How Does Shrimping Work?
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Boiled, Broiled, Fried, Scampi....
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In the movie "Forrest Gump," Forrest's best friend described to him the many ways you can cook shrimp. Bubba seemed to go on forever talking about the different shrimp styles. Although the movie was set in the 60s, not much has changed about our shrimp appetite. It's one of the most popular seafoods because of its versatility and cooking ease. Many people catch their own shrimp, especially in the South. This article will explain how shrimping works.
Setting The Trap
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Shrimpers start off by watching the tides and the movement patterns of shrimp. During certain parts of the season the shrimp will migrate along the ocean floor from one state's coast to another. Shrimpers wait until about an hour before the tide hits certain stages. When the tide is one foot to six inches going out or five feet coming in, shrimpers will take their boats out to set up long poles about ten yards apart. This helps the shrimpers remember where the bait was tossed.
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The Wait and the Catch
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Shrimpers toss special shrimp bait made of fish meal and clay towards the bottom of the poles. The bait is rolled into balls at the right consistency. Too hard and the meal won't release; too loose and the balls will fall apart in the ocean. Once all the bait is tossed (about two or three bait balls per pole), the wait begins. After a designated period of time, shrimpers will cast their nets. The nets are cast very gently so that they spread open as they hit the ocean floor. Once the lead weights of the nets reach their landing point, the shrimper will slowly drag the net along the ocean floor and up to the boat, catching all the shrimp they can gather. The shrimpers empty the net and move onto the next pole, going to each one 10 to 20 times or until the nets pull empty.
Shrimp Limits
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Many southern coast states such as Georgia and South Carolina have specific rules for shrimping without a license. In Charleston, South Carolina, for example, you can catch up to 48 quarts of shrimp per day per set of poles. Some places will fine you for shrimping out of season or without a license. If you ever decide to try shrimp baiting, consider going along to help a licensed shrimper before striking out on your own. Your cut of the catch will probably be more shrimp than you've ever seen.
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