What Do You Need To Go Sport Shrimping?

Sport shrimping takes a lot of gumption during the winter months. If you don't believe me, try standing on a bridge half the night, looking over the railing with the wind blowing, and the temperature in the low 40's trying to dip a bunch of shrimp into a 5 gal. bucket.

Did you get the picture? Not quite.

The flip side of sport shrimping is that from October to late April, when the shrimp are supposed to be "really running", between the new and full moon phases, you will have a lot of camaraderie. Hundreds of shrimpers visit Central Florida's ICW bridges annually to take advantage of our unique shrimping sport fishery.

Like any other activity, when you try it, shrimping gets into your blood and tends to become as addictive as sport fishing, or sky diving. (Both sports native to the Titusville, Fl. area.)

When you DO become a dedicated sport shrimper, you will need some basic equipment to get your 5 gallon bucket limit.

A long handled circular dip net is a must for bridge shrimping. The regulars have learned to add extra handle lengths and reinforce the nets with tape to keep them from separating at the seams.

An array of home made or commercially purchased shrimp lights will be needed along with a power source to light up the water column. Lanterns are used in some areas, however underwater lights are preferred by the Indian River Lagoon shrimpers.

Most seasoned shrimpers use the small Honda type portable generators to power up to six underwater lights. When only one or two lights are placed out, a 12 volt battery can be used as a power source. The battery doesn't last very long when more than a couple of low voltage lights are used plus it's a pain to transport.

Shrimp traps are also used by some shrimpers. The rules and regulations for using them can be found HERE.

Finally, a 5 gallon bucket is needed to transport your shrimp. Florida allows one 5 gallon bucket per person per day as a "bag" limit. That's a bunch of shrimp!

When you become an addict to sport shrimping, you will want to customize your nets, traps, lighting arrays and start paying more attention to the Farmer's Almanac and tide charts.

Yes folks, it is addictive. I was out Friday and Saturday night to check it out, and despite the complaints from the "old timers" that "the run wasn't neer as good as last years" there were still a ton of sport shrimpers on both sides of the bridge having a great time.

Tight lines to all.