How to Catch Shrimp in Alaska
The vast majority of shrimp in Alaska is caught in massive commercial vessels that dip their nets into the frozen waters of the northern Pacific Ocean in the hopes of getting enough shrimp to make a living. However, not everyone has to have big boat to get in on the state's massive shrimp haul. Many people will dip a shrimp pot into the water while fishing for salmon and halibut in the hopes of bringing home some shrimp as well.
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Things You'll Need
- Shrimping pots (these are wire and thread pots with large opening)
- Fishing line
- Boat
- Weights
Instructions
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1
Get a license from the state wildlife commission. They will run between $10 and $100 depending on how long you plan to be shrimping. You likely will be fishing for other species and that license will cover your shrimp catch.
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Know how to set your pot. Depending on where you are fishing and how far out, you may use as little as 200 feet of line to drop the shrimp pot or as much as 600 feet. You will tie loops every 25 feet in the line and attach weights to various parts of the line and the pot.
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Make sure to keep an eye on your pots during the day especially if you are fishing for other species. They can be easy to forget about during the day.
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Reel the pots in at the end of the day. Some people use automatic rigging systems to do this, but you can do it manually. Just make sure you have help in case the pots are heavy.
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Know your limits. The Alaskan government will periodically change the amount of shrimp that can be caught by non-commercial fishermen. Make sure you know the rules before heading out.
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Clean the shrimp. Take the shrimp's head in your non-dominant hand and then place the thumb of your dominant hand between the shrimp's neck (spot between the head and shell). Press down until the tail comes off. Throw away the head and put the tail in a bag filled with fresh salt water. You may want to store your bags on ice.
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Tips & Warnings
Some people use cat food as a bait to get shrimp into the pots. There are a lot of theories on how to catch shrimp the best. Experiment a little while on the ocean.
Some people prefer to keep the shrimp alive until getting back to shore, so don't be worried if you are with someone who decides to do that instead of cleaning immediately.
Resources
- Photo Credit Alaska Department of Fish and Game
