sucking sand shrimp video

I used to steelhead alot over on the sky and snoqualmie and always bought sand shrimp for bait. Guys around me said they got their own but I had no idea how it was done. I was searching this site and hit several posts where people wanted to know the collecting process. I came across this extremely informative video that shows the process and thought maybe someone else wondered how it was done as well. Here is the link:

http://www.smallstreamsalmonfishing.com/movies/miniact7/clawsinthesand.html



doug over in sequim

Excellent vid, Doug. Thanks. I use a clam gun to get mine. I go down about a foot or so, making sure that the hole is deep enough so that the bottom fills with water (even though many of the shrimp tunnels are usually shallower) and punch out a hole, drawing the gun up quickly (notice that the guy in the vid was pumping his shrimp pump quickly....it helps to be fast), and there's often a sand shrimp or two or three kicking around in the water at the bottom of the hole. Sometimes one falls out of the tube with the sand plug. Averages out to about one per plunge. The suction of rapidly pulling up the clam tube sucks the sandshrimp out of their horizontal burrows that your tube cut into.
Grab them quickly before they can find and scurry back into their tunnels. The secret, as mentioned in the vid, is to be at or near the waters edge. They can really nip ya!

Getting sand shrimp yourself can be a fairly strenuous workout, but its fun work (feel like a kid again!) and it gets you out exploring the mud. Estuarine mudflats are really fascinating places.   I use my legs and arms, rather than my back, to pull up the clam gun.
I have tried the shrimp pump, and didn't think it was a whole lot better than my method. But the gun works OK for getting just a few dozen. You'll feel like a kid again!

If you find a good sandshrimp mudflat, keep its location to yourself!  Used to be, I didn't have to walk so far to find 'em.

well it definately got me thinking about checking out the mud flats around here at low tide. One thing he mentioned was freezing them which i did not know was a possibility. Someone else on the forum mentioned using them as bait for greenling which we hope to go for soon. we can get our resident license on the first of april. back in washington for three months and it feels good.

doug

I caught a nice Redtail Surfperch last Saturday, and  a 12" Kelp Greenling on Monday, using sand shrimp, my bait of choice for both species.

Sandshrimp don't hold up too well after freezing.  They turn to mush when thawed.  Just keep them in the fridge in a plastic container surrounded by paper towels.  change out the paper towels when they get too wet and the sandshrimp will stay  alive for a couple weeks this way.

Scott

I have never tried freezing them. I just get just enuff for what I think I'll need, and try to use them all up within three days.

I know a spot where I can excavate hibernating Sand Lances during Dec and Jan at low tide. Those freeze up nicely and work as well as any frozen baitfish when thawed.
Talk about super secret squirrel on the location!!! The whereabouts of this sensitive, secret location no doubt will die with me, as the old timer who gave it up to me asked for secrecy. I am honoring his request.

Sandshrimp don't hold up too well after freezing.  They turn to mush when thawed.  Just keep them in the fridge in a plastic container surrounded by paper towels.  change out the paper towels when they get too wet and the sandshrimp will stay  alive for a couple weeks this way.

Scott

How do they do with curing?  Does anyone cure their sandshrimp?

Sandshrimp don't hold up too well after freezing.  They turn to mush when thawed.  Just keep them in the fridge in a plastic container surrounded by paper towels.  change out the paper towels when they get too wet and the sandshrimp will stay  alive for a couple weeks this way.

Scott

How do they do with curing?  Does anyone cure their sandshrimp?

I've tried it, it didn't work too well.  I think it is because there is not enough meat to them.

-Allen