MULTIPURPOSE SHRIMP POTS
To add to the range of Kingfisher Creels we have developed a new shrimp
creel that is truly multipurpose. It can be used on Velvet and Prawn and
earns you money all year round. It is made using a 22” plastic coated D
shape steel frame to which is attached a series of fine mesh panels which
clip on to the frame. The result is a very strong and hard wearing shrimp
pot capable of withstanding hard abrasion and exposure, which is also very
stable in tidal movements. Added stability can be incorporated by adding the
optional weight bar. The weight bar can be seen more clearly fitted to a
Velvet Creel on the Velvet Creel page.
ENTRANCE
The entrance ring is what makes the pot multi purpose. There is a standard
75mm ring (on the left) permanantly fitted to the creel into which a
removable insert (right)can be fitted. With the insert removed the 75mm
entrance ring can be used for velvet or prawn. The insert has a 30mm ring as
standard but this can be cut out to 40mm for the shrimp guys who prefer the
40mm ring. A 60mm insert is also available for the prawn fishermen who
prefer 60mm to the 75mm.I know a lot of Scottish fishermen will doubt
whether a black creel will catch prawns, but talking to the Irish fishermen
at the Stand in Galway soon convinces you otherwise. They say it catches
prawn fine.
BAITING SYSTEM
Fishermen can choose either the new Bait Tube or the traditional Bait
String to bait their Shrimp Pots. The vast majority prefer the bait tube for
the shrimp as it retains the rotting bait better and just needs to be topped
up. It also keeps the bones which as every shrimp man knows is a pain when
they have to laboriously removed from inside the creel.
SHRIMP FISHING AND STORAGE TIPS
We get asked a lot by Scottish Fishermen about how you fish for shrimp as its a young fishery here. We thought we would put together some tips that may be helpful. The season in Ireland runs from September to end of Fubruary. They are not big enough to land until the beginning of September. They stop fishing them at end of February as they cannot be caught any more. The shrimp only lives for two years.
The bait of choice is whiting but it must be very rotten. The more rotten the better. Oily fish does not work as well as white fish. No boasting but the Irish Fishermen like our baiter as it keeps the rotting bait in the creel for longer. Shrimp go on a feeding frenzy after a bit of motion in the water. (when the water dirty after a storm or swell). Fishing is almost none existant in settled weather and clear water. Its better to watch the forecast and have your gear baited and rotten as the bad weather approaches.
When the water is warm in the late summer the shrimp can be in the kelp and seawed very near the shore. They move offshore gradually as the water gets colder towards the winter. Shrimp fishing is an all or nothing fishery. If you can find them with the right conditions and bait it can be very rewarding. Otherwise its nothing. If you have your crab, velvet or prawn gear over a large area, then its better to have an odd shrimp pot in the gear here and there as spotters for finding the shrimp. Shrimp gear is normally a two or three day lie. They can be kept in keeps for some say weeks but the keep must only have a shallow layer. A guide would be if you were using our shrimp creel as a keep with blank panels instead of the eyes then the layer of shrimp would be about a quarter of the height of the creel/keep. Any questions, email us and we will try and answer your questions.
