Cracking crab Bri,should of gone in the pot mate.Don't know if it's the pic angle but that makkies top jaw looks deformed.The answer to the question is yes they're cannibals mate,top bait makkie belly and they feed on the bottom.Normally when they are well in the bigger ones are always on the bottom,try putting a bit of cork(about 1/2 or 1/3 rd of a wine bottle cork) a few inches up from the hook to keep the bait away from the crabs,you'll still pick up billet and macky just off the bottom.

normaly have floating beads on but havent been able to gat any from reelsport.good tip that trev,al try it next session.
knew it was a spider crab ,kept attacking me when i tryed to get the hook away from its legs thing scared the hell outa the wife that was there.