Yabbying

Yabbies are small to medium freshwater crustaceans that are fun to catch, and much sought after for their amazing white, juicy meat that can only be described as an absolute delicacy. Spring and summer are the best times to catch yabbies, but it is possible to catch them in winter too.

Catching yabbies, or “yabbying”, in rivers and farm dams is a popular summertime activity in Australia, particularly with children. The most popular method involves tying a piece of meat to a few metres of string or fishing line, which in turn is fastened to a stick in the bank, and throwing the meat into the water. The string is pulled tight when a determined yabby grasps the meat in its claws and tries to make off with it. The line is then slowly pulled back to the bank, with the grasping yabby usually maintaining its hold on the meat. When the meat and the grasping yabby reaches the water’s edge, a net is used to quickly scoop up both the meat and the grasping yabby in one movement. Other methods of catching yabbies involve various types of nets and traps.