Sand Shrimp Health Tricks?

[smilesforu]

Ok whats your tricks to keep them bugs alive for a extended period of time short of a aquarium or not digging them. I know to keep them cold. I have heard cedar chips kill them..rumor? Do you use wood chips on the bottom of the storage container? Should I make a mesh bottom storage box so they don't sit in the liquid in the fridge? Thanks for the tips in advance

[Steelheadman]

Just pick out the live shrimp and put them on a fresh paper towel. Toss the dead shrimp and the wood chips from the styrofoam cup. I line the bottom of the cup with some more fresh paper towel and put the live shrimp back in and put back in the cooler.

[stilly bum]

I've heard that the wood chips get soaked with shrimp **** and that's why they need to be taken out.

[smilesforu]

Well these are all still alive because I just dug them...well sucked them http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
http://www.steelheader.net/pictures/images/bucketoshrimp_small.jpg

http://www.steelheader.net/pictures/images/sandshrimp.gif

[This message has been edited by smilesforu (edited 03-09-2001).]

[Steelheadman]

Never have dug them myself. Don't know where or how to dig them or how they clean them and dry them. I just buy them. Probably not worth my time to dig.

[dogfishboy]

First, I would transfer their HMO to a PPO. This way you can select their care provider and not be dictated to by a PCP. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif You had to know this kind of stuff is coming. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I’ve had great success this season extending the life of my shrimp. As soon as I get them home I dump them in a strainer and pick out the dead ones. Then I rinse them very well with bottled water. They get all excited and seem to like this. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I discard the foam in the carton and rinse the carton. I fold a couple sheets of paper towels into the bottom of the container and return the shrimp to the container and put them in the bait frig, It's important NOT to restrict air movement into the container by puttin' them in a closed plastic bag or Rubbermaid container. I take them out each day and repeat the process. Proper shrimp hygiene is critical http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif Also, as soon as I get back from a fishin' trip I repeat the process. I have been able to keep the little guys healthy and kicking for 5 days on a regular basis. This has worked VERY well and saved me from spending unnecessary money and I don’t have to toss them at the end of the trip. Several of my fishin' partners have started to use this method since they have witnessed my success. I have often been able to have better quality bait than my partners, even though they bought theirs the night before or that mornin'.

David

[Steelheadman]

Nice sand shrimp! Some stores used to keep them in the fridge packed in a plastic rectangular box lined with newspaper. Just make sure to change the paper and pull the dead ones out.

[smilesforu]

The shrimp picketed and formed a union....They have excellent health coverage until they meet MR. http://www.steelheader.net/pictures/images/buckkinglarger.gif

I have heard of people keeping them for two weeks when they have dug them. I wouldn't mind building a holding container if I know the best way to keep them until transport time.

It only took 45 minutes to get 150 of the buggers with one gun. Kind of fun to catch too.

So far it looks like I should get some bedding in the container. Any special kind of wood chips?

Marie you have any tips on these buggers?

They just got a newspaper layer treatment in the bucket. This should keep them dry for a day or two before they need changing.

[This message has been edited by smilesforu (edited 03-09-2001).]

[Fish4Fun]

Here is the trick I found to make them last all weekend and still be kickin on Sunday. As soon as I can I get them out of their container and dump the saw dust. I put fresh wood pellets from my stove in the bottom of the cups and then put the bugs back in. The pellets do a great job keeping them dry and out of their own shrimp do doo..

Fish 4 Fun

[This message has been edited by Outlaw (edited 03-09-2001).]

[Mr. Fisherman]

Smilesforu,

Smiles for Shrimp http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif!

How do you suck them bugs anyway http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Maybe I don't want to know.... http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

If you want to keep them bugs dancin just layer paper towles between them. Start with a few sheets in the bottom and then a layer of shrimp, a couple layers of towles, a layer of shrimp and so on.

Don't seal the lid. Insulated containers work quite well.

Rinse the containers daily and replace the paper towles each day. Toss any dead shrimp in a pile and freeze them for crab bait
http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif


Hope this helps.


------------------
Live to Fish
Fish to Live



[This message has been edited by Mr. Fisherman (edited 03-09-2001).]

[smilesforu]

Great ideas guys I appreciate it. The sucking is actually a device like a clam gun except you pull a plunger up. The shrimp end up inside the tube with water and some sand. NO digging....easy compared to my old method http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Now if I can just find a cheap wood pellet stove for the extra pellets or catch bigger shrimp.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Marty - I have seen Maries operation and she told me she can get a couple weeks out of them. She has taken a cooler (about 120 qts or so) and filled it with fresh bay water. She has a big pump/aerator circulating the water. The shrimp are in the water which is constantly being circulated. It is a slick operation, I dont know what the cost would be to set it up. It is right in the show room floor for all to see.

I have got them to keep for almost a week in a 9 x 13 baking pan. I would assume plastic trays wouldnt rust out as quick. Soak dish towels in the same water you pumped them from. lay a layer of towel down in the pan, then the shrimp then a layer of towels over the top. Keep this in the fridge.

I would think changing the towels daily would help.

[Kerry]

Where do you look for them in the sand or mud?

[willierower]

The bet thing Ive found for keeping shrimp I have pumped alive is, Fill a couple of milk jugs with bay water. Use a spray bottle and spray the shrimp every day to rinse offthe pee and keep then moist. If you have the shrimp in a container that has bedding in it, Change that every day.
They will stay happy and kickng ffor a week.

[Steelheadman]

Marty, I saw the schematic of your shrimp gun on your homepage. Several times I've gone fishing only to find the only town store is out of sand shrimp. Where do you find these critters? Somebody told me that you can find them here in Puget Sound. I've got beach access at the end of the road and the beach is sandy here. How about Kingston or Salisbury Point on Hood Canal?

[hustlerrjim]

just about any sandy beach in tide water, you can buy a shrimp gun at just about any tackle store on the coast. cost is usually about 2o.oo$
state boat ramp at nehalem state park is an exellent place, go south of ramp about 1oo ft
any tackle shop owner will show you how to use the gun.
the trick is to get your wife and kids to keep you supplied.
loretta used to be able to pump about 100 an hour with no trouble

[Captain and Marie]

Hey you guys, I bet you'd just love me to tell ALL MY SECRETS to you.! HA!

OK! Send me each 49.99 for the most secret
up-to-date methods on "KEEPING SHRIMP ALIVE"


Sounds like a real good deal to meeeeee! ~

On the other hand I take bribes....:-)

Lets see, what do I need?

A Laptop A Sony please!

more memory (for my computer)

a fresh Springer!(on my plate?)

eggs (Chinook only please)

smelt (by the net full)

HERRING (green lable)

Oh, I can go on and on...

So who'll be the first?

Marty.. he he he

Bill?

Jennie?

Sean?

John?

Skip?

Ron?

Beth?

Bev?

Dot?

Scott?

Kathy?

Lee?

Dave?

any one?

Thanks any way!
Marie :-)

[smilesforu]

Ah Marie your no fun...fishing is easy. I like the challenge of keeping them buggers alive for a couple weeks. Here comes the aquarium with a refrigerator element http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. I guess I will freeze the extras for trout food or buy a cat to practice with the worm prod. Hope its a tough cat...hmm
If the cat dies I can raise maggots for fish bait instead. Anybody got a good maggot oil on the market yet...opportunity knocks

We got our shrimp in a mud/sand/gravel mix area. Just look for holes in the beach and give it a suck.

[This message has been edited by smilesforu (edited 03-10-2001).]

[Captain and Marie]

Marty,

Some how I knew YOU would be the first to answer my reply...he he he

Gotcha !

PS. I'm alot of fun! You just don't know me very well...

smiles :-)
Marie PS you didn't make me an offer! How come?

[smilesforu]

OK Marie I will give you a all expense paid trip (paid and guided by RT at his expense he doesn't know yet) in search of a rare albino large feathered creature. The legend has it that once you find this creature you can rub it and all your wishes will come true (according to RT's stories http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif ). There is a dress code enforce during the guided hunt...ask RT He can fill you in on the tiny... detals http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif.

This sounds like a great deal to me....agreed
Good!! Ok the trip must take place on a full moon so no flashlights will be needed...video cameras are optional but recommended http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[chuck 'n' duck]

I have recently started pumping my own shrimp. It has made me realize what poor quality shrimp are available at bait shops. (with the exception of Tillamook Bait Company; they have great quality shrimp) Fresh shrimp are the only way to go.

To keep mine alive for an extended period of time, I fill a 5 gal bucket 1/3 with ocean water when I am pumping the shrimp. I place them in this bucket with some sand on the bottom. When I get home, I place the whole bucket into my bait fridge. I only take as much shrimp out of the bucket that I need for each trip. My next step is to run an aeration tube into the fridge to that I can try keeping the shrimp alive for more than one week.

CnD

[This message has been edited by chuck 'n' duck (edited 03-12-2001).]

[Killertraylor]

I got my idea from Tillamook Bait Company - they keep their Mud Shrimp in a "Shrimp Condo" I'm not sure exactly what it was designed for - but picture a piece of styrofoam about 1 foot wide by 2 feet wide by 6 inches deep. It has lots of holes in it about the circumference of a 1/2 dollar and you store them individually in the holes - that keeps them from peeing on each other - which is what I've been told kills them. Maybe the styrofoam thing is what test tubes come in? I'm sure if you call Tillamook Bait Co. they'd tell you where they get them. They gave me one once and I've used it numerous times - they will stay alive in the fridge for over a week. It wouldn't be real convenient for bank fishing, but it works fine in the boat. I keep a thin piece of plastic over the top to keep them out of the sun and to keep them from crawling out of the hole and escaping.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Those styrofoam blocks are what the nurserys use to grow baby trees. My brother salvaged them from Champion Timbers Nursery when they folded in Lebanon and sold them to TBC, and a few other shrimp dealers. They do work great for keeping the mud shrimp alive. I dont think it would be very practical for the sand shrimp.

[smilesforu]

What is the difference in mud shrimp and sand shrimp? the ones I get are a little difference than the store variety. I do get some of the store style mixed in with my normal ones. I am wondering if I am catching the mud variety...see picture above

[Killertraylor]

Thanks, Bait O'Eggs - I was wondering what those styrofoam containers were for. I've used them for sand shrimp and they work o.k., but you usually have to use needle nose pliers to pull them out. I'll put 2 shrimp in each hole sometimes (that almost sounded pornographic...) Anyway, the difference between mud shrimp and sand shrimp is that mud shrimp are big and brown - some are 3x as big as sand shrimp and, well, we all know what the pink sand shrimp look like. The only person I've ever seen supply mud shrimp is the Tillamook Bait Co. - he sometimes keeps my friend Ed McClure stocked with them in the summer at Chinook bait and tackle in Chinook, Wa.

[Captain and Marie]

Okay heres the scoop on mud shrimp.

They live in MUD.

When harvested they don't like to be put in water like sand shrimp. They drown.

We put the mud shrimp in "Condos" or Hotels,
what we call them. The real reason why we put them in their own condos is the fact that they are "Warriers" they fight each other to the death. And we want them in good condition to fish with.

Sturgeon LOVE MUD SHRIMP!

Especially in Tillamook Bay.

The Tillamook Coctail is the best! Its a combonation of mud shrimp and sand shrimp tied together on a hook.

Slightly squeeze them to get the juices running then add Marie's Sturgeon Scent to the coctail. Its deadly!

Either poor it on or use a bait injector.

We sell the styrofoam boxes for 5.00 each.
2.00 extra for a lid made of wood. Or we just use newspapers for a lid.

Keep them cold and out of the hot sun. Unless you like to smell rotting shrimp! ugg.

To get them out of the condo, place condo on its side and slightly tap the bottom. They just fall out. Use what you need then put the rest back in their holes -tails in first.

NOT upside down. Tails first.

Hope this helps and thanks everybody for pitching in for TBC.

Marie