand are who you would be blaming if knew the whole story, when the pros moved in and hit it hard we from getting 40 in one pot in a hour to being lucky to get 40 over 4 pots for the day,pretty sure that's the problem your on about, and as you seen from Sammy's video there are still plenty around if you know what you're doing

[@craigparker4108]

@@crazybully Fair enough for your situation then with many sharing. Corporate fishing fleets are ruining fish stocks across the world purely for greed,makes me cranky. cheers.

[@MRFIXIT3895]

@@craigparker4108 Its the same now with exports Lobster Crab and fish live All about someone getting rich then we put the blame on some weekend fisher person

[@craigparker4108]

@@MRFIXIT3895 Most of the blame is corporate fishing greed. But there are Shamateurs who affect inshore Lobster & Abalone for locals. Yeah it's usually not weekend fisherman. Short term greed makes no sense for long term healthy fisheries. 👍

[@blukiter]

Great vid. Always wanted to know how to catch ‘em.

[@goodcitizen64]

Very good video and a new species for me! Kool looking Lil buggers

[@tonyloechte9994]

Jees Sammy Your teaching me What ever you are doing looks great Never seen one I live in Darwin and only eat muddys Great job 😊

[@smitty4207]

Cheers great video

[@simonstone3336]

Great work mate 👍

[@SammyHitzkeFishing]

Thanks mate 🍻🍻🍻

[@jannebrija9879]

Ohh i love spanner crab. . . I'm from the Philippines and this crab cab only be caught near my city. . . Now that I live in Europe, this is what I look forward to eating when I go back for a vacation. . .

[@samadsuleman7956]

We catch them here in Seychelles Island. I make a mean crab coconut curry with them. We called them ‘giant crab’ when you translate from Creole which is our language here. They are certainly the best crab to eat. Cheers 🍷

[@smee103]

They are one crab with a strange look awesomely done Mate

[@bjreynolds24]

Awesome vid Sammy, wished I had a go at them when I had my bigger boat ........KRACKA

[@FLOOXY00]

That's the best crab I've eaten. Now the prices here in Australia is high, have not bought any for 10-12 years in sydney 🙄. Great catch.

[@jordanhedrick2018]

That was pretty awesome

[@checkthewater39]

From the gulf coast of Alabama U.S.A thank you for sharing. I was surprised to see you bust out the jar of honey. I guess im gonna have to try that on our blue crabs. Cheers and well done.

[@michaelbulla9231]

Well done mate they are fun to catch We did the same many yrs ago with pretty good results too Tasty little morsels for sure 👌

[@lawrencehockett8179]

Cool video! Strange looking crab for sure. Can’t judge a crab by its shell cover eh? As long as it goes well with a libation of choice-Happy Crabbing! Thanks for sharing a terrific video. God bless and keep having fun. 😎🍺 🇦🇺🇺🇸

[@michaeleppinger5536]

Cool vid buddy 😎👍👍

[@oc3anrid3r27]

Hey Sammy I’ve seen heaps of your videos still haven’t come past a good old walking the shallows with a light and prawning net if you can even do that where your located would love to see some of that old classic way done by you keep it up mate 🤙🏼

[@brushitoff503]

Epic stuff Sammy, had never heard of them before (or I just don't remember ha ha) Have you tried cooling fresh cooked Crabs in salt water & ice? A bloke I met in Darwin did it & it was fricken amazing (was with Muddies) The salt water adds so much flavour! (ocean water) Cheers

[@jimf279]

Cheers from California🦀🍻

[@walden6272]

I can't believe that is the first time I ever seen one of those. I thought I have seen every crab species. Crazy.

[@johnchildress6112]

i kept waiting to see the “old bay”! lolol

[@mrwellington2613]

Yummo would be keen to try that myself

[@xnorcal831x]

I would get a pot puller. Just hooks up to a plug and hangs over the side. You just flip a switch and the rope goes around some pulleys and it brings the pot up. Super easy and worth the money. Use a 5 gallon bucket to coil the rope in the bottom.

[@Arbyofuchprawnage]

I have never done Spanner crabbing, but surely you could put a small bucket or something cylindrical into the crate then coil the rope around that and pull it out after? would make it a lot quicker and easier to get the ropes coiled.

[@JasonCanFish]

Well that takes me back many years..! If the spot still fires, 24-30m depth NE of the GC seaway used to be good for a red frog or twenty and a bit less hauling. No gps around so all lining up landmarks then. Our frames were coldgalv painted mild steel so not as flash or light as those newer ones! Too busy playing with deep drop stuff of Cairns now days, but 30 odd years ago I loved to hit all your current haunts! Keep up the high quality content as it is just the thing for fishers of all ages!

[@SammyHitzkeFishing]

Appreciate the kind words mate! Planning on giving the goldy a hit in the near future too! Cheers 🍻🍻

[@SammyHitzkeFishing]

Appreciate the kind words mate! Planning on giving the goldy a hit in the near future too! Cheers 🍻🍻

[@larrylongprong5219]

Bloody good crabs! They do taste better than blueys.

[@garysmeltzer1933]

Good luck Sammy I love Spanner crab to eat just a little fiddelie to peel

[@Antipodean33]

Mate never seen this before, probably because as far as I know we don't get Spanners down here in South Oz (except the human type spanners) I like the bait holder set up, I'd definitely like some of those crabbing for Bluey's down here. What a weird net set up, but it works. I'd get some of those garden hose winder reels for the rope

[@mini_steve]

One may say Sammy, that you are in need of a new boat or 7. One for every occasion. Nice to dream. Another great video, as always.

[@bodiewoolcott3298]

Sammy mate, great vid, love watching different stuff. howd you rate the meat content per grab? good net return?

[@garysmeltzer1933]

Yeap good one Sammy

[@garyspinks3673]

Have done it outside Ballina for years now it's a bit of work but loads of fun. Can only have one tray per person in NSW.

[@waynemee8920]

Yeah, I'd be looking at making some kind of hand crank and spool for at least storing the ropes and possibly for retrieving the trays. I've been what i assume to be those guys disassemble gang hooks a few times around M1 n M2. Great vid, i might give it a crack myself.

[@garysmeltzer1933]

I’d like to see some footage of the trip out and back Thx Sammy

[@Reese808]

Spanner crabs or Kona crabs we call them in Hawaii love sand flats so if you can find huge patches of sand that’s going to be one of your best bets at catching some of them

[@TeamTibbett]

Spanner crab would have to be my favourite , they are so meaty.

[@daxtorsstuff7678]

ha, never occurred to me that you haven't done this. Seems so obvious now, fun video!

[@YZF750SP]

Those crabs look good to eat yum. But a tip for you NEVER ever coil your ropes, just stuff them into a sack or your box and they will always set with ease and 99.9% of the time will never tangle. An old timer years ago taught me that and he only fished with handlines and his boat was fill with line that never tangled! Keep up with the awesome videos 👍

[@mickzagar6231]

100% never try coiling

[@polishchachafishing]

HAHHAA,, BOY I REALLY GOT SOME IDEAS FROM THAT TITLE!!😘😛

[@hawnjoe925]

Here in Hawaii we call them kona crab 🦀 🦀 delicious cook or raw Mahalo for sharing Aloha 🌺🤙🌺