How to Set Shrimp Pots

Catching your own shrimp is fun and offers tasty rewards.

Recreational shrimp fishing is a popular sport in many coastal areas. There are several methods of catching shrimp, including drag nets, dip nets, cast nets and traps or pots. Using pots is one of the most marine-friendly methods of shrimping. The bait in the pot attracts shrimp into the trap and, unlike nets, does not indiscriminately catch multitudes of other marine life. Setting up a shrimp pot requires the same basic equipment, whether fishing from a boat or near the shore.

Things You'll Need

• Shrimp pot or trap
• Shrimp pot buoy with pole
• 2 shrimp pot buoys
• 2 quick release snaps
• Weighted line
• 6 to 10 feet of nylon rope
• Weights
• Zip ties

Instructions

1. Attach the weighted line to the buoy pole. Attach 25 to 30 percent more line than the depth you will be fishing at. For example, if fishing at 200 feet, you will need 250 to 260 feet of weighted line attached to the buoy.

2. Attach the other end of the weighted line to the shrimp pot using a quick release snap.

3. Add weight to the pot and secure it using the zip ties. It is recommended that the pot and weights total at least 30 pounds. A deeper pot or stronger current will require more weight. A collapsible anchor can also be attached to the pot for added stability.

4. Attach the two buoys to the nylon rope and secure the other end of the nylon rope to the weighted rope and float pole using a quick release snap. These extra buoys provide added visibility and flotation if your pot makes its way into deeper waters.

5. Secure the bait into the pot just prior to dropping the pot into the water. This assures the bait is fresh and offers maximum attraction for the shrimp.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the local laws and regulations for shrimp fishing. Many areas have specific requirements for buoy colors and other details regarding setting of shrimp pots.

• Most areas require a fishing license for shrimping and have limits on the number of pots that can be dropped and the amount of shrimp that can be retained in one day. Verify local laws and obtain the proper licenses and permits before fishing for shrimp.

References

• John's Sporting Goods: Shrimp Pot Set-up
• Fishyfish: Hot to Rig a Shrimp Trap