By Tony Reid
Anyone who has tried to catch a crayfish will know that it is not the easiest of tasks.
First you have got to find them, once you do you are only allowed to snag them by hand, or noose or some other fishing device.
But, all that is changing with a pub game that puts patrons up against crays for just three bucks.
However a couple of animal support groups are not happy about it.
Inside the Albion Bar, “Catcha Cray” is one of their newer attractions.
As the poster promises, you can catch your own live cray, without getting wet and for a fraction of the cost of buying one.
“Catcha Cray” has been in Auckland bars for a few months, it started off with a hiss and a roar, but some bad press has landed its owner Patrick Chandulal in hot water.
“I'm very angry, yeah certainly. Certain organisations, absolutely not true,” Mr Chandulal says.
Those organisations are animal rights group SAFE which has launched an online campaign against a game it says treats crays like soft toys.
Bob Kerridge from the SPCA is not amused either.
“They are a living creature, it's disgusting,” says Mr Kerridge
But this is news to Mr Chandulal, who had a visit from the SPCA back in June when he was fine tuning the game.
Mr Kerridge confirmed for us that one of his inspectors did indeed visit, and he says the advice issued was wrong and maintains Mr Chandulal should have known better.
The Ministry of Fisheries has no specific code for the care of crays so there is no black and white answer as to whether it constitutes animal cruelty.
But SAFE has made up it's mind and is naming and shaming bars which stock the game.
So far, two bars have bowed to pressure.
But Mr Chandulal will not budge, he says his game is a hit, and it is here to stay.
“99 percent of the customers are happy,” he says.