Sandshrimp gun 30/06

Built my own gun and spent $10-$12 for what retails for around $40-_$50. Took Yakchick and Cody(my Malamute/Y.Lab(over 100lbs) to the sand flats at low tide Sunday in the pouring rain to try it out. Once I got the hang of it came up with about 15 shrimp in 20-30 minutes. Next time I'll wear gloves. Gun worked liked a charm. Here Dino,come to Daddy.

And the plans are where ... ?

Dominic. Always the detail guy. Try www.limestone media.com .......slurpgun or making sandshrimp gun. Or PM me and I'll dig out my buried details. Worked great. Going out tomorrow for Dino's. great tides. How did you fair for Butts at Mutiny? 3 of us went to Partridge bank Sat.....see post
Rich

Rich, your link doesnt work as embedded. Also, when i re entered to whole thing in URL, it just gave me a site development page for the company. Apparently they;re in Austin?

Would you try reposting the link, please?


uhhh, second thought, never mind. here use this one;
http://www.limestonemedia.com/fishing/how-to-make-ghost-shrimp-pump.html

Super easy to make.  The thing is to make the most comfortable handle possible.  I did get blisters every time I went out if I pumped more than 5 or 6 dozen.  I think part of it is the repetitive motion with all the grit from sand on your hands.  It's a blast and though my kids aren't strong enough to pump the gun, they had a blast collecting the shrimp and freaking over the huge worms we would pull out.  The worms were KILLER perch bait.  I bet anything else in the water would eat them too.  they looked like the worms they dig on the east coast for stripers.  To be honest, if it wasn't my primary bait, I;d still buy them if they were fresh and available.  Problem is they were never fresh or available in my area.  They keep a week or more refrigerated with damp news paper.  Especially if you pick out the dead nasty ones.  I've always wondered if those buggers would work in Alaska....

Sorry about the link for instructions. I'm a frustrated computer dufus. For sure, wear gloves and (disclaimer)don't try pumping sandshrimp at home. Best time is at or around a good low tide where there is sand and not alot of rock. Thanks WR.

So how the hell does this whole system work? Do you pump them from the sand but still under water? Detect them like razor clams from air vents? .....

Okay Bill. You get as close to the waters edge in the sand and look for those opening air holes. Stick that big gun over the hole, press down while pulling the handle up(creates suction and remove gun, push down handle to eject sand and hopefully shrimp). I found a quick followup plunge or two helped in capturing the little devils. Sometimes they are still floating in the hole. that simple. Any questions,call or pm me.
Rich

Hmmm ... I'll have to give this a go next time I'm at the beach... looks like greenling candy!

How deep are the shrimp?

I found that if you are close to the receding water, you can often get them with two pumps.  Maybe 6 inches to a foot deep.

If I don't get them after two pumps, three max, I usually move on.  But they are there.  Sometimes they can be deeper (several feet) so if they aren't easy, you are going to have to pump harder...5 or 6 times.  I found in a good area, the 5 or 6 pump method isn't a bad exercise because you often get three or four.

Their tunnel system extends in various directions if I recall correctly.  So you get on a "main" tunnel, you can sometimes suck out a bunch from staying over it.  When you pull on the gun, you start to get a feel for if you are over a shrimp (feels more like pumping water) if nothing is there, it feels like you are trying to suck up a concrete plug.