Far North Queensland - Mud Crab Hunting

By Sean Lynch

On a recent visit to Far North Queensland, Sean Lynch waded through the waters of Cooya beach with Indigenous tour guide Brandon Walker, who taught Sean how to hunt crabs with a spear, and showed him where to find food among the mangroves.

One of the standout adventures on my recent trip to Far North Queensland happened on Cooya Beach, which is situated an hour or so north of Port Douglas near the town of Mosman. Here, I spent an amazing afternoon in the sun hunting for crabs and an assortment of other sea creatures with Brandon Walker, who is a guide for the Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours.

Brandon Walker, of Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours follows the traditions of their ancestors who, for thousands of years, educated visitors about their traditional country in order to ensure the survival of their Kuku Yalanji culture.

In the video above, Brandon teaches me how to throw a spear, hunt whilst stalking and observing wildlife and the country it lives within, and how to track coastal resources. He shares some of his extensive knowledge of this special area and how they care for their country and culture.

It's a facinating insight into a world we often take for granted, and not an easy job either. Brandon stalks the waters, looking for moving shadows and splashes on the calm waters' surface before pouncing. Mud crabs will often attempt to hide - and if caught - will instinctively try to grab you with their claws.

And if they do get their clamp on you... they hold tight! In fact, one claw is used to hold, the other to cut (you can often hear them cracking sea shells in the mangroves) and can shatter a human finger or toe if given the chance. So watch your step!