Thread: Hooking shrimp

I am having trouble keeping frozen shrimp on the hook. Any suggestions for rigging to keep my shrimp on?

What are you fishing for?
better option is to use fresh shrimp, it's not mushy and stays on the hook better and catches more fish.

I am just surf fishing for whatever bites. Not targeting any specific species.

I am trying fresh shrimp for the first time tomorrow morning. Will use pink Fish bites with them.

Don't waste your time with frozen shrimp.

Get some fresh shrimp, peel them and break/cut them in small pieces on a #2 or #4 hook fish finder rig.

A BIG problem with frozen shrimp is they are frozen in FRESH water.
This 'dilutes' the shrimp flesh by drawing out the natural salts, etc. even while frozen, but especially after thawing.
I have had decent results with live (or even fresh) shrimp frozen in SEAWATER, and even those IQF shrimp.
Beware though, frozen shrimp (even in seawater) has a 'shelf life' in the freezer of only a month or so.
Frozen shrimp continues to deteriorate while frozen, but the process is slowed way down.

Good advice about getting fresher shrimp (that is a ALWAYS better ;-)
Try pulling the cap off the head as well as the fan tail and cut it in pieces the size of the end of a finger.
Use a small kahle hook (#4 or #6) in the surf (or even a small treble hook), and just enough weight to get the job done (an ounce or less is best), and try to toss it; not 'sling it like you're trying out for the Olympics'. LOL

Hope this helps!

I like a #4 bait holder, a short 12lb mono leader, swivel and a s small an egg sinker as possible. Use small chunks of shrimp, about 1/2" . Small pieces of FishBites too. I cut it into 1" pieces and then cut these diagonally to form triangles.
Whiting will be in the surf from. Right at your feet (literally ) to out to first bar. Pompano usually farther out. Take some jig and spoons with some 30# mono leader in case some Spanish or blues come in close.

Originally Posted by FinChaser

Don't waste your time with frozen shrimp.

Get some fresh shrimp, peel them and break/cut them in small pieces on a #2 or #4 hook fish finder rig.

Agreed,, frozen shrimp and squid waste of money.

I have heard of sprinkling the shrimp with salt in a baggie over night to toughen them. does it work?

To some extent maybe, but that is drawing the natural moisture out of the shrimp flesh in the process.