Left Remlies at LT and had my balls soaking while it was slack. Poles placed between bridge and Yorktown at ±3 feet. It was still light outside. I placed 2 to 3 balls 2 to 3 feet from poles. All baits were on shoreline side of poles. I am in between boats and my rookie friend was driving. The motor was stalling etc… but he did all right. MY ? Are the bait balls supposed to get on the net? 15 years ago I swear I remember getting fishmeal all over me. I would even snag a ball every now and again. We fished 2 hours and caught 65 shrimp. The boat did not have any bait in it after the trip. I am using 1/2 in mesh and a 6 foot green betts. My 8 foot has a big rip in it and is much heavier. What are the odds that my cast net is too light.
My gut says I should be getting bait on the net since shrimp attach to that crap. Should I be covered in bait?
Do I need a taped net?, a heavier net? a different diameter?, more weight per foot? Tired of hurting this hernia over 60 gosh darn shellfish. I need yalls guidance so I can remedy this disagreement.
Are you throwing balls or hamburger patties? Balls will wash away with the tide. Patties will stay in one place better. If you’re throwing on your bait and letting it hit you’ll pick up some bait. I throw a very similar net and was picking up bait in about 6’ - 8’ of water.
Have you changed what you are making your bait out of? The fish meal might not be releasing, or releasing to quickly. That size net in that depth of water should have no problems catching. I have a custom made 10ft 5/8 mesh net that I use to deep hole with that weighs 10lbs, and have no problems catching in 35ft of water. Just have to led them a little more. However in that depth you are shrimping, it doesn’t take much wheel water to wash the shrimp off the bait.
When I’m" free casting, deep hole shrimping", what ever you want call it in shallow water 11-15ft. I want even back up when I mark shrimp, I just turn around. I’ve had shrimp scatter in that depth.
Baits two to three feet from the poles? How can you open the net on the bait? Baits should be minimum of 6 feet, 8 feet is better, from the pole. The bait must be in the center of the open net. And if the bait, not the patties, is sticking to the net, you have a problem.
I disagree - we put bait right on poles and hit it with the lead line giving a wide open net on the down current side. We cooler out more often then not. Key is good moving dark water
it all depends on how your poles are in relation to the current…you certainly don’t want bait balls right on the pole with the current moving from bait to pole…typically I like current moving parallel to my pole line…in that case bait balls are thrown 4-6’ away from the pole, perpendicular to the pole…with my 6’ net I know I can pancake it, not be up next to the pole, and take advantage of the current to maximize my shrimp catch…
If you put the bait right on the poles, you are catching less than half the shrimp you should per cast. I’ve been doing this 40 years as have most of my friends. Try placing right a couple of poles and 6-8 feet off a couple and see which does better. If you are hitting the center of the bait, you will catch 2-3 times the number of shrimp per cast. Get a limit in three passes rather than eight.
Dito on being out the radius of your net from pole. Best when net is centered over the bait. Shrimp are attracted to scent trail but come to the bait. You don’t want to be hitting the pole with net - they spook pretty easy and go all directions quick. If your bait is 6’ out and you pancake your 6’ net with the back right at the pole then you will catch what is there. IMHO a 7-8’ net is the best. Covers a lot of sqft, empties pretty easy, and can be made up for next throw pretty quick.
Also get some dental floss and patch your 8’ net up. Start by making a stitch with double knots every 4" or so. Go back and make them about every inch. Takes a little time but last for years. I’ve used 10# cajin red mono line too. If you use clear mono it’s a booger to see the line you are working with. The floss or red line you can see better.
You got a LOT more net over the bait with an 8’ than a 6’. A taco throw with an 8’ still covers more than a pancake with a 6’. Know that!!! You center your throw over your bait and use a bigger net and your catch will improve.
GregRo is good at fishing tails… What he said about the method is right and been very successful for us, but coolering out more often than not? You cheating on me with another shrimper?
Hahaha - riiiight. I just don’t cooler out with you because you can’t stay in the boat! tips for peter: 1) take the shrimp out of the water, don’t join them in the water 2) shrimp tacos means shrimp in a tortilla, not folding the net like a taco each cast 3) duct tape is not intended for your nipples to prevent net rash (I’ll give you redneck points though) 4) first lesson in shrimping is reading the tide chart correctly (don’t blame Mitch)
Hahaha - riiiight. I just don’t cooler out with you because you can’t stay in the boat! tips for peter: 1) take the shrimp out of the water, don’t join them in the water 2) shrimp tacos means shrimp in a tortilla, not folding the net like a taco each cast 3) duct tape is not intended for your nipples to prevent net rash (I’ll give you redneck points though) 4) first lesson in shrimping is reading the tide chart correctly (don’t blame Mitch)
LMFAO
Thanks captain Jeff, and the others input. Your advice is spot on. I used my fly tying fid to patch my 8 footer.
I am going tonight
captain Jeff, and the others input. Your advice is spot on. I used my fly tying fid to patch my 8 footer.