Settlement of the puerulus stage ofJasus edwardsii(Decapoda: Palinuridae) near the shore takes place over a wide depth range. It occurs intertidally, and, as determined by crevice collectors, also takes place down to depths of at least 50 m. At sites along the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, depth of greatest settlement found on collectors varied with locality and time, but was within the upper 11.5 m. Surface‐buoyed collectors caught fewer animals than did collectors at greater depths. Settlement levels generally increased with depth to about 10–12 m, then decreased with increasing depth and distance from shore. The ability of/,edwardsiito settle over a wide depth range may improve its chances of recruitment. A device (closing crevice collector) for measuring puerulus settlement ofJ. edwardsiiat depth is described.