Ill be a 1st timer this year. I was just wondering what specifically we should be looking for to find a spot. Besides…other boaters:wink:Do you put your poles near th banks in small creaks? or bigger channels? muddy/sandy bottoms? Depth? Thanks in advance
Mudpuppy, best thing for you to do is invite a seasoned shrimper to go with you your first couple times, especially if you plan on going to bulls bay.
Muddy bottoms with no oyster bed is what your looking for. small creeks= small shrimp. bigger channel= boat traffic.
I have been shrimping charleston harbor and bulls bay for over 15 years and know both areas pretty well. Drop me a line if you need a net thrower.
~Hookem And Cookem~
I’m sure some of the people who have been doing this for years have more insight and there’s tons of info on this site (but it can be frustrating trying to find it.) Here’s my beginner’s experience to get you started.
You want to find a relatively shallow, muddy bottom that is near deeper water, and gets a good tidal flow (keep the tide stage in mind when figuring your spot - sucks to think you’re in a great spot, set out ten poles, bait up, sit back and pop a cold one, and then realize the tide is going out more than you thought and suddenly you don’t have enough water to maneuver around your poles… not that I’ve ever done that! 
) I look for an area that will be about 2.5 - 3 ft at low tide. I’ve found that much shallower than about 2.5 feet and I can’t cinch up my net as well, much deeper than 6-8 ft it’s going to be a lot harder to actually hit your bait. Note: a lot of the edges of the harbor fit this bill, and guess where you’ll see everybody…
Generally, the closer you are to the ocean, the bigger the shrimp will be.
You’ll get some on sandy bottoms but they don’t seem to be as willing to stick around on the bait.
My ideal time of day/tide is outgoing at dusk, I’m sure there are tricks to catching them any time but that’s what has produced the most for me. Always better on the low end of the tide.
If you want an easy way to scout out new spots, I HIGHLY suggest you research the “onepole” method on this forum. Maybe not quite as much fun as running a set of poles, but a heck of a lot easier. Good luck!
Angler 204 FX
Yamaha 150
I’ll add my scouting tip. I grew up shrimping in Georgia where baiting has never been legal. Now I do most of my shrimping in SC, but I’m a GA resident and not going to spring the $300 for a bait license, so I still don’t bait. We usually catch a limit in a couple of hours without it, so I don’t see it being worth the trouble (to me).
Anyway, on the lower stages of the tide, water out of the grass, find a bank with the characteristics wolfie described above. Ride down the bank at idle speed and close enough that the motor is just kicking up a little mud. Momentarily goose the throttle every few seconds. When you get into the shrimp they will start jumping like crazy in the prop wash. That’s the spot. Move off and give them a minute to settle down, then ease up current from the shrimp, shut off the motor and drift over them with the tide. They usually hold pretty tight in an area so drift with the tide casting the net and when you quit catching shrimp, idle back around up tide and make the drift again. You can scout a lot of bank like this.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker LarryI’ll add my scouting tip. I grew up shrimping in Georgia where baiting has never been legal. Now I do most of my shrimping in SC, but I’m a GA resident and not going to spring the $300 for a bait license, so I still don’t bait. We usually catch a limit in a couple of hours without it, so I don’t see it being worth the trouble (to me).
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>so all the guys in GA just free cast?
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
quote:
so all the guys in GA just free cast?
Yes, you get caught with any kind of bait in the boat in GA and you are going to jail. Like I said, never had any trouble catching a limit of shrimp without using bait.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
As a kid, all I ever did was free cast down in Beaufort. Never heard about baiting until just a few years ago. We had a spot near the MCAS that we could fill up a #10 washtub in about an hour. Can’t get to it anymore.
We use a TOP SPOT fishing map. It is the bomb to find an area within the 3 to 7 foot range and to find the flats. People laugh at us all the time wondering what are they doing out so far in the ocean? We are really on a nice sandy flat where the big dog shrimp live. Little creek little shrimp, big water big shrimp. GPS your location - we keep 5 due to silt changes. Works every time. Finally the season is here, it’s time to throw like a girl!
Creek Girl
“Throw like a girl!”
www.HeatherJordan.com
coastal artist
I’m also new to shrimping and I’m really interested in trying !!! First thanks for the info . I just might give it a try without baiting , I was thinking you had to have a license just to shrimp , now I understand you can shrimp just no baiting…duh 
I believe you do have to have a license to shrimp. If you are baiting, you have to purchase a shrimp baiting license in addition to a saltwater fishing license.
quote:Yes I understand I have the salt/fresh water fishing license , new to South Carolina , Like the idea of baiting and have gotten pretty good throwing the net :smiley: Lots of practice . Just would be nice to give it a try without the poles and all . Thanks for the reply
Originally posted by DFreedomI believe you do have to have a license to shrimp. If you are baiting, you have to purchase a shrimp baiting license in addition to a saltwater fishing license.
A good tip on your motor when you shrimp. We see tons of people pull up to the pole and let the person cast and then slam it into reverse! Try doing this a zillion times a weekend, not good. We set the poles a tad wider and circle the poles, keep a steady idle. This gives the caster time to empty the net, clean the deck and get ready to throw. My husband went with someone else when he first started and it help to keep the motor cooler and quiet in the water with less churn of the mud.
Everyone on the boat needs to throw and drive. I was raised on the flats of Charleston and learned from a old salty fisherman to stand on a 5 gallon bucket and throw over a tennis ball. If your not on the bait your not on the shrimp.
Creek Girl
“Throw like a girl!”
www.HeatherJordan.com
coastal artist
And I still don’t think shrimp caught over bait taste near as good as ones not… I don’t think I will bait shrimp this year…just get them the way midday taught me…got me a shrimp whistle and dip net…here stripy stripy shrimps.
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16
That is some good info creekgirl.
Wow, thats pretty good. How many times did you fall off the bucket?
18’ Hewes Bayfisher/115 4 Stroke Yamaha/6’Powerpole, etc
The bucket helped with balance, a boat vs the front yard is a huge difference. After last year’s winds a pair if Velcrow bottom shoes may work in BBay. See everyone next weekend! Don’t forget the McClennville Diner on Hwy 17. 3 minutes from Buck Hall.He has the best dinner after being on the water all day and the best breakfast on Sat am. Very good and it beats Subway at the light. (Smack Nasty)
Creek Girl
“Throw like a girl!”
www.HeatherJordan.com
coastal artist
Also buckshots and. Tw graham…go to restaurant .com and they have cheap cheap coupons for tw graham…google secret code word t enter at checkout on that site…I got some 25.00 certificates for 4.00. 10.00 pens for 2.00
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16