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Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 7:05 pm
by Luc42
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 ?
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 10:14 pm
by DarkShadow
Why not just use ghost shrimp?
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2026 5:12 am
by Gotfish?
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.
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2026 8:26 am
by Midnightpass
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
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2026 3:24 pm
by Luc42
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.
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2026 6:06 pm
by Carpkiller
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?
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2026 6:25 pm
by Luc42
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.
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2026 3:52 pm
by Spektrum
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
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pm
by DarkShadow
Spektrum 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
I didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limit
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?
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2026 8:33 pm
by Gotfish?
DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pm
Spektrum 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
I didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limit
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?
Destroying evidence that you caught over your limit? Sounds clearly illegal.
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2026 2:45 am
by Carpkiller
**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.
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2026 2:58 am
by Carpkiller
DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pm
Spektrum 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
I didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limit
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?
At one point, the fine for having too many ghosties was $40...total. That's why I was never too worried.
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.
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2026 1:52 pm
by DarkShadow
Gotfish? wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 8:33 pm
DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pm
Spektrum 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
I didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limit
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?
Destroying evidence that you caught over your limit? Sounds clearly illegal.
The limit is 50 apparently!
Eat up!
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2026 1:29 pm
by Spektrum
Carpkiller wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2026 2:58 am
DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pm
Spektrum 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
I didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limit
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?
At one point, the fine for having too many ghosties was $40...total. That's why I was never too worried.
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.
Expensive little shrimp
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2026 10:02 pm
by Carpkiller
DarkShadow wrote: Tue Aug 04, 2026 1:52 pm
Gotfish? wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 8:33 pm
DarkShadow wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 6:39 pm
Spektrum 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
I didn't even know ghost shrimp had a limit
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?
Destroying evidence that you caught over your limit? Sounds clearly illegal.
The limit is 50 apparently!
Eat up!
Tempura ghosties???
Did you starve em overnight to get rid of the ...mudline...?
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2026 8:39 am
by DarkShadow
Carpkiller wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 10:02 pm
Tempura ghosties???
Did you starve em overnight to get rid of the ...mudline...?
The trick is, to house them in your bath tub for a week in freshwater.
It gets rid of the stank.
That's how I do up my carp too.
Re: Live Bait Shrimp ?
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2026 10:05 am
by Gotfish?
DarkShadow wrote: Fri Sep 18, 2026 8:39 am
Carpkiller wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 10:02 pm
Tempura ghosties???
Did you starve em overnight to get rid of the ...mudline...?
The trick is, to house them in your bath tub for a week in freshwater.
It gets rid of the stank.
That's how I do up my carp too.
Cool. Do you forgo bathing for a week or do you just bathe with the carp in the tub? Does it mind much?