Shrimp Are Here!

Three different species of commercially-caught shrimp inhabit the waters of coastal NC where we live: Browns, Whites and Pinks. Brown shrimp constitute the largest percentage of harvests, and pinks only a fraction. But it's the white shrimp that provide a fun fall fishery here for guys like me.

White shrimp are short-lived, fast-growing creatures that reach a maximum age of two. In fact, their annual spawn in the Spring forms the bulk of the catch in fall. By late-August to early-September, whites are usually large enough to catch for personal consumption (i.e. "shrimpus cocktail deliciousus") and live bait (everything loves to eat shrimp).

I've learned to locate them around reeded areas in the tidal creeks and inlets. If you know where to look, you can see them - lots of them - cruising around the bottom in muddy areas just waiting... begging to be caught in my cast net.

Back in the day when I was still in school, I learned how to throw a 6-foot cast net while I served as the mate of a fishing boat. If thrown correctly, a round 6-foot net covers a total surface ("cast") area of Pi (3.14) x radius x radius... or 3.14 x 6 x 6 which equals 113 feet. These days, however, I've chosen to learn how to throw an 8-foot net which covers a full 201 feet if thrown perfectly. It's a totally different (and more difficult) technique to throw the big net, but the results are worth it.

Anyway, pretty nice-sized shrimp around already (see quarter in photo for scale). Lots of little ones around, as well, which should get bigger over the coming weeks. I caught my limit yesterday morning in just over an hour - around 2+ pounds (headed). I'll post again at a later time on shrimp...