Live Bait Shrimp ?
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Luc42
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Live Bait Shrimp ?
Looking for some incite and some knowledge about fishing with live shrimp (spot prawns) from the grocery store is legal and has been done before in San Diego waters. I see all the time that live shrimp seem to be the bait of choice in areas such as the South East. Rumor has it, everything eats shrimp.
Of course getting them to stay alive is always the hardest part about live bait. However, a decent portable live well would work to get them from A to B.
If not alive, has anyone had luck with imitation shrimp in the bays ?
Of course getting them to stay alive is always the hardest part about live bait. However, a decent portable live well would work to get them from A to B.
If not alive, has anyone had luck with imitation shrimp in the bays ?
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- Gotfish?
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Frozen shrimp work too. Freshwater bass, catfish and bluegill will also eat shrimp. Even I will eat shrimp although not if there is a hook in it.
- Midnightpass
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Years ago (when I was 18) I was in Florida and we were dipping shrimp with nets off a RR trestle for bait... We filled up a huge cooler of them, and gave up the fishing to go home to a large family shrimp cook... Great eating... Sorry, I didn't help with your question... You know how us old guys and our "tales" are.
...
Butch
Butch
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Luc42
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Honestly, the biggest reason I fish is for the excitement of the chase. You never really know what’s going to bite or how the day is going to turn out. We can all make predictions based on experience, tides, and advice, but I think most of us fish for the same reasons—the peace, the fun, the challenge, and the excitement of the unknown.
I know ghost shrimp are hard to beat, and they catch fish almost every time. But I’m curious to see what kind of bigger fish I can hook using a live prawn instead.
With everyone talking about El Niño bringing in more warm-water species, I figure it’s worth giving it a shot. Who knows… maybe I’ll get lucky and hook a yellowtail off a jetty or pier. That’s part of the fun—you never know until you cast.
I know ghost shrimp are hard to beat, and they catch fish almost every time. But I’m curious to see what kind of bigger fish I can hook using a live prawn instead.
With everyone talking about El Niño bringing in more warm-water species, I figure it’s worth giving it a shot. Who knows… maybe I’ll get lucky and hook a yellowtail off a jetty or pier. That’s part of the fun—you never know until you cast.
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Carpkiller
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Fresh or even frozen shrimp works pretty well. I usually use ghost shrimp, but recently wanted to skip the labor and buy some frozen shrimp. Yikes...a bag has more-than-doubled in price since the last time I bought some.
How much do live prawns cost?
How much do live prawns cost?
I went to Balboa Island and laid in the sand,
I may be ugly as hell but at least now I'm tan....
I may be ugly as hell but at least now I'm tan....
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Luc42
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
I have been seeing them at some of the Asian markets such as 99 Ranch. Can’t recall as it’s been some weeks since I took a look. I had other success using fresh items such as clams and smelt from there.
- Spektrum
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Live Ghost Shrimp are free once you have a pump.
Keep in mind a fishing license is required, limit of 50 a day
Edit: 50 a day, not 35
Keep in mind a fishing license is required, limit of 50 a day
Edit: 50 a day, not 35
Last edited by Spektrum on Thu Aug 06, 2026 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- DarkShadow
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
I didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limitSpektrum wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 3:52 pm Live Ghost Shrimp are free once you have a pump.
Keep in mind a fishing license is required, limit of 35 a day
Maybe I should read the rules and regulations a bit closer.
Does it count if you cook it up and eat it right there on the spot? Like, if I caught 35, and decided to tempura one up right there on the surf line, will that entitle me to get another one to get back to 35?
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Destroying evidence that you caught over your limit? Sounds clearly illegal.DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pmI didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limitSpektrum wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 3:52 pm Live Ghost Shrimp are free once you have a pump.
Keep in mind a fishing license is required, limit of 35 a day
Maybe I should read the rules and regulations a bit closer.
Does it count if you cook it up and eat it right there on the spot? Like, if I caught 35, and decided to tempura one up right there on the surf line, will that entitle me to get another one to get back to 35?
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Carpkiller
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
**pack a lunch**
The limit on ghosties (sand shrimp) is 50.
But wait..there's always more...
from page 52...
So.
50 ghosties (sand shrimp, in combo with blue mud shrimp, good luck finding those).
35 "shrimp, other (includes prawns). this is weird, because if you buy LIVE prawns in a store...that aren't native...hmm.
The limit on ghosties (sand shrimp) is 50.
But wait..there's always more...
from page 52...
So.
50 ghosties (sand shrimp, in combo with blue mud shrimp, good luck finding those).
35 "shrimp, other (includes prawns). this is weird, because if you buy LIVE prawns in a store...that aren't native...hmm.
Last edited by Carpkiller on Tue Aug 04, 2026 3:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
I went to Balboa Island and laid in the sand,
I may be ugly as hell but at least now I'm tan....
I may be ugly as hell but at least now I'm tan....
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Carpkiller
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
At one point, the fine for having too many ghosties was $40...total. That's why I was never too worried.DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pmI didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limitSpektrum wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 3:52 pm Live Ghost Shrimp are free once you have a pump.
Keep in mind a fishing license is required, limit of 35 a day
Maybe I should read the rules and regulations a bit closer.
Does it count if you cook it up and eat it right there on the spot? Like, if I caught 35, and decided to tempura one up right there on the surf line, will that entitle me to get another one to get back to 35?
However, I got my citation right after the "bail amount" was bumped up. I believe my excess ghost shrimp citation cost me $273.
Yeah, I thought I had a reasonable excuse, and might tell it to the judge and throw myself on the mercy of the court, and ask for community service....but if the judge, for whatever reason, wasn't fond of fishermen.....
Did you know that a judge can assess fees that more-than-quadruple the fine? The rule is there so that courts can recoup $$ for dummies that waste their time. And I wasn't gonna take a chance on being tried before a kelp-hugger in a black dress.
If you DO get caught with too many shrimp and are fined....and go before a judge to tell your sad story....don't piss 'em off....or....
Standard Penalty Assessments
For most citations, the assessments include:
Penalty Assessment & State Surcharge: $31 for every $10 of base bail (or fraction thereof). This includes a state surcharge of about $2 per $10 Superior Court of California - County of San Diego.
Court Operations Assessment: $40 per violation (Pen. Code § 1465.8) Superior Court of California - County of San Diego.
Criminal Conviction Assessment: $30 (misdemeanor) or $35 (infraction) per violation (Gov. Code § 70373) Superior Court of California - County of San Diego.
I went to Balboa Island and laid in the sand,
I may be ugly as hell but at least now I'm tan....
I may be ugly as hell but at least now I'm tan....
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
The limit is 50 apparently!Gotfish? wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 8:33 pmDestroying evidence that you caught over your limit? Sounds clearly illegal.DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pmI didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limitSpektrum wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 3:52 pm Live Ghost Shrimp are free once you have a pump.
Keep in mind a fishing license is required, limit of 35 a day
Maybe I should read the rules and regulations a bit closer.
Does it count if you cook it up and eat it right there on the spot? Like, if I caught 35, and decided to tempura one up right there on the surf line, will that entitle me to get another one to get back to 35?

Eat up!
- Spektrum
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Expensive little shrimpCarpkiller wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2026 2:58 amAt one point, the fine for having too many ghosties was $40...total. That's why I was never too worried.DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pmI didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limitSpektrum wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 3:52 pm Live Ghost Shrimp are free once you have a pump.
Keep in mind a fishing license is required, limit of 35 a day
Maybe I should read the rules and regulations a bit closer.
Does it count if you cook it up and eat it right there on the spot? Like, if I caught 35, and decided to tempura one up right there on the surf line, will that entitle me to get another one to get back to 35?
However, I got my citation right after the "bail amount" was bumped up. I believe my excess ghost shrimp citation cost me $273.
Yeah, I thought I had a reasonable excuse, and might tell it to the judge and throw myself on the mercy of the court, and ask for community service....but if the judge, for whatever reason, wasn't fond of fishermen.....
Did you know that a judge can assess fees that more-than-quadruple the fine? The rule is there so that courts can recoup $$ for dummies that waste their time. And I wasn't gonna take a chance on being tried before a kelp-hugger in a black dress.
If you DO get caught with too many shrimp and are fined....and go before a judge to tell your sad story....don't piss 'em off....or....
Standard Penalty Assessments
For most citations, the assessments include:
Penalty Assessment & State Surcharge: $31 for every $10 of base bail (or fraction thereof). This includes a state surcharge of about $2 per $10 Superior Court of California - County of San Diego.
Court Operations Assessment: $40 per violation (Pen. Code § 1465.8) Superior Court of California - County of San Diego.
Criminal Conviction Assessment: $30 (misdemeanor) or $35 (infraction) per violation (Gov. Code § 70373) Superior Court of California - County of San Diego.
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Carpkiller
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Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Tempura ghosties???DarkShadow wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2026 1:52 pmThe limit is 50 apparently!Gotfish? wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 8:33 pmDestroying evidence that you caught over your limit? Sounds clearly illegal.DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pmI didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limitSpektrum wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 3:52 pm Live Ghost Shrimp are free once you have a pump.
Keep in mind a fishing license is required, limit of 35 a day
Maybe I should read the rules and regulations a bit closer.
Does it count if you cook it up and eat it right there on the spot? Like, if I caught 35, and decided to tempura one up right there on the surf line, will that entitle me to get another one to get back to 35?
Eat up!
Did you starve em overnight to get rid of the ...mudline...?
I went to Balboa Island and laid in the sand,
I may be ugly as hell but at least now I'm tan....
I may be ugly as hell but at least now I'm tan....
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