With its long, slender antennae trailing behind, the nearly transparent grass shrimp moves through the nearshore waters of tidal marshes, eelgrass meadows, submerged seaweed, and oyster reefs. It feeds on microscopic algae, decaying plant and animal matter, small crustaceans, and marine worms. Although barely 1.5 inches long, grass shrimp are a vital food source for many marine fish, including striped bass, bluefish, scup (porgy), red drum, weakfish, blackfish, winter flounder, killifish, and mummichogs. Blue crabs, wading birds, and waterfowl also eat them. The shrimp’s constant kicking creates vibrations that attract predators, and injured shrimp release chemicals that draw hungry marine animals. Because of their tiny size, grass shrimp are not considered food for humans; they are mainly used as fishing bait.
Long Island Sound has two species of shrimp: daggerblade shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) and marsh grass shrimp (Palaemonetes vulgaris). They both serve as great bait for catching a wide variety of marine and freshwater fish. However, correctly attaching the shrimp bait to the right type and size of hook is an important way to keep it alive.
Using a thin-wire fishhook, attach the grass shrimp by inserting it under the shell, just in front of the tail fan. Gently pass it horizontally through the crustacean and up through the top of its shell. If you hook it from the front of the head, insert it just below the spine, making sure to avoid the dark brain spot, near the top of the shell (just behind the eyes). Inserting the hook through the front allows the shrimp to swim more naturally. By avoiding rear-hooking, the creature can still snap its tail, an escape mechanism it uses to avoid predators. But the sound and vibration of the snap can attract hungry fish. A live bait J-hook, between size #4 and #2/0, is often recommended as ideal. The small size allows the shrimp to swim naturally; its movements attract more fish. Be sure to set up the barb to help hold your bait. Some fishermen opt to use a treble hook. It might allow more freedom of movement for the shrimp.
A popping cork is a recommended rig that helps attract several inshore species of fish, such as flounder, striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, and blackfish. Made of cork, plastic, or Styrofoam, the device’s cupped end and sliding beads installed above and below the cork create a sound that mimics the sound of feeding fish when the fishing rod is snapped. The sound and vibration have been described as a dinner bell for nearby fish. When setting up a popping cork, tie a 6 to 8-inch monofilament leader above the cork. It helps prevent a mainline tangle. Then use an 18 to 24-inch fluorocarbon leader from the bottom of the cork to the hook.
Using grass shrimp bait, striped bass (rockfish) can frequently be caught in coastal marshes, grass flats and tidal creeks. It is generally recommended to hook 3 to 6 shrimps at a time, up through their tail and work them up the hook shank. The multiple shrimps make them more visible. Chumming with live or a few shrimp parts is also a great way to attract hungry striped bass.
During an ebb tide, bluefish actively feed on grass shrimps swept out by the currents from salt marshes, tidal creeks and eelgrass beds. The best sites for catching them are salt marsh edges, dock pilings and jetties. This is especially true for snapper blues (young-of-the-year). Similar to striped bass fishing, using a thin wire hook, such as #4 to 1/0, threading 3 to 6 shrimps on the hook. A fly rod or a light spinning rod works best. Like striped bass, chumming with a few live shrimps helps to get action.
The mild, sweet-tasting weakfish (sea trout) gets its name from a mouth that tears easily. Unlike “fishy” tasting bluefish, weakfish rates as one of the best-tasting fish caught in Long Island Sound. The species makes its appearance in the Sound during late June through mid-September. The seasonal cooling waters then drive it back out to warmer seas. Grass shrimp work well as bait, as do sandworms. They most likely bite at dusk into the early evening. Chumming squid is yet another means of attracting the species. In Long Island Sound, most weakfish landed by anglers are 4 to 16 inches in length, weighing between 1 and 1.5 or more pounds.
Porgies (scup), known as frequent bait-stealers, generally return to Long Island Sound by early May and remain until the cooling waters of late September. Because of their small mouths, grass shrimps work well as bait. Using a sharp hook, size #4 to 1/0, it is best to thread 2 to 3 shrimp on the same hook. Cut up clams, squid and sandworm also work as bait.
Winter flounders are bottom feeders with a very small mouth. Popping cork rigs do not work well for them. Chestertown long shank hooks, 4, 6 and #8 are ideal. Live grass shrimp are frequently used as bait. Thread one or two of them through the bottom of their tail with the hook point fully exposed. Clams, mussels and sandworms also work well. The best season for catching them is in the early spring, late March to May and during the winter, December through February. They feed most actively during the increased currents of the mid-tide. Winter flounders are also one of the Sound’s best-tasting fish.
Catching Grass Shrimp
Live grass shrimp can be purchased from many bait shops, but capturing them on your own makes it more certain to have fresh and lively bait. Using a fine-mesh, long-handle dip-net, walk their normal habitat, sweeping the net in the shallows, near the base of the vegetation. The best time to retrieve the number of needed shrimps is during a receding tide. Also, try the net in shaded areas around docks and bridge pilings, running it along their edges. Minnow traps filled with a small amount of dry cat or dog food can work as well. When retrieving them from a net or trap, avoid hand contact as much as possible. Any lotion on your hand can kill the critter. If possible, use a small aquarium net to transfer them into a water-filled container. To keep them alive, do not hold more than 10 to 12 shrimp in a 1-gallon bucket. It is best to use one that is insulated and filled with seawater from which you retrieved them. Next, add some pieces of local seagrass for them to cling to and use a small battery-operated bubbler to keep them well aerated. Keep the bucket in the shade to avoid overheating the water, which kills the shrimp.
Try grass shrimp bait. You’ll be rewarded with the results!