Dining on bush prawns

by Richard Barnsley

There aren’t many hunting grounds throughout Australia where you’ll be far from some pretty fair bush tucker. One of the choicest and very simple to obtain is the common yabby. Cherax destructor are a common species throughout south-eastern Australia. Many waterways carry populations of these tasty crustaceans and they make a welcome addition to the dinner plate.

Farm dams invariably hold yabbies and a good indication they are about is the presence of small burrows near the waterline. Often you’ll find where wading birds have had a meal and the claws lying about tell you good hunting isn’t far away.

Yabbies are most commonly caught using a length of string with a piece of meat tied to one end. Throw the bait out into the creek or dam and when you feel a yabby tugging on the other end draw it in slowly. Take care, as the yabby will jump off at the slightest disturbance.

Kids will spend hours filling the billy this way. It takes a little practice and a small net or kitchen strainer makes a neat scoop. The key is to pull the line slowly and entice the yabby into the shallows. It is a good idea to check your state fisheries regulations with regard to bag limits and fishing methods.

On longer hunts I often pack a yabby trap in the wagon. The ‘opera house’-style traps, which are available from most fishing tackle stores, are the best bet. Baited with meat scraps you’ll have little difficulty obtaining a fee. Yabbies usually move more at night so leave your traps in until morning. They also become dormant during the winter months.

Once you’ve caught enough, leave them in a bucket of clean water for a couple of hours. When you are ready to cook them, bring a few litres of salted water to the boil and drop the yabbies in once the water is bubbling well. A couple of minutes are normally sufficient. Then pour off the hot water and allow the yabbies to cool. To eat, simply break the tail section off and peel it much the same as a prawn. A squirt of lemon juice and some cracked pepper will help to make the finest entrée you’ll eat out of town. You can of course peel the tails and mix them with rice or pasta for a main meal; just use your imagination. Next time you’re camped near a dam or creek, give yabbies a go. They’re the tastiest little big game around.