Shrimp as bait for sea fishing: description, production, storage and methods of hooking

Shrimp (crustacean) is one of the most versatile and catchable sea baits.
With its use, favorable weather and location, a decent catch of Mediterranean fish is guaranteed. However, for effective fishing, some subtleties should be taken into account, in particular methods of catching and hooking. Why is it necessary to follow storage rules, and how can you find out where it lives? You will learn the answers to these and other questions from this article.

Content

1. General information about shrimp 1.1. Shrimp habitats

1.2. What do shrimp eat?

1.3. Season and time of shrimp fishing at sea

2 How to catch shrimp in the sea for fishing bait
3. Methods for hooking shrimp
4. The name of shrimp in Hebrew and their ranking according to demand among fish
5. What kind of fish can be caught using shrimp in the Mediterranean Sea
6. Ways to use shrimp for fishing as bait
7. How to preserve shrimp for fishing
8. Useful tips for using shrimp as bait for sea fishing
9. Interesting facts about shrimp
10. Useful links

Shrimp for catfish

Shrimp is a very effective and catchy bait. Let's look at how to properly place a shrimp on a hook and how to correctly and accurately catch catfish on a shrimp. Let's go: At the nearest store we buy unboiled shrimp and defrost them. We do the fishing rig ourselves in such a way that the sinker moves freely along the fishing line or braided rig, and we make the hook on a leash. The main assembly is attached to the leash using a swivel. The load can be made in free movement using a safe clip and cone; we hang the load on the carabiner of the safe clip. When placing a shrimp on a hook, be sure to separate the body of the shrimp from the head part. Next, take the hook and place the shrimp on the hook starting from the tail. The hook should be completely covered by the shrimp. We attach the entire installation to the main line of the bottom or feeder rod. This bait is a very effective bait for catching catfish. It is important to remember that we are catching catfish, and therefore the fishing line or braid must be very strong so that the giant does not tear off all your gear. Happy fishing!

General information about shrimp

Shrimp - represent the order of crustaceans and are represented by more than 2000 species. The geography of distribution is wide. Most oceans and seas are inhabited by different types of shrimp.

The body of these crustaceans is flattened and consists of a peritoneum, a cephalothorax, covered with a kind of shell, and ten legs, the front of which have claws. Transparent or have greyish, pink or blue shades. The color of the shrimp's shell has a protective function and changes depending on the type of seabed and other conditions. This change occurs due to the release of hormones. Life expectancy is up to 10 years.

1.1 Shrimp habitats

Adults swim in the upper layer of the bottom or near the bottom near the coast in the area of estuaries, creeks and various rocky areas.

1.2 What do shrimp eat?

The main food is plankton, algae, larvae and small invertebrates.

1.3 Season and time of shrimp harvesting at sea

Beginning of June until the first days of September, dark time of day (evening, night) with warm water at high tide. At low tide, shrimp can be found hiding in rocky shelters. In winter they go to a depth of 30 m and become unavailable for catching.

In the dark, when illuminated by a flashlight, the shrimp will rush towards the light on their own, and it becomes easy to catch them. To do this, you should lower the lantern into the water and wait for the bait to swim up to the trap.

Where and when can you fish?

The main habitat of these crustaceans is the oceans and seas. But they are also found in lakes or freshwater rivers. Both their size and their taste directly depend on the habitat of shrimp.

Cold water

They are found in the waters of the Baltic and North Seas. These shrimp feel great at temperatures of 10-15 degrees. There are also a lot of them in the Far East and Murmansk. There you can find more than a hundred species of cold-water shrimp. The most popular of them is the Pacific Far Eastern.

Warm water

They live in warm waters. They are often bred on specially equipped farms. It is among warm-water shrimp that royal shrimp are found. Shrimp are also very common in Brazil, Somalia and Kenya. Separately, it is worth noting that these crustaceans are divided into those that live in salt water, as well as those that live in fresh water. The first group is more common. Shrimp, which prefer salt water, can be caught in Russia in the Black and Azov Seas.

Read: Foam rubber baits and how to make them yourself

Freshwater shrimp are caught in the Amur River basin, as well as in Primorye, Transcaucasia and Sakhalin. The main fishing area is the south of Primorye. The desired prey is:

oriental Japanese shrimp;
Far Eastern freshwater;
large-fingered palemonas.

Such crustaceans live at temperatures not lower than 12-15 degrees. When it drops to 10 degrees, the larvae begin to die. Adults die at temperatures below zero. Along the Black Sea coast you can catch an unusual sand shrimp

When choosing a place for fishing, you should pay attention to the fact that these inhabitants of reservoirs can often be found next to rocks, piers, large boulders, breakwaters and various concrete structures

It is also convenient to catch shrimp in small creeks or channels connecting the estuary and the sea. These underwater inhabitants also love large accumulations of algae. But catching them in places where the bottom is covered with vegetation is not always convenient.

How to catch shrimp in the sea for fishing bait

The permitted methods for catching shrimp are the following.

Option 1 “Using a net”

A strong net with a handle length and a diameter of at least 70 cm is used. Bait should be collected in places overgrown with marine vegetation.

Option 2 “Mounted net”

Fishing with a fixed net involves luring with meat, pieces of bread crumb or small fish that are placed on the bottom of the net.

Option 3 "Trawl"

For this method you will need a Trawl (a special device made from a net and fittings) and a section of the bottom with algae, which is unlikely to be found in the Mediterranean Sea. If anyone is interested, you can read more about this method in Alexey Goryainov’s article on sea baits, section on shrimp https://vlasenko.ru/1300-nnn/1352-txt.htm

Option 4 “Amphipod”

I doubt the name is correct, but in any case this creature is very similar to a shrimp. I managed to catch these crustaceans in puddles on the coastal rock reefs of the Mediterranean Sea near Haifa and Atlit. After strong waves, water remains in the potholes and pits of the reefs, and if you carefully examine these puddles, you can see very small, almost transparent shrimp in some of them. They are very nimble and inconspicuous, so it is very difficult to see them for the first time, but after you find at least one such shrimp, you will begin to see them much better. You can catch it by hand, but it will take time, so it is better to use a small net with gauze or fine mesh. The bite on them is simply excellent.

Important points when fishing for bloodworms

Today there are several main methods of catching this red worm. In order to catch large fish, you should attach several bloodworms on one hook at once, and to catch fry, you can use one larva. You need to put it on very carefully so as not to damage it. Hands must be dry, since the bloodworm itself is wet and sticks to the fingers.

For fishing, hook No. 16 or 20 is considered ideal. This option is convenient for the larvae and will allow you to lure fish

It is especially important to correctly position not only the hook with bait, but also the float - when fishing with bloodworms, you need to make sure that only the antenna of the float is visible from the water. This will allow you to react more sensitively to bites. Bloodworms are a rather delicate bait and therefore must be handled correctly

The correct choice of bait in the store is also important. Preference should be given only to active larvae that are bright and moving.

Bloodworms are a rather delicate bait and therefore must be handled correctly. The correct choice of bait in the store is also important. Preference should only be given to active larvae that are bright and moving.

Options for attaching bloodworms to a hook

The effectiveness of the entire fishing trip often depends on the method of baiting. Today, professional fishermen use several main options:

How to catch more fish?

More sensitive gear. Reviews and instructions for other types of gear can be found on the pages of my website.
Lures using pheromones.

You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading our other articles on the site.

The most common of them is the head attachment. The bloodworm should be pierced in the area of the head, while it remains in a free position.
For a more active bite, the sandwich method is often used, in which the larvae alternate with other bait: maggots, corn grains.
With the standard and more traditional method of baiting, the body of the bloodworm must be pierced through the middle. Thus, you can put from one to several larvae on the hook.
When the fish has completely stopped biting, you should use a new method in which the bloodworm clings to the head and tail. The main thing here is to give the bait a ring shape and cover the sting.
The most difficult and at the same time popular is the “stocking”. The mosquito larva is put on a hook over the head and the whole body like a stocking.
A method is also often used in which the sting is inserted and withdrawn in the middle of the body so that a small piece is skewered.
Fishermen who are keen on sport fishing value their bait method. In this case, the hook is inserted in the middle of the body, but the sting is removed from the side of the head. It turns out that the bloodworm is half dressed like a stocking, and the other half hangs freely.

Features of placing bloodworms on a hook

In order not to return without a catch, you need to know some of the features of placing bait on a hook. For bloodworms, you should choose a hook made of fairly thin wire. Experts recommend using only fresh bait: such larvae are mobile and have a bright color.

Read the Extreme Conditions Survival Kit

After any bite, you should replace the bait with a fresh one. In this case, whether the bite was successful or not does not matter

It is especially important to place the bloodworm correctly on the hook: it should not hang down or leak out. You need to hold it with one hand and not squeeze too hard. In winter, for convenience, you can freeze the larvae a little and only then put them on the hook

In winter, for convenience, you can freeze the larvae a little and only then attach them to the hook.

Since the bloodworm is quite small in size, it is worth using small hooks as gear. However, there are certain difficulties: how to put on the bait and not damage it.

It is convenient to do everything with dry hands. Most often, the beam method is used here, when several larvae are put on a hook at once. Moreover, the sting passes through the middle of the larva’s body. Unfortunately, other bait methods will not work here, since the hook will not be able to hold the bait and most likely the fish will simply pull it off.

Methods for hooking shrimp

The mounting method depends on the following factors:

Condition of the shrimp (live, frozen).
The type of fish intended for fishing.

Method 1 “By the head”

If the tackle is equipped with a hook with a long shank, then it is better to take uncleaned bait, which they begin to attach from the bottom of the head according to the “pulling stockings” principle. The point of the hook should come out in the middle of the peritoneum. This method of baiting has successfully proven itself when fishing on the seabed.

Advice: you should bait it carefully, without touching the black spot on the shrimp, as this will kill it and, like bait, it will lose its swimming ability and will not become interesting to the fish.

Method 2 “For the torn off tail section”

First you need to tear off the tail so that from the place of separation it begins to release an attractive smell for fish. Then thread the hook through the rest of the tail. This method is suitable for long casts.

Method 3 “By the tail”

To ensure the bait remains stationary, anglers hook it onto the hook at the very tip of the tail. This method of mounting is suitable when the seabed is uneven, when when guiding it maneuvers between stones and other algal barriers.

Method 4 “Through the shell”

The method is preferable when fishing by drifting or using float equipment. The hook should enter the shell of the shrimp when it is positioned horizontally, so as not to touch the dark spots located on the head.

Method 5 “Under the chin”

To ensure a longer cast, the shrimp should be threaded under its chin, so that the point of the hook penetrates through the central part of the head (shell) between the important organs. The disadvantage is that with this method of planting, the shrimp quickly die.

Method 6 “Eight on hook No. 5-3”

The shrimp is pierced through, then turned over and a through piercing is made at a distance of no more than 5 mm. Repeat such “stitches” several times along the shrimp’s body. This method of threading on a hook is good because the shrimp, about 8 cm long, has many strong veins in its meat, which interfere with the strength of threading and holding on the hook. In order for the meat to sit well on the hook, it is wound in a figure eight. This type of bait attachment is suitable when fishing with float or bottom tackle.

Fishing Features

The shrimp acts as a marine clam that works great on other fish as well. It is not bad to catch carp on shrimp, if you take into account a number of the following recommendations:

When catching crucian carp or carp, be sure to remove the shell and open the tail - only now can you put edible meat on the hook.
If we go after a chub, we do not remove the shell, we only remove the head. But since we are considering carp, we will dwell on it in detail.
Carp prefers to peck at several mollusks at once or their tails with preliminary cleaning.

Attention! When catching cautious fish, and carp is just one of those, be sure to remove the hard parts (shell and head).

Correct nozzle

For many fishermen, shrimp acts as a kind of exotic bait. Hardly any of the novice carp fishermen know how to properly attach a shrimp to a carp, not spoil the product and catch a real trophy.

When fishing for shellfish, it is better to use a hook with a long shank and set it from the side of the head, lengthwise, like a worm.
If we catch a carp from the bottom, we first bait it over the head, then leave the end hanging from the hook. The sharp tip of the hook extends down the center of the bait.
When casting long distances, which is required for catching wild carp, it is recommended to bait through the tail - this way the bait will sit tighter and open up a little.
If the bottom is problematic, with snags, thickets and other obstacles, it is better to hook the shrimp only by the tail - this way it will hold on even tighter.

What kind of fish can you catch with shrimp in the Mediterranean Sea?

Not peeled:

Saragus.

Fresh peeled:

farida;
Saragus;
marmir;
horse mackerel;
palamid;
goby;
selenium;
mullet;
sole;
flatheads;
scorpionfish;
croaker

Boiled shrimp:

sea bass.

Spoiled shrimp:

sea bass;
sea burbot

Advice:

when using pulp, it is better to take hooks numbered 5-10;
if raw bait is used, use hooks numbered 7-14.

Ways to use shrimp for fishing as bait

Crustaceans must be cleaned of their shells and claws and boiled. The shell and other parts of the shrimp are finely ground and added to the broth in which the shrimp were cooked, and then all this mass is added to the bait.

For better attachment to the hook, it is recommended to either boil the future bait, since after such treatment it will become denser, or to wither it.

If you fish with small hooks, you can simply cut off pieces of the shrimp tail with scissors directly from the shell and in this form string these pieces onto the hook, piercing the shell. This will keep the shrimp more firmly on the hook.

The most detailed information about a fishing hook: elements, features, characteristics, types and much more, read here

And if you don’t know how to choose the right hook, then this article will help you figure it out!

Spoiled shrimp can also be used. Spoilage of shrimp is achieved by placing it in the sun for several days. Afterwards, it is placed in bags. These shrimp can be frozen. It is recommended to bait from the head.

What shrimp to use for fishing

Shrimp can be used frozen, boiled or fresh. It is better, of course, when a fresh product is used. Although near the shore the fish bite well on boiled crustaceans.

Experienced people say that it’s good to catch shrimp yourself, and then put them on. Although in our areas it is impossible to do this, so products purchased in the store are used.

It should be said that there are several secrets that are worth paying attention to:

For a better catch, the bait needs to be boiled and then cleaned. Then the meat is left, it will be used for bait, and the shell is twisted in a blender and mixed with the broth in which the crustaceans were boiled. The finished gruel is added to the bait.
When going to fish for carp, the mollusks are sent into the water. Next, juice from canned corn is poured there. A soaked bait will attract fish better.
In order for the delicacy to hold up well, before placing the shrimp on the hook, it should be dried immediately after cooking (this can be done in the sun). Not a single fish will swim past the aroma of the crustacean.

Some fishermen are upset that shellfish are disappearing. However, there is no need to be sad in advance, because such a product should be used when going to hunt for catfish, which will happily eat it all. Some fishermen specifically look for damaged bags of shrimp in supermarkets.

It is interesting that the more unpleasant the smell of the stinking delicacy, the more active the catfish will behave and swim towards such an aroma. There are fishermen who deliberately place such crustaceans in the sun so that they finally “arrive.” Spoiled shrimp should be stored in the freezer.

Choose shrimp: fresh, frozen or boiled

For fishing, shellfish are used in various states: fresh, boiled or frozen. The best bite can be achieved when fishing with freshly caught shrimp. But in the coastal zone, fish bite better on boiled red shrimp.

Most recreational fishermen do not have the opportunity to catch fresh shellfish for use as bait. You can buy frozen and already boiled shrimp in the store. Lake fish respond well to such bait.

A few secrets from fishing practice:

In order for the catch to be large enough, the crustaceans are boiled and cleaned. Then the meat is set aside for bait, and the shells are minced in a meat grinder and mixed with the broth in which the shellfish were boiled. The resulting mass is added to the bait;
to catch carp: the crustaceans are placed in water to soften the meat. Then the juice from canned corn is poured into the container with the shellfish. Over the course of several hours, the crustaceans are soaked in juice. After this, they can be used as a nozzle;
To make the shellfish stick better to the gear, fishermen recommend boiling them or drying them in the sun. During the cooking process, the shrimp become dense, and the dried shellfish acquire a smell that attracts a large number of fish.

There are times when shrimp go bad – don’t be upset. They won't go to waste. Spoiled crustaceans make excellent bait for catfish fishing. You can specifically purchase a package of spoiled shrimp in the store for a nominal fee.

Such crustaceans need to be placed in the sun for several days, then their smell will become even more “tasty” to the catfish. Then place the shellfish in tight bags. Spoiled shrimp can be stored in the refrigerator and defrosted before use. You need to put it on the hook from the head.

Shrimp mixture for bait

Frozen shrimp

When it comes to using shrimp for fishing, many fishermen begin to twirl their fingers at their temples. After all, their price often exceeds the cost of live bloodworms or jigs, which can be considered a freshwater relative of shrimp.

This is true, but for use in groundbait, there is no need to convert the delicacy product. Its waste, which is usually thrown away, is also suitable - the heads and chitinous cover of shrimp.

Shrimp and leftovers

To obtain shrimp mass suitable for use in bait, everything that remains of the shrimp is processed as finely as possible using a meat grinder or kitchen grinders.

The resulting mass is mixed with the cracker mixture, or goes in its pure form as an independent bait. At the same time, chopped shrimp can be frozen and used if necessary.

Next time, we’ll look at a way to get a real attractant from shrimp, which will be an effective additive in bait and bait for fishing in cold water.

How to Preserve Shrimp for Fishing

The peculiarity is that they quickly deteriorate and change color (within 3 hours). Proper storage of such bait will ensure it is fresh and attractive for future harvest.

Storage locations:

sea water (provides accommodation for about 2 hours);
in ice;
refrigerators and mini-fridges;
at home can be stored in a jar of water placed in the refrigerator;
store in the freezer in small portions.

Salting shrimp to preserve as fishing bait:

take fresh shrimp;
clear;
Place them in a jar in layers alternating with a layer of salt, this will ensure their safety and the strength of the meat.

Which corn grains are suitable for planting?

You can use different corn for different baiting methods. So, only boiled is used for hair installation. The purchased one is too soft and will fall off at the first sharp cast. Otherwise, there are no strict rules; any corn can be placed on a regular hook, depending on the preferences of the fisherman. Below we will talk about the species and how they affect the bite.

Canned sweet

You can buy this at any grocery store. If you need to take corn in a can, then you should take it with the “sweet” mark on the label. The smell can attract crucian carp, carp and other fish. The most common and frequently encountered brands are “Bonduelle” and “Vernet”. But for fishing, any option, even the cheapest one, is suitable. Most fishermen believe that regular store-bought sweets are in no way inferior in quality to branded store-bought ones.

You can also make sweets at home. To do this, it is first left in water for two to three days. After this, the swollen grains are boiled for about thirty minutes; sugar, honey or other sweeteners are added during the cooking process. When cooking, you can check the degree of readiness by placing the corn on a hook and checking how it holds on it. When cooked, you can add vanillin or other flavorings to it. Finally, leave to infuse for a day.

Read: Catching crucian carp in spring with a float rod

During this time, lactic acid is formed, which will also attract the attention of fish.

Canned

Steamed

This type can be prepared in different ways. The first method: the grains are soaked in warm water for a day. The water is changed periodically (at least five times). The soaked grains are placed in a thermos, filling it one quarter full. At this point you can add flavoring. After this, the thermos is filled with boiling water and closed for 4 hours. The steamed corn is ready. If you don’t overexpose it, it will stick well to the sting.

The second method takes less time. First, the grains are boiled in boiling water for about ten minutes. After this, the water is drained from the pan, and the grains are poured into a thermos. Boiling water is poured into a thermos and left in this form until fishing begins. With this method, the grains are very hard and sit well on the hook. When fishing with such a bait, a very small part of the sting is exposed, so that it is easier for the fish to bite through the bait.

Steamed grains

Fermented boiled

The grains are soaked in water for a day. After they have settled, the water is drained and the corn is thoroughly washed. Water and sugar are poured into the pan in the proportion of 1 tablespoon to a liter of water. The grains are boiled in sweet water for about an hour. The water is drained from the pan, the grains are poured into a container with a narrow neck. A flavoring agent (honey, vanillin, coriander or any other of your choice) is added to the grains and the container is filled with cold water. To make fermentation go better, you can add a teaspoon of yeast. Access to air can be blocked by pouring a small amount of oil into the container. There is no need to close the container itself. The resulting mixture remains in a warm place for three to four days. Fermented boiled corn is ready. After this, it can be packaged and stored in the refrigerator. In this form it will retain its properties for about a month.

Fermented grains

Artificial

The artificial look imitates real plant grains, but, unlike them, is made of plastic. It may come straight out of the factory with a smell. If the artificial corn is odorless, the fisherman can choose the smell he wants on the spot using flavoring agents. Plastic grains hold well and have positive buoyancy. They are convenient to use on overgrown reservoirs with a muddy bottom.

Worth a try. sometimes helps

Branded

Can be found in specialized fishing stores. Sold in a large selection of scents and colors. It adheres to the tip very well and does not fly off during a sharp cast. This type is preferred by those fishermen who do not want to spend a lot of time preparing homemade bait.

Branded

Useful tips for using shrimp as bait for sea fishing

The best bite is provided by live or at least fresh shrimp;
when using dead bait, the main thing is its smell, not its condition;
to preserve the integrity of the fibers, the shrimp is cut with a knife or scissors;
when catching shrimp, you need to use gloves so as not to prick yourself on the shell;
It is recommended to store in small portions, an excess in the container will contribute to a speedy death;
shrimp can be used as additional bait when fishing by trolling, spinning or fly fishing.

How to get live shrimp

When thinking about catching shrimp, you need to mention that you can not only buy such bait, but also catch it yourself. It is important to remember that it is prohibited to catch spawning shrimp: amateur fishermen are not allowed to catch these shellfish from early summer to early autumn.

There are such ways to catch arthropods:

catching with a net. A fishing net with a long and strong handle is used. The maximum diameter of the net is 70 cm. Fishing with a fishing net is carried out in the evening or at night near places overgrown with mud: piers and the coastal zone. To lure crustaceans, use a bright flashlight;
fishing with a fixed net into which bait is placed: meat, pieces of bread or dead fish. A fixed net is installed no deeper than 4 m in grass thickets or near bridge piles;
trawling To catch crustaceans with a trawl, a fine-mesh conical net is used, which is placed at the bottom (depth up to 4 m). Using a rope attached to the trawl, it is pulled along the bottom along the shore. Trawling is carried out in the coastal zone in areas overgrown with algae and covered with mud;
catching arthropods with a net from a boat or shore (dock). The depth of the place where it is intended to catch shrimp should not exceed the radius of the net used.

It is important to know that fishing with a fishing net and trawling are considered legal methods of catching shrimp. In addition, in some places it is impossible to catch arthropods with trawls.

The following method is also considered poaching: the stems of tall coastal plants are tied and lowered to the bottom using a sinker. Crawfish stick to such stems and are simply removed with your hands or a net. You may receive a fine for using this method.

useful links

https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/how-to-rig-live-shrimp#page-3 - Detailed article on how to properly hook shrimp;

https://handf.mirtesen.ru/blog/43925888796/O-lovle-ryibyi-na-krevetok - An educational article about catching shrimp, bait on a hook, and fish that bite on such bait;

https://www.fishinginisrael.com/t171-topic - A note about types of shrimp, posted on one of the popular Israeli forums about fishing;

https://vlasenko.ru/1300-nnn/1352-txt.htm - An article about methods of catching shrimp, posted in the Russian Hunting Newspaper.