How to Hook Live Shrimp as Bait

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Plus, how to store live or dead shrimp for your next fishing trip
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Dead or alive, fresh or frozen, shrimp are one of the best baits for inshore saltwater fishing. Black drum, bonefish, flounder, grouper, jackfish, pompano, redfish, snook, sea trout, sheepshead, tarpon, and whiting are among the species you can catch with this crustacean. In this article, we’ll show you how to hook live shrimp and dead shrimp , plus the proper ways to store both. We also spoke to professional fishing instructor Michael Reynolds to find out the best way to hook a shrimp and answer more questions about using shrimp as bait . Keep scrolling to learn more!

What’s the best way to hook a shrimp?

Pro fishing instructor Michael Reynolds says it’s best to tube the shrimp starting at the anus. Hold the shrimp upside down and insert the hook into the anus. Then, slide the shrimp and work the hook through the tail section until it reaches the carapace. Bring the tip of the hook out through the body past the barb.

Section 1 of 5:

Methods for Rigging Live Shrimp

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  1. Many fishermen like to hook their shrimp through the head. This keeps the shrimp alive (as long as you avoid piercing the brain), and live shrimp is more enticing bait than dead shrimp. There are two ways to do this:
    • Insert the hook from under the shrimp’s head, and push the barb out on top, avoiding the dark spot (the brain) in the center of the head. This method is preferred when fishing the bait off the bottom. [1]
    • Or, insert the hook through the top of the shrimp’s head, working the point under the vital organs before pushing it out elsewhere on the top of the head. This method is preferred for bottom fishing. [2]
    • Note that the shrimp may be more likely to fall apart or slip off the hook when it’s hooked through the head.

    Meet the wikiHow Expert

    Michael Reynolds is a professional fishing instructor with over 40 years of fishing experience. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).

  2. Poke the hook through just under the shell tip, avoiding the stomach and pancreas. (These appear as dark spots on the shrimp’s body.) This takes advantage of the shrimp’s swimming action. [3]
    • You can also hook the shrimp just below its head and thread the shrimp so that the hook comes out in the center of the carapace between its vital organs. This lets you cast further and retrieve the shrimp more easily, but it will die sooner than if hooked crosswise through the carapace.
    • The carapace is the hard shell covering the shrimp’s head and the vital organs behind it.
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  3. This method lets you cast still further, as the shrimp’s head, where most of its weight is, will propel the bait further without tearing the shrimp’s body off the hook. It also allows the shrimp to remain straight on the hook, resembling its natural shape and movement in the water. [4] Break off the shrimp’s tail fan, then thread the hook through the tail center to hide it and poke it out through the topside of the tail, far enough for the shrimp's body to cover the hook eye.
    • You may want to use a baitholder hook (one with barbs on its shank) to better hold the shrimp’s tail in place.
    • Reynolds suggests “holding the shrimp upside down and working the hook through the tail section until it reaches the carapace, then bringing he tip of the hook out through the body past the barb.” [5]
    • Make sure to thread the shrimp with the legs facing “out” from the hook. If they face inward (and the hook pokes out through their underside), the shrimp will curl up. [6]
    • Breaking off the shrimp’s tail fan releases a fish-attracting scent.
    • You can also hook the shrimp crosswise through the tip of its tail. This method is preferred when dealing with heavy bottom snags other than weeds.
  4. This method of rigging a shrimp is similar to the self-weedless rigging that bass fishermen use when fishing plastic worms. Break off the tail fan, then run the point completely through the tip of the tail. Pull out the shank and rotate the hook so its point faces the shrimp’s underside, and then bury the point in the meaty part of the tail. [7]
    • This self-weedless arrangement can be fished on a Carolina rig. Thread a ½ ounce (3.5 g) sliding sinker onto your line, then tie on a swivel. On the other end, tie 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of leader and your hook, then bait it with a shrimp. The weight will take your baited hook to the bottom, the swivel will keep it from sliding to the hook, and the leader will let your bait rise just off the bottom. [8]
    • You can also use this arrangement with a 3-way swivel. Attach your line to one end of the swivel, your bait and leader to a second end, and a ½ to 2 ounce (3.5 to 57 g) bell or dipsey sinker to the third end.
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Section 2 of 5:

Methods for Rigging Dead or Frozen Shrimp

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  1. While live shrimp entice fish to strike by how well they swim, dead shrimp draw fish by how they smell. For that reason, you can break off the head, feet, and tail fan before threading the rest of the body on the hook. Make your pieces about the same size as the hook—fish will just nibble off any excess flesh and swim away without getting hooked if the shrimp pieces are too big. [9]
    • Then, thread the hook through the shrimp’s body from the tail or head end. Either way will work as long as the entire shank of the hook is covered.
  2. Dead shrimp are great for adding the taste of a real crustacean to a jig, whether it has a skirt or a soft plastic body. If you decide to tip your jig, cut the shrimp with a knife into hook-shank-length pieces. [10] This will ensure the bait is the right length and, by cutting instead of breaking, keep the flesh firmer and on the hook longer.
    • For particularly meaty pieces of dead shrimp, you may want to add a trailer hook to ensure that the fish don’t take the bait and miss getting hooked.
    • Some anglers prefer to pinch off the tail fan and joint above it, then thread the shrimp tail-first onto the jig head, making sure the shrimp body lies flat when the hook is pushed through the body. [11]
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Section 3 of 5:

Keeping Live Shrimp as Bait

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  1. A regular bucket will do just fine, but a minnow bucket contains a net or basket that allows you to lift shrimp out of the water without getting your hands wet (if that’s a concern). This also makes it easier to change the water as needed.
    • Depending on how much bait you’re holding, choose a 3.5- to 5-gallon (13.2 to 18.9 L) bucket (or bigger if you’re using very large shrimp or have lots of them).
  2. Too many shrimp packed into a bucket or cooler will deplete all the oxygen and pollute the water, which will kill them. Aim to only keep about 18 shrimp per 3 gallons (11.3 L) of water. [12]
  3. Most shrimp do well in cool water between 65 and 75°F (18-24°C). [13] Check the temperature regularly, and add small ice packets or frozen water inside a bottle as needed to maintain it. You can also use a cooler to keep the temperature consistently cool. [14] Change the water every so often to keep the shrimp in cool and clean water.
    • If you’re using the live well on your boat, keep the water circulating so the water stays cool and fresh. [15]
    • Do not add ice directly to the water. The temperature shock can kill your shrimp, plus the meltwater will dilute the saltwater in the bucket (if you’re using saltwater shrimp). [16]
  4. Like any other marine creature, shrimp need a supply of oxygen to stay alive. There are two ways you can supply it:
    • Use an aerator . These devices have a small bubbler at the end of a tube that keeps the shrimp comfortable (especially in warmer water). [17]
    • Use an oxygen-releasing tablet . These tablets bubble in the water and release oxygen to keep the water livable for up to several hours. [18]
    • Both of these items are available for use with minnow buckets and will work just as well with shrimp.
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Section 4 of 5:

Keeping Dead and Frozen Shrimp

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  1. Dead shrimp can be preserved in salt and carried in small jars, the way freshwater fishermen carry pork rind in their tackle boxes. You follow this procedure: [19]
    • Get ½ to 1 pound (226.8 to 453.6 g) of fresh shrimp.
    • Remove the shells, heads, and tails.
    • Cut them into pieces twice the size at which you’d fish them live (the salt will draw out water, shrinking up the shrimp pieces).
    • Place a layer of salt on the bottom of a small jar.
    • Place a layer of cut shrimp pieces on top of the salt.
    • Place a layer of salt on top of the cut shrimp.
    • Place another piece of cut shrimp on top of the salted shrimp.
    • Repeat alternating between salt and shrimp layers until the jar is full. The salt will preserve and toughen the shrimp to make it stay on the hook longer.
  2. Unused frozen shrimp can be packaged and re-frozen for use on another fishing outing, as long as they haven’t spoiled. Check with your significant other about doing so, and carefully separate the packages of frozen shrimp from other frozen food. Label the container(s) as frozen bait shrimp.
    • Note that your bait might be softer than before you froze it the next time you use it. [20]
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Section 5 of 5:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    What’s the best hook for hooking shrimp? According to Reynolds, “a J-style of hook works best” for bait shrimp. [21] However, make sure that the size of the hook matches the size of the shrimp. Choose a small hook for small shrimp (like a size 4 or 6), or larger hooks for big shrimp (like a size 1 or 2). Look for hooks with a short shank so they don’t interfere with the shrimp’s natural movement. [22]
  2. 2
    How do you keep a shrimp on the hook? Reynolds says to “Use some sewing thread and wrap the shrimp to the hook so it doesn’t fly off when casting. The color of the thread should match the color of the shrimp. Orange is the natural color of most shrimp, other types of bait, and fish eggs. No special knot is needed. Just wrap it a few times and pull tightly!” [23]
  3. 3
    How should you cast shrimp from a boat? “If you’re on a boat and using shrimp, rush to the front of the boat and throw out your line once the anchor is dropped,” explains Reynolds. “Let it sink to the bottom where fish are scavenging due to the cloud of debris the anchor made once it hit the bottom.” [24]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I prevent the shrimp from flying off the hook?
    Michael Reynolds
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    Michael Reynolds is a Professional Fishing Instructor and the Owner of Long Beach, California Fishing Lessons by Michael Reynolds. In his over 40 years of fishing experience, Michael has become very knowledgeable about the variety of fishing methods and techniques. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with beginners to experienced anglers. Michael has been guiding and teaching fishing for over five years and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).
    Michael Reynolds
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Use some sewing thread and wrap the shrimp to the hook so it doesn’t fly off when casting. The color of the thread should match the color of the shrimp—orange is the #1 color that I use.
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  • Question
    What type of hook works best for this?
    Michael Reynolds
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    Michael Reynolds is a Professional Fishing Instructor and the Owner of Long Beach, California Fishing Lessons by Michael Reynolds. In his over 40 years of fishing experience, Michael has become very knowledgeable about the variety of fishing methods and techniques. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with beginners to experienced anglers. Michael has been guiding and teaching fishing for over five years and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).
    Michael Reynolds
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    Expert Answer
    When you are hooking shrimp for bait, J-style hooks definitely work best for that!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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  • Question
    How do I attract more fish using shrimp?
    Michael Reynolds
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    Michael Reynolds is a Professional Fishing Instructor and the Owner of Long Beach, California Fishing Lessons by Michael Reynolds. In his over 40 years of fishing experience, Michael has become very knowledgeable about the variety of fishing methods and techniques. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with beginners to experienced anglers. Michael has been guiding and teaching fishing for over five years and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).
    Michael Reynolds
    Professional Fishing Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Once the anchor is dropped, rush to the front of the boat and throw out your line with the shrimp on it. Let that sink to the bottom, where there will be a lot of fish scavenging due to the cloud of debris the anchor made.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4
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      • When fishing live shrimp, use the smallest, lightest hook you can get away with to allow the shrimp to swim as freely as possible for as long as possible. Generally, the harder the fish’s mouth, the larger and stronger the hook needs to be, and you may also prefer a treble hook to a single hook in such cases.
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      • Buy shrimp bait from a bait shop near the area you’re going to fish, if possible. Check with the jurisdiction for any regulations regarding the use of shrimp as bait.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://sandsinthesurf.weebly.com/blog-posts/surf-fishing-101-part-three-baits
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/FgqNVWlF6CA?t=43
      3. ↑ https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/how-to-rig-live-shrimp/
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/rOggC2sjAN4?t=52
      5. ↑ Michael Reynolds. Professional Fishing Instructor. Expert Interview
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/rOggC2sjAN4?t=107
      7. ↑ https://www.saltwatersportsman.com/how-to-rig-live-shrimp/
      8. ↑ https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/dead-shrimp-vs-cut-mullet-redfish/
      9. ↑ https://sandsinthesurf.weebly.com/blog-posts/surf-fishing-101-part-three-baits
      1. ↑ https://fishingbooker.com/blog/cut-bait/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/JxuOstuNV3k?t=78
      3. ↑ https://charterfishingdestin.com/how-to-keep-shrimp-alive/
      4. ↑ https://buceplant.com/blogs/aquascaping-guides-and-tips/a-guide-for-keeping-freshwater-shrimp
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/oBkHqsnta9o?t=20
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/oBkHqsnta9o?t=42
      7. ↑ https://charterfishingdestin.com/how-to-keep-shrimp-alive/
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/oBkHqsnta9o?t=64
      9. ↑ https://www.nanfa.org/ac/do-oxygen-tabs-work.pdf
      10. ↑ https://www.fishing.net.nz/fishing-advice/fishing-hints-tips-and-how-to-articles/salting-baits/
      11. ↑ https://www.fishing.net.nz/fishing-advice/fishing-hints-tips-and-how-to-articles/salting-baits/
      12. ↑ Michael Reynolds. Professional Fishing Instructor. Expert Interview
      13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOggC2sjAN4
      14. ↑ Michael Reynolds. Professional Fishing Instructor. Expert Interview
      15. ↑ Michael Reynolds. Professional Fishing Instructor. Expert Interview

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      One way to hook a live shrimp is to insert the hook all the way through the top of the shrimp’s head. While this method works best for bottom fishing, keep in mind that the shrimp is more likely to fall off the hook. If you’re drift fishing or float-rigging, poke the hook crosswise through the shrimp’s body, avoiding the stomach and pancreas, which look like dark spots. When casting for cruising fish, break off the shrimp’s tail fan and thread the hook through the tail, then poke it out the underside. If you’re using dead or frozen shrimp, break off the head, feet, and tail fan, then thread the hook through the rest of the body. For more tips, like how to store live shrimp, read on.

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