Hayes Pots & products

21/08/2026

Advice 4: Watch the corners.

Mud crabs can be hard on each other when they are confined. The main risks are usually size difference, shell condition, moulting, lack of shelter, crowding, food competition and stress: not s*x alone. A larger hard-shelled crab may seriously injure a smaller or recently moulted crab, whether male or female.

Jeff Hayes designed the round profile of Hayes Pots with this problem in mind. The curved internal shape is intended to reduce sharp corners where a crab may become pinned, with the aim of reducing cornering risk and supporting survivability.

It won’t prevent attacks or guarantee that every crab survives. Crabs are crabs. Check your pots regularly, avoid unnecessary confinement and handle unwanted catch carefully.

Female Queensland mud crabs are protected and must be returned to the water immediately and unharmed. Undersized and other no-take crabs must also be released. Always follow the current Queensland fishing rules.

Have a question about the round-profile design? Contact Hayes Pots by DM or email [email protected]

20/08/2026

The production of a quality crab pot doesn’t start with the final inspection.

At Hayes Pots, quality control is a process that runs from the start of design through manufacture and inspection.

It starts with thoughtful design and checking how each part is intended to work. Products are then tested across a range of environmental conditions, manufactured using quality materials and checked for design compliance as part of the supply chain.

That means measuring components, inspecting finished pots and working closely with manufacturing operators. It’s about finding problems early and making sure the product matches the design before it reaches the water.

These procedures are intended to support reliable performance in practical conditions, not guarantee a catch or prevent all damage. Always follow current local fishing regulations, including gear requirements, size and possession limits and closed areas.

Want to know more about how Hayes Pots are designed and made? Contact us by direct message or email [email protected]

19/08/2026

A crab pot can be in the right area and still not sit where you want it on the seabed.

Poor positioning, bait sitting too low and uncertainty about where crabs are feeding can all make a difference. Jeff Hayes designed the patented flotation ring to help the pot suspend slightly above the seabed, in the zone where many crab species feed. It’s a practical design intention: not a guarantee of a catch.

Start with suitable habitat and local knowledge. Use fresh, legal bait, check the tide, depth and current, and consider how the bottom changes from mud and sand to structure or mangrove edges. Small adjustments can help your pot work with the conditions instead of simply disappearing into them.

Always check current local fishing regulations, size and possession limits, gear requirements and closed areas before setting your pots.

Want to know more about the Hayes Pots design? Contact us by DM or email [email protected]

19/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dw8q9yMH6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A fresh batch of the new and improved Hayes Pots have just arrived in store. These beauties have been beefed up- now with heavier duty mesh and a 14 mm galvanized ring to make sure they won’t wander off in the current. Get in and check them out before you head out crabbing next.

18/08/2026

Awkward pots take up room on the boat, in the ute and back at the shed.

Jeff Hayes designed around that problem. The patented flotation-ring design is made to let Hayes Pots collapse completely down, making them easier to carry, move and store when they are not in the water.

A few practical tips:

• Plan your deck space before you leave so ropes, bait and pots are not underfoot.
• Secure collapsed pots properly during transport so they cannot slide around or damage other gear.
• Before deployment, check the pot is fully opened, the mesh and entrances are clear, and the rope is ready to run freely.

Simple idea, based on plenty of time handling pots on the water. Less mucking around and more usable space on the boat is the aim: not a promise that one pot will suit every setup.

For more information, contact Hayes Pots by DM or email [email protected]. Always follow current local fishing regulations.

18/08/2026

🎣 AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST TACKLE SHOW IS HERE!

Hayes Pots is heading to the 2026 AFTA Tackle Show in Brisbane - and we’re bringing our Australian-designed crab pots with us!

🏪 Retailers: Come and discuss stocking opportunities.

🦀 Fishers and crabbers: See the Hayes Pots range up close and meet the team behind the brand.

📍 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
📅 Trade Days: Thu - Fri; 20–21 August
📅 Public Day: Sat, 22 August
🔥 Find Hayes Pots at STAND 72!

Register now: https://afta.net.au/tackle-show/

One of Queensland's biggest events on the fishing and tackle calendar is back, with the Australian Fishing and Tackle Association (AFTA) Tackle Show Public Day taking place on Saturday 22 August at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Bank.

We are a proud sponsor of this year's event!

You can visit our team from 9am to learn how you can make your catch count, stay up to date with Queensland's fishing rules, and discover how recreational fishers play an important role in supporting sustainable fisheries.

We look forward to seeing you there. Grab your tickets here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21x507X

17/08/2026

A crab pot that rusts, breaks or wears out early is no bargain when you’re out on the water.

Jeff Hayes designed Hayes Pots from years of practical crabbing experience: looking at the problems crabbers face in real Australian conditions and building those lessons into the design.

The aim is improved endurance and longevity through features such as industrial-grade custom-woven nylon mesh and strong construction. Across its larger models, a heavy 14mm-thick industrial-grade galvanised ring is designed to provide a solid frame for hard use.

No pot is maintenance-free, so check your gear regularly. Inspect the mesh, rings, joins and attachment points before each trip. If anything is damaged or badly worn, replace it before setting the pot.

Always follow your local fishing regulations, including rules on pot construction, size, marking and soak times.

Want to know which Hayes Pot may suit your crabbing? Contact us by DM or email [email protected]

17/08/2026

Hi guys these are the Hayes Drop Pots these are legal in NSW QLD and NT how ever I have been told there’s different rules in lake Macquarie

16/08/2026

Why can mud crabs turn on each other?

It isn’t simply because one crab is female. In Queensland giant mud crabs (Scylla serrata), size, shell condition, space and shelter can matter more than s*x. A larger crab may seriously injure a smaller one, especially when the smaller crab is soft-shelled after moulting or cannot retreat.

In the wild, mangrove roots, burrows and other cover give crabs somewhere to get clear. Inside a confined pot, that escape option is limited. Competition for food, shelter and space: and stress from crowding or poor conditions: can increase the risk of fighting and cannibalism.

That’s one of the problems Jeff Hayes has spent a lifetime studying. The round profile of Hayes Pots is part of the patented design and is intended to reduce sharp corners where a crab can be pinned, with the aim of supporting better survivability. It’s a design aim, not a guarantee: pot-check frequency, water depth, handling and local regulations still matter.

Queensland note: female mud crabs are no-take. Return them to the water immediately and unharmed, and check the current rules in the Qld Fishing 2.0 app. If crabs must be held briefly, avoid mixing large and small crabs or hard- and soft-shelled crabs, and provide separation rather than assuming they’ll remain peaceful.

Have a look at the round profile and see what you think.

16/08/2026

Sick of crab pots rusting, breaking or wearing out before they’ve done enough work?

Jeff Hayes designed Hayes Pots after years of seeing poor-quality traditional pots fail on the water. The result is a patented design built for practical use, with industrial-grade custom-woven nylon mesh for improved endurance and longevity.

The 900mm Hayes Pot also features a 14mm thick industrial-grade galvanised ring, giving the pot a solid foundation for regular crabbing.

Built to be used: not left sitting in the shed.

Have a look at the Hayes Pots range and see which design suits your crabbing.