May 19, 2014
Freshly moulted crabs are empty crabs. Throw them back to fight another day. It only takes a couple of weeks before they are full of meat again and ready for the taking.
There are a couple of areas on the crab shell that provide a good indication of fullness. You can apply pressure with your thumbs to either side of the carapace or by turning the crab over and pressing firmly on the abdomen plates adjacent to the third leg. If the shell flexes at all, the crab is not full. If the shell appears new, be careful not to press too hard as your thumbs will penetrate the shell.
Find out about crabbing rules in Queensland http://ow.ly/wZwfB