shrimping questions

A

anchorout

New member
I see so many articles on the forum concerning shrimp traps in the PNW. Down here in the Gulf, there are only two ways I know of to catch shrimp, drag a trawl or throw a cast net. My question to Doc, Cat O Mine, or other locals is why wouldn't traps work down here? You wouldn't need a puller as twenty feet would be a deep set on this coast. Has anyone tried this type shrimping in the Gulf of Mexico?

I see many foldup traps for sale on Amazon. It would be pretty neat to set out several nets and have fresh shrimp for dinner or for bait the next day.
 
We don't use them in Florida--yet folks troll for them with nets just a few hundred yards from my house. I have "pots" for the PNW, and AK, but have never used them in FL.

Here is the Fl. reg:

"
Shrimp Trap Guidelines
Harvesters can use up to four shrimp traps.
Shrimp traps cannot exceed the following dimensions: 36 inches long by 24 inches wide by 12 inches high. Shrimp traps also cannot have external or unattached wings, weirs or other devices intended to funnel shrimp into the trap.
The harvester's name and address shall be securely affixed to each trap. Any trap not having proper identification is subject to confiscation by the commission.
Any shrimp trap on public property which is not attended by the person whose name is affixed to the trap is subject to confiscation by the commission.
Click to expand...

So the answer there is "Public property"--which of course includes basically all of the waters of the state. Even the bayou and canal in back of my home is "State Property".

LA has different laws
" (and seasons): During open seasons, saltwater shrimp may be taken with trawls or cast nets and by no other means. Bait shrimp may be taken at any time, even during the closed season, with cast nets less than 8.5 feet in radius, hand operated dip nets with a diameter not to exceed three feet, bait traps, and bait seines less than 30 feet with a maximum mesh size of 1/4 inch bar, 1/2 inch stretched mesh which are manually operated on foot only
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Bob. As usual, you are a wealth of information. Think I'll skip the shrimp trap idea.

I have pulled recreational shrimp trawls in the past. It's a grueling, nasty business on a boat not equipped with winches and proper gear.

As long as there are super markets and bait stands, I'll be ok.
 
BrentB: Good info, thanks. I had forgotten one could use a headlight and dip net to harvest shrimp. When I lived on the water near New Orleans, we use to net them along the seawall at night. Also use to bait them by tossing rabbit feed off of the wharf and returning a little later to throw cast nets. On an incoming tide we could sometimes fill an ice chest in a couple hours.
 
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