Catching Spot Shrimp in Puget Sound

Shrimping in Pugut Sound has become extremely popular in recent years. Populatons of Spot Shrimp have rebounded greatly, offering easy limits. While the season for Spot Shrimp in Puget Sound is very short, the reward is great for those who make it out.

About Puget Sound Spot Shrimp

Spot Shrimp thrive in the depths of Puget Sound. While many shrimp species are found in shallow waters, Spot Shrimp live in deeper water. Most Puget Sound shrimpers will target Spot Shrimp at 200-350 feet. Spot Shrimp are the largest shrimp species in Puget Sound, with an average body length of three to five inches.

Shrimp Pots

There are numerous manufacturers of shrimp pots, from local garage operations to major importing companies. All recreational shrimp pots must meet WDFW shrimp gear requirements. Due to the extreme depths that Spot Shrimp live at, weighing down pots so they aren't swept away by the current is essential.

Many pots are lost each season due to being improperly rigged. Pots should weigh 10 pounds to 30 pounds, depending on how severe the tidal movement and currents are in the area.

Lines

Most shrimpers use standard 1/4" yellow poly rope (oyster rope). It is relatively inexpensive, and is available in 400 foot rolls. The disadvantage with yellow poly rope, it floats. In Puget Sound's crowded shrimp fishery, floating slack line often ends up in boat propellers, or wrapped with other pots. It is important to use some form of line weight to limit these problems. Due to tidal fluctuations and currents, it is a good idea to have some excess rope, but 400' of rope in 200' of water is asking for trouble.

A popular alternative to yellow poly rope is leaded rope. Leaded rope is more expensive, but ensures that there isn't any floating slack. Many Puget Sound veteran crabbers will take their leaded rope for crabbing, build loops at each end, and link it into longer stretches for shrimping.

Pot Pullers

Pulling shrimp pots by hand isn't feasible by most people's standards. With strict time constraints in Puget Sound and Hood Canal, managing one's time leads to limits. There are many great electric and gas powered models on the market. Do a little research, find one that will mount easily to your boat, and you're ready!

This is a small portion of Wayne's 80 Spot Shrimp daily limit!

Bait

Ask 10 veteran shrimper's what their recipe for success is and likely you will get 10 veteran shrimpers who keep their hard-earned bait recipes a secret. But guaranteed they would all have something a little different soaking in their pots during opening day. The most common shrimp bait available is pellet baits, which resembles dog food. These baits leech out scent slowly, and would be great if we could soak our pots overnight, or for longer periods.

Since we in Puget Sound have only a few precious hours each day, creating a mixture that leeches out scent quickly is important. Blend up a mixture of pellet bait, mackerel, seafood flavored wet catfood to start...eventually every shrimper will have their own secret recipe.

Tending the Pots

Soak each pot for two or three hours, pull and repeat. Make sure not to crowd other pots, be respectful for your neighbors. Puget Sound and Hood Canal get extremely crowded on days when shrimping is open. Make sure your buoys are highly visible, and unique. Being able to recognize your buoys by special markings or flags will save time, and the potential for a lost pot. Each limit in Puget Sound must be kept in a separate container. It is easiest to sort as you go, this keeps the danger of overharvesting from being an issue.

Showing off a few specimens at the dock.