Shrimping off the oregon coast??

Lepper · 02-07-2003, 08:04 PM

I was talking with a commercial guy today and he said he was going to be shrimping this year.. I guess they head out around april... How and where do they find shrimp??? and Can I find them to ??? 'drroollll'
d

AuntyM · 02-07-2003, 09:19 PM

Lepper,

The only info I have ever been able to find is Oregon Developmental Species

I think the commercial guys are going after mostly small salad shrimp.

Orca · 02-07-2003, 10:09 PM

I would love to find some large shrimp out here. Maybe they don't live here, but I guess we need to find out.

02-07-2003, 10:12 PM

Spot prawns on rockey dropoffs.

Re:Play · 02-07-2003, 10:15 PM

I have shrimped Hood Canal in years past. It does not open until the 3 weekend of May and is highly regulated like max of 4 pots per boat, one pot per person, 9am - 1 pm on Sat and Wed.

But the spotted shrimp are excellent! :smile:

Lepper · 02-08-2003, 05:03 PM

I am doing research on this.. I am salivating as I think about fresh shrimp.......... yummmm

Lepper · 02-08-2003, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Keta:
Spot prawns on rockey dropoffs.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Teach me oh wise one.. Where how? I need to know this!!

wak'm&stak'm · 02-08-2003, 07:11 PM

There is a prawn that they call a striper, that is caught along with the pinks. I remember over the years how a good load of stripers were usually associated with a tore up net.

I have talked to several that were going to try a pot fisherie, one local guy bought the gear but never ran it, when I asked they about this they said the best water was deep edges of Hecta banks and water pretty deep.

We had given this some thought, but I don't see myself running that far to dump pots and to return and get them,

02-08-2003, 07:54 PM

Lepper,
In Alaska we looked for rockey drops in 200' to 500' The best bait was salmon roe or fresh fish. The prawns generaly made a mightly migration from the bottom to the top of the drop offs. Search your charts and set pots. We usualy left them out overnight.

will_e_fish · 02-08-2003, 08:20 PM

The only place a i have been is Hood Cannal, season lasts just a short while. Around the 20th or 23rd of may. The CG will watch closely for harvest methods and wheather conditions. They can call it off shrimping if it gets too choppy. Your pot and bouy has to have your name on them , the CG checks them close. The depth we were was 250 to 300 ft thanks for the motorized pot puller. The shrimp were decent size and fresh shrimp are so tasty.

Orca · 02-08-2003, 08:48 PM

I am thinking about buying a pot and dropping it on the way to, or at the Ranch during halibut season. Maybe there is something on the east side of the pile as well. Dang, now I need 2 pots to double up my prospecting.

AuntyM · 02-09-2003, 08:37 AM

One suggestion I have for anyone trying this would be to use a commercial bait designed to attract continuosly for hours and not get washed away. Commercial shrimp bait
When I shrimp in Hood Canal, I use a homemade bait that has intense scent that only lasts for a short while because the pots soak for less than an hour.

This Canadian Shrimping link may be helpful.

I would be willing to bet one of you may hit the jack pot if you try offshore shrimping. However, with all the tuna and halibut you have on board, where will you put all the gear and shrimp? :tongue:

Here's hoping we get a Hood Canal season this year after the infestation the shrimp had in the fall.

OceanBlue · 02-09-2003, 08:48 AM

There was a company from Hoodsport, WA at the Sportsmen's show. He had crab and shrimp pots. I got to talking to him about shrimping and he confirmed that shrimp are found in deep water because they are light sensitive. At night, they'll come up and feed, but mostly, they're caught in 200-500 ft.

They had 30" shrimp traps for $76.00 and I believe the 2.5 gal. buckets of "shrimp pellets" were something like $25-27.

The guy I talked to said that 30" traps were the max size allowed by WA. So, I went on over to the ODFW booth to check to see what the gear restrictions were for OR. The staff there was unable to find the information. There apparently hasn't been sport effort enough for them to use the space in the regulation booklet.

I've been trying to talk Pilar and Puffin (Big Jon) into gearing up for this effort. I could live on shrimp alone. Big Jon talks of spot prawns that are "4's" - that's 4 prawns to the pound, folks. Wouldn't that be an awesome thing to behold!

We also figured that, rather than an electric puller, we could use an anchor puller. But again, space becomes an issue when travelling that far out into the deep.

I sure hope we get this figgered out.

Whoever has success at this first has just gotta share! We have an untapped gem right here in Oregon. Let's explore. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

02-09-2003, 09:44 AM

PM,
Anchor pullers work but when you get 800' or more from the ball its hard to see whats going on. We used a spotter boat and radio to let us know when the pot was up. We also put an anchor on our line and had enough rope so that if the pots and anchor sliped down the slope to the bottom the float was still on the surface. I think that I would also use a pole and flag off the Oregon coast so the floats can be spotted easier. 4's are nice :smile: One might even catch Tanner crab. I know that Tanners are out in Tuna Town but you'd need a biger boat to carry the pot line.

AuntyM · 02-09-2003, 10:20 AM

Pilar's Mate,

I checked the pots being sold up here at the Sportsmans Show, which I believe are the same that you saw in Portland. They are good pots. I actually use the maximum size allowable in Hood Canal, that Cushman Boats does not carry. Mine are considered commercial size and have six entries and two bait holders. They are available through:

Brothers Welding
308624 US Highway 101
Brinnon, WA 98320-9719
Phone: 360-796-4163

I believe they giant pots I use now cost $55 a piece.

One thing to consider though, is that mesh sizes are different for Hood Canal shrimp compared to those used elsewhere. You will need to determine what size mesh would give you the best results. The Hood Canal mesh is larger than what is used elsewhere, to allow smaller shrimp to escape. You may not want the larger mesh, as Oregon has an abundance of the small shrimp too.

If you order pots from a maker up here, make sure and get extra hog rings and pliers to reinforce the pot. You can get the supplies to build your own pots at the dealer that was at the show Cushman Boats

Hosing off your pots after use in saltwater will help them last for many years.

Hmmm.... maybe it's time to move south. :grin:

[ 02-09-2003, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: AuntyM ]

02-09-2003, 10:29 AM

AuntyM,
Coon Stripe Prawns MMMMMMMMMMM
Smaller but tasty.

Lepper · 02-09-2003, 02:53 PM

Sounds like I Will be investing in atleast one of these pots to do some expereimenting..... Gotta have some fresh shrimp out there..

dave

Re:Play · 02-09-2003, 10:08 PM

I have about 8 or 10 shrimp pots we used in Hood Canal. We usually shrimped a couple plateaus about 350' deep. I have 400' ropes and buoys, and a 3 1/2 HP puller. If someone wants to experiment before investing in more equipment, I am sure we could arrange that. Especially after I met some of you at the tuna meeting last week.

Drop me and e-mail or give me a call 360-521-7944. Jerry Hofer :smile:

tailchaser · 02-10-2003, 12:07 PM

About six years ago we were fishing alaska and dropped pots around 500' with fish heads for bait. I ate so many shrimp in five days from one haul I couldn't stand to look at one in the supermarket for a year. We had a stringer with 4 pots and 4 attached buoys with rings. Each pot was directly under each buoy and weighted heavily, but it was suspened about 100' off the bottom. If I can imagine a way to explain or draw the setup I will. Definitely a tasty treat after a day of fishing.

tc

Lepper · 02-10-2003, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pilar:

Just say no to 'previously frozen' prawns

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">We must figure this one out..... My desire for fresh shrimp is overwhelming!!

rojo · 02-10-2003, 12:28 PM

At the same time pitch pocket was doing research so was I. If I remember right there is a research paper by the college(Oregon or Oregon State?) and it mentions gravel areas at 40 to 100 fathoms. I indentified some of Nehalem and off southern Wash coast from looking at charts...Roger

02-10-2003, 12:33 PM

Taking proper care of spot prawns is important. As soon as you can (before they die) seperate the tail from the body and place in a bucket of sea water so that their blood drains out of the meat. Then put on ice. If the prawns have eggs on them don't remove them. Cook them with the tails and eat them [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] My oldest daughter would peel the tails and steal the eggs, leaving the meat for me

Bait O' Eggs · 02-10-2003, 12:37 PM

The guy that works 15 feet from me, his father has commercially shrimped out of Astoria for years. I am going to see if I can milk some GPS coords from him for some bigger sized shrimp. It helps that he owes me a favor :grin:

I will share what I find out.

Mmmmmmmmm..... shrimp are good!!!

Mr. Fisherman · 02-10-2003, 12:56 PM

Roy, I'll give you a ride :smile:

OceanBlue · 02-10-2003, 01:47 PM

Keta: How long do they live? Wouldn't you just throw them in boiling water like crabs?

Inquiring minds want to know...

02-10-2003, 01:54 PM

They aren't as tough as crab. By the time you get to shore they will be dead. Rip the tail off peal and eat when they are still kicking for a real treat

If you are going to cook them in the boat just toss them in whole.

OceanBlue · 02-10-2003, 01:59 PM

Thanks Keta. Important info. We bought some live shrimp once and just cooked 'em whole, but I don't think they were spot prawns... and we didn't have them for hours before cooking.

Re:Play · 02-10-2003, 07:12 PM

When we shrimped Hood Canal, we would pull out pots, come in, pull the tails and get them on ice or in the freezer. They do not live long after a quick trip from 400'. The quicker we got them on ice, the fresher they kept in the freezer. You could not pull the tails while you had them on the boat. Good eating!

AuntyM · 02-10-2003, 07:42 PM

Re:Play,

It's now legal to remove the heads while your on the water..... Due to the 80 shrimp limit instead of by weight, like back in the good old days. The regulation to keep them whole is no longer needed.

Chaps · 02-10-2003, 08:53 PM

In Puget Sound the best shrimping is found on the narrow 200-300 ft ledges next to deep water. It's very important to compensate for current when dropping pots in order to hit your target area. Pots need to be heavy enough to get to the bottom with minimum carry and buoys need to be big enough to float the pot if you miss. Best sets and best catches around here are at dawn, high slack. Don't know why you wouldn't be able to find them on the coast - what are the regs? We bait with canned cat food.

Lepper · 02-10-2003, 10:08 PM

I couldn't seem to find any regs on sport shrimpin....

Pilar · 02-10-2003, 11:47 PM

So, nobody knows jack about shrimping off Oregon's coast?

Or they know and they are not talking.

Unless you are the lead dog, the view never changes. Shrimp is now on my short list of things to do this summer. When we (my right hand girl and I) figure it out we'll share what we learn.

Just say no to 'previously frozen' prawns

Pitch Pocket · 02-10-2003, 11:53 PM

I've done some research. The ODFW out of Newport has a person that is in charge of the commercial shrimping industry. The report last year mentioned a very small area off Oregon that has shown some spot prawn success. However, they never responded to my inquiry about the actual location.

Fishplay · 02-11-2003, 12:42 AM

I've got two brand new Hood Canal pots built by Protoco. Hope there is a season up there this year. Would like to get together with someone with canal experience if possible. I'm into looking for local spots too. It would be nice to get them on Halibut or Tuna days.

OceanBlue · 02-15-2003, 07:25 AM

I contacted the ODFW on the topic. The "shrimp expert" emailed me back. (Work email - haven't had a chance to post it) We have very little requlatory rules on shrimp as there has been virtually no recreational effort. Rather than try to remember all that he said, I'll dig it out of my work email and post here. What I can tell you is that there is no pot size limit and there is no mesh limitation. He did give some general information on where. The catch limit is 20lbs/fisher/day. We discussed whether they could be headed or tailed offshore. But there is some vagueness... so I still need to get clarification.

Stay tuned!

Chaps · 02-15-2003, 07:44 AM

Up here when we were on a pounds per day limit it was OK to head them while you fished but you had to save the heads so a total weight could be measured by the fish cops.

OceanBlue · 02-15-2003, 08:34 AM

That's what my contact at ODFW said. However it was followed by a "but"... so I feel compelled to research further.

Lepper · 02-15-2003, 02:21 PM

this is looking better and better.. now to find them.....

BUGLEMAN · 02-15-2003, 03:58 PM

SsshhhhhriiimmmmmmP!

Up at Roche those spots that the ******* had on the dock were tasty lookin'. I should have bought some but yah know all about that.

I know the perfect boat if I could only talk her into it.

OceanBlue · 03-03-2003, 06:31 AM

Sorry for the long delay folks. I meant to post this weeks ago! :depressed:

Here is the information I received from ODFW:

"There is no restriction on size of
pots or mesh size in pots for recreational shrimp fishing. The reason is
that there has never really been a recreational shrimp fishery. The
regulation is for the occasional enterprising individual who wants to go out
and try to catch shrimp, primarily in the bays. Some have had modest success
catching small edible shrimp. I believe they are very young juvenile spot
prawns. Limit is 20 lbs in the shell.
As for adult spot prawns, they live out on the 100 fathom curve. To my
knowledge there has been no recreational effort. Trawl data as to exact
locations is restricted due to confidentiality rules (so few vessels
participating that giving out GPS coordinates potentially violates a single
vessel's expectation of logbook confidentiality). However, generally the
areas up off Garibaldi have been the best. They like very rugged and steep
rocky habitat.
I am not aware of any quality problems associated with leaving the heads
on. To hold them live for any long period requires maintaining high
salinity, dealing with ammonia buildup and generally chilling of the water
to lower temperatures, like they would find below the thermocline. So I
doubt it would be practical for a recreational outing. I would just ice them
well, and head them when you get back home. Alternatively, head them and
bring the heads in too. That should satisfy the game officer in terms of
being able to prove you were not exceeding. Although "20 lbs in the shell"
does not necessarily mean to me "including the head". To be absolutely sure,
you could check with somebody in game division.

The Washington fishery is mostly in Hood canal. I don't know if the size
pot they fish would handle the currents you might experience offshore (heavy
enough?). Even the commercials who have tried have had limited success
potting for spot prawns down here. We just don't have the habitat needed for
large populations of spot prawn. Maybe a better bet is to participate in the
April Hood canal fishery. Hope this is helpful."

03-03-2003, 06:33 AM

Dead spots prawns deteriorate rapidly.

SlabQuest · 03-03-2003, 06:52 AM

I shrimp in both the Puget Sound & Hood Canal. We have been de-heading the shrimp in PS even though there is a min size reg. The measurement is made on the head - so we save all the heads. We clean immediately and put the tails in tupperware and into the ice chest.

Here's a tip:

After the tails have been cooling a few hours, a gray, jello-like material collects in the bottom of the container. This is bad stuff. It is what makes the shrimp go bad. So, assuming we are not cooking the shrimp immediately, we dump the shrimp into a collander, rinse well, and dispose of the gray stuff -- then freeze or refrigerate.

03-03-2003, 07:44 AM

The grey stuf is mostly blood. After you remove the head put the tails into a bucket of sea water for a few minutes, then drain and ice.

Bait O' Eggs · 03-07-2003, 02:04 PM

I just had a rare treat :smile: My buddies dad who has commercially shrimped for a long time, just gave me a map with little "x's" marked all over it from yakina bay to the Columbia river. The X's mark known shrimp spots.

Here is the scoop as it was given to me. Shrimp have tails and they know how to use them. When you are in the shrimp, you are in them. He has made passes at night with his nets and did great, the next morning, the nets will come up empty in the same location.

If it wasnt for the shrimping fleet telling each other where they find the shrimp from day to day most boats would go empty, they spread out and talk results back to each other. Kind of discouraging for us recreational guys who want to drop a pot and fish for a while and then retrieve a pot later full of shrimp. :depressed:

The map he gave me has several spots that have green mud marked on them. These spots are where the little shrimp are. You need to be near the rocky areas to find the bigger striped shrimp. I have several spots marked on this map where rocky areas are.

All the shrimping is done between 50 and about 85 fathoms. He told me a good spot is between 50 and 80 fathems outside of the rockpile, but that is sligtly off my map.

I am ready to build pots and put on a 100 fathoms or so of rope [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] and go drop them for a day, well maybe the weather needs to get a little better.

OceanBlue · 03-07-2003, 03:08 PM

BOE: You are da MAN! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

you gunna share? Huh? Puhleeeeeze? :grin:

Mr. Fisherman · 03-07-2003, 08:46 PM

Roy, I offered you a ride first

Mr. Fisherman · 03-07-2003, 08:52 PM

300 to 510 feet! Better bring the kid along

OceanBlue · 03-08-2003, 01:12 PM

Bendman - I'm afraid they're not talking bay. We're talking salt. Big salt. Deeeeeep salt. Big ol' spot prawns. 1/4 pounders. :grin:

Fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, shrimp gumbo.... MMMMM! Shreeeee-imp!

rojo · 03-08-2003, 01:38 PM

Straight off Tillamook Head 25 miles in 62 fathoms rocky bottom = shrimps maybe...

03-08-2003, 04:50 PM

I miss eating spots by the pound :depressed: Especialy the big females with eggs.

An interesting note. Spot and coonstripe prawns are born male and turn into females as they get older

Bendman · 03-08-2003, 11:36 PM

Pilar's Mate, What bay or bays do you think they are talking about? I would love some but I only have an 18 foot welded boat. Too scared to go out in the swells.

Lepper · 03-10-2003, 11:02 PM

male, female.. I just wanna eat them!!

Clamman · 03-10-2003, 11:19 PM

All shrimp belonging to the pandalus genus start out male and then change sex. The larger shrimp are almost always female.

Clam

Small Fry · 03-11-2003, 10:42 AM

I have one shrimp pot if someone wants to make me an offer. Or it's yours for a sample of the catch or some fresh tuna next summer.

I'm easy

Pot only no rope or bouy.

email me if you nterested Sorry it's gone guy's
Edited 11:14 PM Bait Boy is today's winner!!

[ 03-11-2003, 11:18 PM: Message edited by: Small Fry ]

CrazyFish · 03-12-2003, 11:13 PM

OK I've heard enough, I'm going to give it a try out of Garibaldi next week as soon as the ocean calms down.

:smile: Want Them Shrimp :smile:

Bait O' Eggs · 03-13-2003, 07:08 AM

Starting points for the shrimp hunt have been delivered to Johnboy. Now to just find and trap the little buggers.

Pilar · 03-13-2003, 07:16 AM

Roy, thanks. Jen and I can hardly wait to begin the hunt. Did the commercial shrimper fish midwater or drag the bottom? I forgot to ask about that last night.

Bait O' Eggs · 03-13-2003, 07:37 AM

He puts the net right on the bottom. He was talking about the sunk vessels on the bottom doing damage to his nets when he hangs up on one. He marks them as he finds them and avoids the immediate area.

CrazyFish · 03-13-2003, 07:02 PM

BOE
I'm thinking about the area outside 3 arch rocks in about 30-50 fathoms. Are there any markings for that area???

I've got 3 pots on loan from RE:PLAY so I'm just waiting for the ocean to calm down.

AuntyM · 03-14-2003, 08:11 AM

Question,

How do you all plan to pull these pots? I am assuming that due to strong currents, they will need to be heavily weighted.

If you are doing it by hand, you will be worn out after the first one from that depth if you don't trade off. Take turns on the pull and keep a steady pressure to force those babies to stay on the bottom of the pot. In other words, DON'T STOP! :grin:

If you try to use an anchor puller, be aware that you may lose a large quantity of shrimp once you get that pot up. When that pot sits stationary in the water while you are trying to get all the line in the boat, shrimp will shoot their little tails all over the place and escape.

Consider investing in a puller. One reason pullers work so well is that you get the pot all the way to the surface and onboard ASAP! We prefer gas pullers because you can adjust the idle to control speed.

There is a big difference between netting shrimp VS trapping them. With the trap method, you will attract them via scent, so you don't neccessarily HAVE to be in a thick cloud to get decent results. Just make sure your bait is very oily!

Oh yeah. Where did you drop that pot? Bring along binoculars! Also, our buoys have the post and flags on them. Think they are easy to see? Not really. When we shrimp, we use bright yellow balloons blown up and duct taped to the top of the post. Much easier to see than a flag, and believe it or not, they will add that extra bouyancy to keep that pot from going under if it drops off a ledge. We try to keep an eye on all the pots at all times. Currents can do strange things. Just be glad you aren't trying to pick out your own buoys among thousands!

Have you ever had that much line in the bottom of the boat? Have a plan to keep it untangled, or you will be very unhappy when you go to drop the pot next time.

Some of this won't make much sense now, but after you get out there, you will be looking to make things easier on yourselves in future outings.