If your new to shrimping in Washington there are a bunch of shrimp bait formulas out there. I use one of the more standard formulas with some extras added.
For 1 set of 4 pots. Use 8 small cans of Friskies white fish and tuna dinner pate' style. 2 cans of mackerel, if you can find it. 8 hand full or cups of shrimp pellets. Add 1 to 2 cups of shrimp bait oil from the fishing store, or you can use the left over deep fry oil from the last time you made fish and chips, its a lot cheaper. If I run out of fish and chip oil I will substitute regular cooking oil and add a bit of shrimp oil.
I all ways save and re use the bait. Never throw any of the pellets out. Think of them as little sponges that will soak up the juices and oils in your next batch of bait and give you a nice scent trail. You want the bait to be wet, but not drippy. If you get it to drippy you better have some cardboard to place under where you load your bait jars. Its best to mix the bait up the night before your going shrimping. I use the tall bait containers, 1 per pot and try to have enough bait for 4 containers plus enough for 2 extras if needed. This usually works pretty good for 2-3 people. If you have more people or its your first time out, bring more bait, you may have to set more than 1 set of pots. The second time you mix up bait adjust the formula depending on how much bait you have left over. You don't need to refrigerate the left over bait, just throw it in the garage with the lid on tight. You really want to mix everything up really good, you want the fish and cat food particles to be small enough so that the tide and the shrimp can suck them out of the bait container.
I usually try to let my pots sit for about an hour or longer. good bait is good but where and when you drop your pots is more important. If anyone wants to add any shrimping tips feel free to share them. Thanks.
For 1 set of 4 pots. Use 8 small cans of Friskies white fish and tuna dinner pate' style. 2 cans of mackerel, if you can find it. 8 hand full or cups of shrimp pellets. Add 1 to 2 cups of shrimp bait oil from the fishing store, or you can use the left over deep fry oil from the last time you made fish and chips, its a lot cheaper. If I run out of fish and chip oil I will substitute regular cooking oil and add a bit of shrimp oil.
I all ways save and re use the bait. Never throw any of the pellets out. Think of them as little sponges that will soak up the juices and oils in your next batch of bait and give you a nice scent trail. You want the bait to be wet, but not drippy. If you get it to drippy you better have some cardboard to place under where you load your bait jars. Its best to mix the bait up the night before your going shrimping. I use the tall bait containers, 1 per pot and try to have enough bait for 4 containers plus enough for 2 extras if needed. This usually works pretty good for 2-3 people. If you have more people or its your first time out, bring more bait, you may have to set more than 1 set of pots. The second time you mix up bait adjust the formula depending on how much bait you have left over. You don't need to refrigerate the left over bait, just throw it in the garage with the lid on tight. You really want to mix everything up really good, you want the fish and cat food particles to be small enough so that the tide and the shrimp can suck them out of the bait container.
I usually try to let my pots sit for about an hour or longer. good bait is good but where and when you drop your pots is more important. If anyone wants to add any shrimping tips feel free to share them. Thanks.
