Search on for fastest crab in town

Derby’s search for mud crab sprinting pedigree continues as Mary Island Fishing Club hosts its first Mud Crab Racing day this weekend.

The competition and its customary “feast on the field” are expected to draw the traditional crowd of a few hundred people to be entertained by sprinting crustaceans and the comedic race calling of Darren “Dags” Cross at the club, at 3pm on Saturday.

Mary Island Fishing Club president Sara Hennessy said the event encompasses a large effort for the club, is considered the major fundraiser and has previously been used to upgrade the site’s facilities, including a new night licensed bar and two sets of toilet blocks.

“Members of the club and the committee go out crabbing in the week leading up to the crab races and we catch as many crabs as we can and because we are recreational fishers we can only have a boatload of 10, we need about 100 to 150 crabs total,” she said.

“Our minimum we need to run a successful event is 100 crabs for the 10 races, sometimes we do more though, we have a special tank we set up to keep them alive during the week.”

Throughout the day visitors and residents give a donation to name a muddy, have it entered in one of the races which take place in a two to three-metre wide circular course for the chance of winning prizes, giveaways and raffles.

Ms Hennessy said travellers were attracted by the activities throughout the day, a barbecue dinner with free mud crab tasting of the race participants and the pleasant Derby sunset overlooking the marshes at night.

“It’s a huge day, it’s very iconic Derby. Some of the tourists travelling around the Kimberley plan their trip around coming to the mud crab races in Derby,” she said.

“The race winners go into a bucket for the semifinals, same with finals until all the losing crabs are put in the crab cooking pot.

“The last crab just goes in the pot last; really we probably should go down to King Sound and let it go, but they taste too good.”

For more information visit www.maryislandfishingclub.com.au or mark your calendars for the next races on July 9 and August 6.