Tin Can Bay Houseboats
Imagine being able to cruise the sheltered waters of Tin Can Bay while still having all the comforts of home. On Luxury Houseboats Afloat I can do just that.
Not a bad way of seeing the sights, as well as catching up with a few of the locals !
I'm on board the Elite, a 48-foot luxury homecruiser.This baby has the lot.
There are two double bedrooms, and the lounge is big enough for a barndance. I've seen smaller bathrooms in some apartments, and the kitchen even has a full-sized fridge.
There's also a TV and VCR, though I don't know why you'd be staring at the box. The scenery around the bay is awesome.
On the houseboat they even supply you with some maps. And someone has gone to the trouble of marking some of the good crabbing spots. Might go and check those out !
When navigating in any kind of waterway it's important to plan your course around the tides. A tide book or chart will tell you the times and heights of the water, to enable you to plan ahead.
It's a good idea to put your crabpots near steep banks or on the edges of channels. Don't actually put them in channels - they might obstruct traffic.
Hello, looks like we might be in mudcrab heaven !
Crabbing regulations differ from state to state. Up here, there's a bag limit of 10, and they have to be at least 15cms across the carapace. Not a problem with these fellas…
In Queensland, all female crabs are protected, so it's best to put those back and reserve stocks for future generations. This is a male, and you can tell from this section here on the underside - it's very pointed.
Back on the mothership, you can cook them up on the gas stove.
How's this for luxury? Sitting back relaxing on Tin Can Bay, eating the fruits of our labours….and ET, I hear the fishing's not bad either.
While you're here, you might get to meet one of the Bay's favourite locals…
This dolphin's called Scarry and she's somewhere between 45-50 years old. This is her recuperation area, cause she was actually brought in after she became entangled in some nets.
Scarry's accident happened way back in 1953. Fishermen poured whisky on her wounds to clean them, and lathered petroleum jelly on her skin to help it repair.
Ever since, she and her son Mystique have been regular visitors to the Bay.
'They come in to interact, not to be fed. But we do feed them some fish to say thanks for coming in..'
And remember, stick to the strict feeding controls - which are crucial if Scarry and her son are to stay healthy and happy for years to come.
If you'd like to explore Tin Can Bay in a houseboat, call Luxury afloat on their toll-free number, or check out the website.
3 nights midweek in a 48 foot Elite will cost you $1475. And a very special offer just for our viewers - you'll get one or two nights free during August and November, depending on the length of your hire.
If you'd like to help the volunteers
at the Tin Can Bay Dolphin Rescue, contact Barnacles Kiosk.
