Open Year-Round

Freshwater Prawn

Macrobrachium spp.

Also known as: Cherabin

DPIRD Category Crustacean
Peak Season March - October (dry season)
Difficulty Beginner
Fight Rating ★☆☆☆☆
Freshwater Prawn

Regulations & Limits

CRUSTACEAN

Limits by Bioregion

West Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
South Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Gascoyne N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Pilbara N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley) N/A
Species not commonly found in this region

ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au

Size & Weight

Typical Size10-20 cm
Max Size30 cm
Typical Weight20-80 g
Max Weight150 g

Habitat

Where: Freshwater rivers, billabongs and waterways in the Kimberley and Pilbara

Depth: 0-3m

ID Features: Large freshwater prawns with long blue claws, translucent body

Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak Available Poor

Peak: March - October (dry season) | Water Temp: 24-32°C

How to Catch Freshwater Prawn

1

Drop netting / Scoop netting

Setup

  • Line: N/A
  • Leader: N/A

Best Baits

  • Meat scraps
  • Fish pieces

Eating Quality

★★★★★ Excellent

Flesh: Sweet prawn meat similar to tiger prawns

Best cooked: Grilled, garlic butter, barbecued

The Fight

★☆☆☆☆ 1/5

N/A. Caught by drop net, scoop net or throw net. Daily bag limit: 9 litres.

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