Hey there! I’m Thomas, and I’ve been shrimping for over 15 years. After countless trips and experiments I’ve learned exactly what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to baiting for shrimp. In this guide I’ll share my tried-and-true tips that’ll help you catch more shrimp than ever before.
The Best Baits for Shrimp (That Actually Work!)
Listen I’ve tried pretty much everything to catch shrimp but these baits have consistently proven to be the most effective
Natural Baits
- Live Shrimp: This is hands-down the best bait you can use. The natural scent drives other shrimp crazy!
- Dead Shrimp: Almost as good as live ones when cut into small pieces
- Fish Scraps: Fresh mullet or croaker chunks work great
- Squid: Cut into 1-2 inch pieces (shrimp go nuts for this!)
- Clam Necks: Super cheap and effective when broken into small chunks
DIY Shrimp Bait Recipe
Here’s my personal recipe that never fails
- Mix 3 cups of shrimp bait pellets
- Add 1 cup of shrimp attractant oil
- Let soak for 1 hour
- Form into baseball-sized balls
- Place in 6″ bait barrel
Proper Rigging Techniques
Y’all, proper rigging is super important! Here’s how I do it:
For Live Shrimp:
- Hook through the head for bottom fishing
- Thread crosswise through the carapace for drift fishing
- Hook through the tail for casting to cruising fish
For Dead Bait:
- Cut into hook-sized pieces
- Thread from head to tail
- Use bait thread to secure (game changer!)
Essential Gear You’ll Need
Don’t overcomplicate things! Here’s what you really need:
| Item | Recommended Size |
|---|---|
| Line | 6-10 lb test |
| Sinker | 1/4-1 oz |
| Hooks | #4-2/0 circle hooks |
| Leader | 18-30 inch |
| Rod | 7 foot spinning |
Where and When to Find Shrimp
I’ve found shrimp love hanging around:
- Docks
- Grass flats
- Oyster beds
- Creek mouths
Pro Tip: Dawn and dusk are prime shrimping times!
My Top Tips for Success
- Target structure where shrimp congregate
- Watch for baitfish activity at the surface
- Fish during low-light conditions
- Let baits settle on bottom
- Use light taps to attract strikes
- Set hook immediately on any movement
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Trust me, I’ve made all these mistakes so you don’t have to:
- Using old/spoiled bait
- Hooking shrimp incorrectly
- Using heavy tackle
- Ignoring tide changes
- Not changing spots when unsuccessful
Maintaining Your Bait
Live Shrimp Care:
- Use a 3.5-5 gallon bucket
- Keep water 65-75°F
- Limit to 18 shrimp per 3 gallons
- Use an aerator
- Change water regularly
Dead Bait Storage:
- Salt preserve in small jars
- Layer with salt between pieces
- Freeze unused portions
- Label containers clearly
Final Thoughts
Look, shrimp baiting ain’t rocket science, but it does take some know-how. Start with these basics, and you’ll be catching shrimp like a pro in no time! Remember to check local regulations – they can be different depending on where you’re fishing.
Got any questions about shrimp baiting? Drop ’em in the comments below! I’m always happy to help fellow shrimpers out.
Happy shrimping!
#fishing #shrimping #baitingtips #fishingtips #seafood
Methods for Rigging Dead or Frozen Shrimp
- 1 Dismember the body and thread from the head end or the tail end. While live shrimp entice fish to strike by how well they swim, dead shrimp draw fish by how they smell. For that reason, you can break off the head, feet, and tail fan before threading the rest of the body on the hook. Make your pieces about the same size as the hook—fish will just nibble off any excess flesh and swim away without getting hooked if the shrimp pieces are too big.[9]
- Then, thread the hook through the shrimp’s body from the tail or head end. Either way will work as long as the entire shank of the hook is covered.
- 2 Or, sweeten an artificial jig with dead shrimp. Dead shrimp are great for adding the taste of a real crustacean to a jig, whether it has a skirt or a soft plastic body. If you decide to tip your jig, cut the shrimp with a knife into hook-shank-length pieces.[10] This will ensure the bait is the right length and, by cutting instead of breaking, keep the flesh firmer and on the hook longer.
- For particularly meaty pieces of dead shrimp, you may want to add a trailer hook to ensure that the fish don’t take the bait and miss getting hooked.
- Some anglers prefer to pinch off the tail fan and joint above it, then thread the shrimp tail-first onto the jig head, making sure the shrimp body lies flat when the hook is pushed through the body.[11]
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- 1 Hook the shrimp through the head when casting or trolling. Many fishermen like to hook their shrimp through the head. This keeps the shrimp alive (as long as you avoid piercing the brain), and live shrimp is more enticing bait than dead shrimp. There are two ways to do this:
- Insert the hook from under the shrimp’s head, and push the barb out on top, avoiding the dark spot (the brain) in the center of the head. This method is preferred when fishing the bait off the bottom.[1]
- Or, insert the hook through the top of the shrimp’s head, working the point under the vital organs before pushing it out elsewhere on the top of the head. This method is preferred for bottom fishing.[2]
- Note that the shrimp may be more likely to fall apart or slip off the hook when it’s hooked through the head.
Meet the wikiHow Expert Michael Reynolds is a professional fishing instructor with over 40 years of fishing experience. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).
- 2 Hook the shrimp crosswise through its carapace for drift fishing or float-rigging. Poke the hook through just under the shell tip, avoiding the stomach and pancreas. (These appear as dark spots on the shrimp’s body.) This takes advantage of the shrimp’s swimming action.[3]
- You can also hook the shrimp just below its head and thread the shrimp so that the hook comes out in the center of the carapace between its vital organs. This lets you cast further and retrieve the shrimp more easily, but it will die sooner than if hooked crosswise through the carapace.
- The carapace is the hard shell covering the shrimp’s head and the vital organs behind it.
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- 3 Hook the shrimp through the tail when casting for cruising fish. This method lets you cast still further, as the shrimp’s head, where most of its weight is, will propel the bait further without tearing the shrimp’s body off the hook. It also allows the shrimp to remain straight on the hook, resembling its natural shape and movement in the water.[4] Break off the shrimp’s tail fan, then thread the hook through the tail center to hide it and poke it out through the topside of the tail, far enough for the shrimps body to cover the hook eye.
- You may want to use a baitholder hook (one with barbs on its shank) to better hold the shrimp’s tail in place.
- Reynolds suggests “holding the shrimp upside down and working the hook through the tail section until it reaches the carapace, then bringing he tip of the hook out through the body past the barb.”[5]
- Make sure to thread the shrimp with the legs facing “out” from the hook. If they face inward (and the hook pokes out through their underside), the shrimp will curl up.[6]
- Breaking off the shrimp’s tail fan releases a fish-attracting scent.
- You can also hook the shrimp crosswise through the tip of its tail. This method is preferred when dealing with heavy bottom snags other than weeds.
- 4 Bury the hook in the shrimp’s body when fishing in a lot of weeds. This method of rigging a shrimp is similar to the self-weedless rigging that bass fishermen use when fishing plastic worms. Break off the tail fan, then run the point completely through the tip of the tail. Pull out the shank and rotate the hook so its point faces the shrimp’s underside, and then bury the point in the meaty part of the tail.[7]
- This self-weedless arrangement can be fished on a Carolina rig. Thread a ½ ounce (3.5 g) sliding sinker onto your line, then tie on a swivel. On the other end, tie 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of leader and your hook, then bait it with a shrimp. The weight will take your baited hook to the bottom, the swivel will keep it from sliding to the hook, and the leader will let your bait rise just off the bottom.[8]
- You can also use this arrangement with a 3-way swivel. Attach your line to one end of the swivel, your bait and leader to a second end, and a ½ to 2 ounce (3.5 to 57 g) bell or dipsey sinker to the third end.
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How To Hook Shrimp The CORRECT Way
FAQ
What is the best bait for shrimp?
When shrimping, many people like to use salmon or halibut carcasses because they are cheaper than buying pellets. On the other hand, shrimp pellets or any manufactured shrimp bait bring success, too. The key is soaking these baits in the Fuel overnight to enhance them and get the most of out them.
How do you attract shrimp?
Baiting traps with fish heads, chicken necks, or cat food can attract shrimp. Make sure to check local regulations regarding the use of traps and any restrictions on bait.
How to catch shrimp easily?
- Weight your pots.
- Always use floating line at the bottom of your string.
- Use GOOD bait!
- Once you start pulling your set, do not stop! …
- Become really good at coiling your line, making it easier to re-set your gear. …
- Properly mark your buoys.
- Check your chart for obstructions, depth, drop offs.
How do you make shrimp bait?
How do you make shrimp bait balls? 1) Put 3 cups of Super Bait shrimp bait pellets in a zip lock bag and add 1 cup of Pro Cure shrimp Attractant Oil in the zip lock bag. Soak the pellets for one hour before shrimping. 2) After the pellets soak for one hour, put the pellets in the 6” bait barrel. Hang the bait barrel from the inside of the
Where to buy live shrimp bait?
Live shrimp can be found almost all quality bait shops that are near the coast line. They are of caught in the Gulf of Mexico and shipped across the state to be used as bait. Pros of Live Shrimp. Available at most bait shops – Most quality bait shops will carry live shrimp, very high quality shops will carry a variety in size.
Can you eat bait shrimp?
Shrimp from a non-Gulf state or different country is considered imported and can not be used as bait. While not harmful to humans when eaten, imported shrimp may carry several known viruses or diseases that can be transmitted to native Gulf shrimp species (and other shellfish such as crabs and crawfish).