shrimping

Anyone been shrimping from there yak? how do ya do it?

Shrimping is not something I've ever done from a kayak.

Here's the latest news release from the WDFW regarding WA seasons ... http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=apr2407a

Like yourself, I would love to hear from others that have done some shrimping ...

-Allen

I have very little experience with shrimp, and only in the San Juans. One year I helped tow in a PB that had blown it's lower unit. The couple was extremely appreciative, offered us cash (we refused) and told us where their shrimp and crab pots were. We used the gear for the rest of the weekend and left it at our friends place.

I'm not even sure what varieties we caught- I just know they tasted great!  The pots were set in much shallower water than I expected, 75-80'.

I recently read on another board about retrieving pots from deep water, by using a buoy with an anchor lock (cam) and backing the boat up. The cam under the buoy keeps the pot from dropping back down while you  coil the slack line. Sounds much easier than a dead lift from 100-200'.

Good questions,
 I have seen a lot of the small (middle finger sized) shrimp in the grass beds near shore and in very shallow areas with vegetation. I was wanting to get a hand net and drag through the grass. Don't know if they are a good edible species or just good bait! I'll try it and let you know how it pans out.

I am bumping this up because a friend was asking these questions again yesterday.
Has anybody had a chance to try for shrimp yet?

I've never done any shrimping period, except accidentally collecting sand shrimp while trying to use my clam gun to dig for clams.  Down here in Oregon, sand shrimp are supposed to be a good bait for both salmon and sturgeon, and I know a lot of folks "pump" shrimp in mud flats for bait.

The only shrimping I have done is off a "real" boat, pulling up 300' of leaded line was HARD work. Currently we (the hubby and I) are crabbing of our kayaks. This is working pretty well. We caught a few small non-keepers and a huge 7'' Dungeness. YUMMY!!
The best 3 spot shrimp place was in the Hood Canal for us. Everyone on the boat limited. We used frozen cat food as bait, poke a few holes in the can so the water can flow through it dispersing the oils, can also add some salmon or whitefish chunks. Slack tide was the hot shrimp time, just be sure you know the tide fluctuations or you might have your bouys pulled under! If you are kayaking, get a good current map or know the rips, Hood Canal was FAST!! We have our Prowlers rigged with fishfinders, this is helpful when crabbing and shrimping cause it shows the good terrain as well as depth. Read up on shrimp habits (I'm a research/reading nut) Also- make sure you know the regs- they change day to day for shrimp in some areas!!!!

Good Fishing!

 Hey armywife!
  Sorry for my ignorance but, do you have a suggestion as to a link to read up a bit on shrimp habits?
 I love to read, just not sure where to start looking!
 Thanks for the help and interest on this subject.

Boxofrain- I just went online and searched for the type of shrimp found in the area--> 4 spot were the most prevelant in Hood Canal. Then I searched online for their habits and what they eat, blah blah. Like i said- im a research nut and since my boss is an avid fisherman as my hubby and me, i have plenty of time at work to look stuff up! 
www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/shellfsh/shrimp.php
the link above is Alaska state but they are the same type of shrimp.
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/msap/PS/masterlist/index.html
this link was really cool because it had the shrimp (coon stripe) and LOTS of fish that are found in the PNW and their habits, food, structure needs etc.

Hope that helps- I do the same thing for crabbing, whenever we move to a new fishing environment ( military transfer from AK to VA to WA)

Nice links armywife! I'm gearing up for crabbing and shrimping as well. I got a few Promar foldable traps that have a pretty tight weave and hope it'll do well to catch crabs and shrimp.

Will post with hopefully tasty results!

Z

Zeelander, the state has very specific regs regarding mesh size, etc., for shrimp pots. I don't know them, off the top of my head. but would recommend checking them out, carefully.

Zeelander, the state has very specific regs regarding mesh size, etc., for shrimp pots. I don't know them, off the top of my head. but would recommend checking them out, carefully.

Thanks Pisco, the regs are difficult at best about everything so took your advice and checked into it. As the traps are made they will not work. But with a little snipping of the mesh here and there it can now pass regs. Now I just hope this thing doesn't dissentigrate at the bottom of the Sound! It seems still as sturdy as before but we'll have to wait until I use 'em.
Z