As I loaded up my truck with my bait bucket and wading shoes, I wasn’t quite certain what we would be getting into. I made sure the batteries on my light were good, I had bug spray, and my backpack was going to stay shut. Waiting for one friend to ride with me, we were soon off to meet two others waiting at our destination. The sun was setting as I drove west, trying to blind me as I stared into it.
I arrived shortly after dark to find my friends Eric and Jamie ready, lights and boots on. We parked near the mangroves, and made sure everything was right. Eric had managed to secure four interesting devices, known only as the Ozello Shrimper, which would replace the normal feel of a fishing rod in my hands as we walked through the mangroves.
Our target was simple; shrimp, all hand caught. The tide was perfect, a -0.5 at 9:30. We weren’t the first on the scene of the not-so-secret spot, as I counted at least two dozen other headlights working the same flat we were. It eased my fear seeing others, hoping we weren’t too early in the short late spring, early summer shrimping season.
Within 30 feet of land, Jaime saw the first one. “Got it,” he said, as he dropped it in the bucket. I walked along, seeing my first. I used the new device, quickly getting the hang of it. It was easy, place it over the shrimp, put the lever to close it shut, and the drop them in my bucket by releasing it as the spring opened it back up.
In the past, I have always used a net, pulling each shrimp out one at a time. While the net is effective, I wasn’t dropping them on the transfer and I wasn’t tearing up my hands. Brilliant. The four of us continued on, seeing shrimp everywhere in the ankle to shin deep water.
By the end of it, my shrimping virgin friends were all hooked. We caught probably 400-500 in just over an hour, a sign the season is in full swing.
The tides this week are very conducive to shrimping, with extremely low tides shortly after dark earlier on in the week getting later each night. If you want to try it, and I highly suggest you do, the equipment is not expensive, but necessary.
You can start at a local hardware store and pickup a headlight. Get one that will strap around your head. LED is not preferred, but will be adequate on super low tides. The brighter the light, the better. You are looking for the orange reflection from the eyes of the shrimp.
A larger net with an opening the size of a 5-gallon bucket (think: oversized livewell net) is able to capture shrimp. They are available at most tackle shops and sections in stores. Get a floating bait bucket to compliment it and you’re all set. The Ozello Shrimper we used is available on the OzelloShrimper.com website.
Now you just need an area to go. Think shallow grassflats near passes and barrier islands. There will be shrimp and a boat is not necessary.
Want more information? I can’t suggest the OzelloShrimper.com website enough. It is chalk full of great information, and certainly helped me in my recent expeditions.
I’ll be out there again this week. Feel free to contact me, and I’ll be happy to help you out further if you have more questions about shrimping.
