Squat lobster seems to be peculiar to the west coast. They are creel caught and are found just off the prawn ground on harder seabed. They taste a bit like a prawn but are sweeter. They do not travel as well as prawns so this may account for the fact that they are not so widely distributed.
There are actually about four different varieties, the tail is carried tucked under the body which gives them a 'squat' appearance, hence the name. Their claws are covered in small spines so they are often referred to as 'spinies'. The tail is the only part worth eating, which is 1/5 of the body weight so there is a lot of waste.
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