WHAT BRAND IS BEST? DO YOU THINK SOME MANUFACTURES USE DIFFERENT RECIPES? I CAN TELL IF A PARTICULAR AREA HOLDS SHRIMP JUST BY RIDING THROUGH. WHAT’S UP WHEN THEY DON’T COME TO THE BAIT?
If the shrimp don’t come to bait they are not there. They move in schools and can go from one area to another in a single tide. Try looking deep 1-2 hours before sunset. I often find them in 10-14’ feet of water and catch them before sunset, then they seem to leave. If they are there in the daylight, they are nearly always larger and more consistent in size. Also, if the water is muddy, don’t wait for sunset. The shrimp come up any time of day in really muddy conditions.
Olde Man Charters
I’ve found what you wrote to be true in the Beaufort area primarily. I have shrimped a relatively small area mostly the North Edisto, but have been from the Wando to Hilton Head. I have thrown a net into some spots and caught pounds of shrimp without bait. When bait was applied, no shrimp were attracted? Why? If I run a marsh bank and see tons of shrimp in my wash, where did they go when I applied bait? I have been shrimping since before there were any laws. I have found over the years lots of ideas / rules change all the time. I am trying to adapt without spending the whole two months on the water!
in my opinion Bait Binder works just as well as any other “meal” and the prep work and cleanup are far easier…I’ll only use Bait Binder…
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
I have never used the bait binder, but would like to. The Beaufort area, where I shrimp, has very strong currents at mid-tide. We use softball size baitballs. I think the meal I buy comes from Orangeburg. Do the tiny baitbinder baitballs stay in place in the strong current?
Sulcataman, I’ve also found shrimp “hiding” in muddy water before sunset. My poles are 15 ft. long, but I find it difficult to “hit the ball” in deeper water if the tide is running strong. I usually try to get shallow.
On calm afternoon/nights, I have often heard the shrimp “climbing the hill” from deep water onto the flat while we are anchored after trying a few poles. If it is really calm, you can hear thousands of “snaps” that sound a lot like menhaden.
Often the boats around us are anchored up drinking beer, and we are “murdering” shrimp that have just arrived on the poles. Sometimes you only get 3 or 4 good passes starting when the sun just gets on the treetops. Then it is a “handfull per cast” the rest of the night. Other times, they don’t get on the poles until black dark.
I guess I need to learn how to get them before they “climb the hill”.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
I shrimp St.Helena sound in the daytime usually. Tides can be very strong and have never had a problem with current moving the bait unless I moved it with the net. I have been using Baitbinder for the last few seasons with good success. I come from Orangeburg and can get meal at OMC, but prefer to use Baitbinder.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
quote:
Originally posted by spec [brDo the tiny baitbinder baitballs stay in place in the strong current?
I make them about the size of a lime or so and flatten them out like you would any other bait ball…as tigerfin said, unless I drag them with the net they don’t typically move…
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
Don’t make balls, they roll. Make pancakes.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
I think that Baitbinder holds up longer than the old mud and meal balls. I’m hooked on it now. Like Bonzo said…it’s not near as messy!
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!
You’re right CL. Balls roll. We flatten the “baitballs” into big “cow patties”. Thanks all, I think I may try the Baitbinder this year.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
never sure I can get a pancake to sink straight down in 6+’. we make half-balls, they sink round side down, then if the lead line catches, it flips them onto the flat side- never to move again. lowest bait re-capture rate I’ve seen.
Who has fish meal and how much?
" The seas was angry that day, my friend"
George C.
I’ve been tempted to not make balls at all, just grab a handfull of the freshly mixed wet bait and put that out, especially in shallow water. Never done it though. Might try it when arriving late sometime.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
To address the original question, I believe the more protein in the meal the better. When baiting started they used dog food. Dog food contains less than 30% protein. Recently saw one advertising they now had 30 percent protein. On the other hand, fish meal has roughly 60% protein or at least those bags I buy. I’ve never seen a bag of fish meal that didn’t have a tag on it with the analysis of the content printed on it. Most are 60% or better. Just my two cents.
I’m so excited I can barely cope,
I sizzlin’ like an isotope.
It was asked and nobody responded so I’ll ask again. Has anybody priced meal and/or bait binder yet. I haven’t but I heard that it had come down some this year. Whatever the price is, it won’t change my shrimping plans unless, of course, it’s gotten stupid expensive. Just curious.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
Bowhunter, the only place that I’ve found it already on the shelves is in Newberry for $59/ 50lb.
961 War Eagle CC w/90 Yamaha
I switched from homemade to Bait Binder in 2012. Didnt seem to change a whole lot on my catch count, but the past few years havent been the best for me as far as catch. Hoping this year is a bit better.
Orangeburg Milling has fish meal in stock 49.75 a bag.
Todd Frazier
True Value on James Island has 50# bag of meal for $53.99. They didn’t have any clay, but had sign indicating it would be $11/bg.
Slimy not all fish meal is the same some use a filler so check that, our fish meal is 95% menhaden. We will be stocking a limited quantity of fish meal this year. We also stock Bait Binder in a different sizes. Bait Binder does have a more fish meal because it they use a different binding agent and not clay like most use with the meal.
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