Summer shrimping is seasonal in Central Florida (Volusia County). The white shrimp run during the day and are caught by deploying a cast net. The season typically starts June/July and can last from weeks to months in the S. Daytona Beach area.
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What Are Summer Shrimp? – The summer shrimp are also called mud shrimp and the “white” or “gray” species. Their signature tail is blue and green, they molt a lot and can be soft feeling. Their antennae are much longer than Oak hill winter brown & pink species.
Where Do They Live? – Summer shrimp live on the bottom and crawl along the mud. They don’t swim up or down the water column very often. Boaters locate the troops on their depth finder and cast net into the mark. See pictures below.
How Far South Are They Found? – You can catch them between Ponce Inlet and Matanzas Inlet, which is along the coast from Jacksonville to Georgia.
Intercoastal way from S. Daytona (Big Tree area) North to Georgia. Channel markers 42-51 are the popular ones in Volusia County. Shrimp appear late June to early July.
They do not stay long and can leave the area in a matter of weeks. The cast net on the left has duck tape webbing added to it, and the pink net below has sewn-in webbing to keep the net open longer. Shrimp are caught when the tide is going out.
When to Go? – During the day, take a boat or stand on a pier. At night, start at Granada Pier when the tides are stronger because of the full moon or new moon, or after it rains to help flush them out.
Where: Most people like to go north of the Granada Bridge, the High Bridge, SR 100, and Big Tree. Once they leave the Flagler they head to Jacksonville and stay through October sometimes.
What do they live in? – During the day, they live in the mud and grass flats and shallows. In the evenings, they move into the deeper water of the channel with the current, but some of them never leave the inlet.
What do I need? A boat, a bucket, a depth finder, a cast net (webbing is best), and a pier under the Granada Bridge in Ormond. Bring a bucket for getting rid of unwanted fish, jellies, bait fish, etc. that you can drop the net’s contents into and sort through. ) and return back to the river.
Find them by using a depth finder on your boat. Any depth finder will do, even cheap ones. Many people like pixels (dots) because they are easier to see. Look for groups of dots on the bottom.
Note: Jagged Line is bottom, white above it means NO SHRIMP in water column, do NOT cast
This picture (below to the right) shows the bottom and a small “troop” (cluster) on the river bottom. Look at the thickest part of the jagged line, the thick part signal shrimp movement. If you cast on this small cluster you will get “few” shrimp because the troop is small. Compare the NO shrimp picture to this picture showing small amount of shrimp.
Do I Need a License? – Yes, you need a license to fish in saltwater, and each boat can only have 5 gallons of fish caught with heads on per day.
When you see a ton of dots on your sonar make sure the “troops” are on the bottom. It’s likely that the cloud of activity you see is bait fish if it’s higher in the water column. White shrimp crawl more than they swim. You should sometimes cast on higher marks because the shrimp can get mixed up with bait fish like menhaden. ). Especially when the marks extend to the bottom structure.
The picture on the left shows that this sonar is “lit up” with a lot of shrimp moving around this boat. Study these 3 sonar pictures and set your sonar to high “sensitivity” in your settings.
This is the most common sonar diagram for color devices. Note the thick dark red bottom below the depth number showing 13. 4 ft.
The shrimp is the “cloud” next to the number “4” in the 13. 4 depth number. It is oval and right at the bottom line. Those are shrimp. The other red and orange “clouds” way above the bottom line are probably bait, but shrimp are sometimes caught by accident.
Scalloping reports on Facebook at the “Florida Shrimping Academy – Tips & Tricks™”. CLICK HERE. This is the largest group for shrimping, scalloping, lobstering and gator hunting.
Based on research by Capt. Lee Noga, the MacDaddy Smart Light® is the first high-tech fishing light to be given a utility patent (2021) for more than one mode.
This light is the top selling light for shrimping in Florida for performance, warranty and technology. Several light modes let you change the biologicals to get more shrimp and get rid of unwanted bait and predatory fish.
Shrimping is a popular recreational activity in Florida that allows anglers to catch their own wild shrimp. However, shrimp seasons and peak times vary in different parts of the state. This article will provide a complete guide on when and where shrimp run in Florida so you can plan your shrimping trips accordingly.
Overview of Shrimp Species and Habitats in Florida
There are three main species of shrimp targeted by recreational shrimpers in Florida
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White shrimp – Most abundant. Found in coastal waters and inland bays. Peak seasons are summer and fall.
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Pink shrimp – Second most common, Prefer shallow sandy/muddy areas Peak seasons are spring and winter
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Brown shrimp – Least common. Live in deeper waters offshore. Peak season is winter.
Shrimp thrive in estuarine environments where rivers meet the sea. They are found around seagrass beds, marshes, and mangrove areas that provide food and shelter. Popular shrimping locations in Florida include:
- Mosquito Lagoon
- Indian River Lagoon
- Banana River
- Tampa Bay
- Apalachee Bay
- St. Johns River
Shrimp Seasons in North Florida
North Florida sees shrimp activity from spring through fall with peaks in the summer and winter. Here are the general shrimp seasons for major regions:
Panhandle (Pensacola to Apalachicola)
- White shrimp: Mid June – November
- Brown shrimp: December – February
- Pink shrimp: March – May
The fall is the best time to catch white shrimp in the Panhandle while winter and early spring are ideal for targeting brown and pink shrimp.
Big Bend (Apalachicola to Crystal River)
- White shrimp: July – December
- Brown shrimp: December – March
- Pink shrimp: April – June
Big Bend sees more defined separation between white shrimp in the late summer/fall months and brown/pink shrimp during winter and spring.
Northeast Florida (St. Johns River and Jacksonville)
- White shrimp: July – December
- Brown shrimp: November – March
- Pink shrimp: March – May
The St. Johns River near Jacksonville has a long shrimping season from mid-summer through spring. White shrimp peak in fall while brown and pink shrimp are abundant in winter and early spring.
Shrimp Seasons in Central Florida
Central Florida from Crystal River to Melbourne provides some of the most popular winter shrimping in the state. Here are the general seasons:
- White shrimp: June – October
- Brown shrimp: December – February
- Pink shrimp: January – April
Winter is the prime shrimping season in Central Florida targeting brown and pink shrimp. Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River see the most shrimp boat traffic from December through February.
The Indian River Lagoon also produces nice shrimp but more in the early spring months of February to April. The white shrimp run starts later in June and lasts into early fall before it gets too cold.
Shrimp Seasons in South Florida
South Florida has warmer weather that allows both winter and summer shrimp seasons:
Southeast Florida (Palm Beach to Miami)
- White shrimp: March – November
- Brown shrimp: October – April
- Pink shrimp: Year-round
Shrimp can be caught throughout much of the year in Southeast Florida. White shrimp peak in the summer months while brown shrimp are abundant in the fall and winter. Pinks are common year-round.
Southwest Florida (Tampa Bay to Naples)
- White shrimp: June – December
- Brown shrimp: December – February
- Pink shrimp: February – April
The shrimp seasons in Tampa Bay and southwest Florida are similar to central Florida with whites in the summer/fall and brown/pinks in the winter/spring. But the seasons start and end a few weeks earlier in the warmer south.
Best Times to Catch Shrimp in Florida
While shrimp can be caught year-round in parts of Florida, here are some general guidelines for peak shrimping:
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May: Shrimp activity starts to pick up along the northeast and Big Bend coasts.
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June-July: White shrimp become abundant from the Panhandle to Jacksonville areas.
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August-September: Prime season for white shrimp from Apalachicola to Cape Canaveral.
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October: White shrimp still strong on southwest coast. Browns start running along Atlantic coast.
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November-December: Peak winter shrimping for brown and pink shrimp from the Big Bend to Palm Beach region.
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January-February: Browns and pinks continue to run well on both coasts from Crystal River to Miami area.
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March-April: End of season in north Florida. Still decent pink shrimping from Cape Canaveral south.
HOW TO CATCH SHRIMP AT NIGHT- Florida Night Time Shrimping At Its Best!!
When is the best time to catch shrimp in Florida?
The best setting for a successful shrimping experience is low tide when the outgoing water pulls shrimp to marshy areas. Tides change depending on the time of day, so it is important to check your local weather report to find the best time to catch shrimp in Florida. Where to Catch Shrimp in Florida for the Best Results?
When does the winter shrimp run start in Florida?
The winter shrimp run happens around Florida at different times for different regions but in general the runs start at the beginning of winter and run into spring. The further north in the state you are the sooner the run tends to begin and the further south the later. Keep an eye on water temperatures. Capt. Lee Noga says:
When do pink shrimp run in Florida?
Select your shrimping spot along the intracoastal based on where and when the shrimp are running. On the east coast of Florida, shrimp are typically on the move from October through June. On the west coast, they run July and August. Pink shrimp generally live in clear water, especially in the area from west-central to southeast Florida.
What is Florida’s Winter shrimping?
Florida’s Winter Shrimping is a popular sport among Florida anglers ShrimpNFishFlorida™ Members catch Florida’s, “Pinkish Red & Brown”Shrimp at night using, Dip nets, Frame nets, Cast nets, Traps, along with Green LED shrimp lights From Boats, Docks Seawalls and Piers