One of the greatest and simplest pleasures of life on Lake Macquarie is to occasionally catch blue swimmer crabs using approved and legally-used hoop nets.

But there's a bit of work involved.

First you have to buy some nets, then set them up with approved float markers, buy or catch some bait and set your nets in an approved way.

I try to teach my grandchildren fishing on a sustainable basis.

The joy on their faces when they see a crab coming up in a net they have set is something to behold.

Imagine how crestfallen they are when their aspirations are shattered because a mongrel low-life bottom-feeder has stolen or destroyed their crab pots.

Stop it! Keep your hands off the property of others.

There are enough crabs to go around. Work for your catch.

Stealing or interfering with legally set crab nets is a crime and punishable by Fisheries officers.

- Tony Pelosi, Fennell Bay