Everyone who is participating in the shrimping must have a license. Visit your state’s Department of National Resources website to find information on obtaining necessary licenses and permits.
You’ll also need a permit for shrimping on boats like trawlers.
Depending on when and where you go shrimping, the amounts you’re allowed to keep per day may vary. Rivers and smaller lakes may only allow amounts under 10 pounds or a specific number of shrimp, while ocean waters may allow for hauls of up to 20 pounds or more.
Going during a full moon will offer the best outing for catching shrimp. Local bait shops will have tidal charts and tables for you to purchase.
If shrimping at night, use green light to avoid scaring the shrimp with white light. On overcast days the shrimp will be closer to the surface than on sunnier days.
For shrimp, use nets with a mesh size opening of 3/16 to 1/4 inches across.
Before use, put reflective tape on the poles, and mark them with the number on your boat’s shrimping license.
You’ll want to be making about 2-3 bait balls per each pole you have out.
Unattended bait poles may be confiscated.
Practice tossing your cast net in your backyard until you feel comfortable covering a wide area and far distance. The shrimp can sometimes be harder to spot due to the dissolving bait balls, but you should be able to see generally where they are in the water, and where you should be casting your net.
Place any shrimp you happen to catch in a medium-sized iced cooler to keep them fresh while you continue catching more.
Use a pot if you’re needing to collect a large amount of shrimp for something, such as a recipe, rather than for the sporting aspect of shrimping.
More weights or an additional anchor may need to be attached in the case of stormy weather to secure the pot.
Depending on the state, you may need to include your boat hull or shrimp license ID numbers on tags attached to the floater for the inspectors to see.
Your weighted line should not be so heavy that it’s dragging down your floater.
Bait can either be purchased, or made at home from mackerel, tuna, canned cat food, or any other fish or crustacean remains you may happen to have.
Ask around local bait shops to learn any scoops on nearby premier shrimping spots.
Leave the pot underwater for 12 hours before retrieving it again.
Once you have your pot back on the boat, empty it of the shrimp you’ve caught and refill it with bait to be able to use it once more.
