Who is the Shrimp?

White shrimp, also known as green tails, are usually found in waters with low salinity, organic rich, muddy bottoms. In Florida white shrimp are usually only found on the Atlantic side as far down as St Lucie. They are spawned in nearshore waters of 20 to 80 feet from March to November and are carried by the tides and wind driven currents into estuaries. They use estuaries as nursery areas. White shrimp mature during their first year, and have a life span of around 2 years. They can grow up to 8 inches long. They are usually harvested in the fall.

Pink Shimp are usually found in areas with rocky or sandy bottoms. They are found throughout the waters of Florida. They are spawned in waters of 13 to 160 feet year-round, and are carried by the tides and wind driven currents into estuaries. Peak spawning occurs in the spring, summer and fall. Pink shrimp mature during their first year, and have a life span of around 2 years. They can grow up to 11 inches long, and can grow 2 inches a month.

Brown Shimp, like the white shrimp, are usually found in areas that are organically rich with muddy bottoms, but brown shrimp prefer higher salinities. In Florida, they are usually not found in the Gulf of Mexico from Sanibel Island to Apalachicola Bay. They are spawned in deeper waters of 49 to 360 feet year-round, and are carried by the tides and wind driven currents into estuaries. Peak spawning occurs during the months of February and March. Brown shrimp mature during their first year, and have a life span of around 18 months. They can grow as large as 9 inches in lenght, and have been found to grow over 1.5 inches a month.

Rock Shimp are found in waters of 33 to 240 feet, but are usually found in at least 100 feet. They are found as far north as Virgina, and as far south as the Yucatan. In Florida spawning usually occurs during the late fall and early winter off the east-central coast. Females mature when they are as small as 2.5 inches in lenght, and may spawn up to 3 times in one season. Maximum life span is about 2 years.

How can we catch him?

A dip net looks like an aquarium fish net on steoids! The handle is usually over 10 feet in lenght, and has a hoop net on the end. Franz at Znarf's World of Shrimping recommends at least a 15 foot long handle and a white hoop net. If you can't fine one locally, we've got them in the bait shop.

A castnet can also be used to catch shrimp. Castnetting requires a little practice, but after a little work, almost anyone can use one. The same castnet found at department stores or baitshacks for catching minnows can be used to catch shrimp. I'll see about posting some information or links on how to throw a castnet here soon.

Shrimp traps can also be used. A shrimp trap has angled openings for the incoming and outgoing flow of the tide or current. I made the one on the right with hardware wire and 'hog rings'. You can find this material at your local hardware store. Click the picture for an enlargement.

Lights are a good way to attract shrimp at night. You will need a battery also. A good marine deep-cycle battery is good for at least 2 hours, but if you're got an efficient light, the small motorcycle or lawnmower style battery will last for a while. The best lights to use are submersible or floating lights. These are better than flood or spotlights because they get more light into the water, and don't attract bugs, or blind other shrimpers!

Baiting an area is another way to attract shrimp. Baiting is throwing bait in the area you are going to shrimp in to attract them. Common shrimp bait includes cornmeal, rabbit pellets, and dry dogfood. Before you bait, you should check local regulations.

When can we catch him?

Another issue is night versus day. Some people like to shrimp during the day, but the shrimp usually run in deeper water, which usually means you need a boat. Most people like to shrimp at night, with the shrimp running closer to the surface. Shrimp are carried in by the tides or currents, so you should check your local tide charts. They also seem to prefer a full moon, or a few days after a full moon, so check your lunar charts, and rub your lucky rabbits foot!

Where can we catch him?

If you're landlocked, you can shrimp from bridges, seawalls, piers, or the edge of the water. If the shrimp are running where you are, there will most likely be more shrimpers around, so respect your fellow shrimper by not blinding him with your light, or crowding in.

What is his catch limit?

How do we cook him?

Of course, you should clean the shrimp before you cook them. It's probably a good idea to clean the shrimp as soon as you get back from shrimping. If you put them on ice while you catch them, you can probably wait until the morning. Cleaning usually consists of at rinsing them in fresh water, removing the heads, and de-veining them.