Whether you’re an experienced angler or just getting into fishing, having access to live shrimp is a must for successful inshore saltwater fishing. The lively action and tantalizing scent of live shrimp attracts fish and triggers instinctive predatory strikes. But with most bait shops only open during daytime hours, where can you buy live shrimp when you want to get an early start on a productive day of fishing? Read on for tips on finding reliable sources for fresh, lively live shrimp bait any time you need it.
The Importance of Live Shrimp for Inshore Fishing
Before covering where to source live shrimp let’s quickly discuss why live shrimp is such an effective bait choice
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Irresistible Movement – The swimming and darting actions of live shrimp set off a prey drive response in predatory fish. This reactionary strike often hooks fish better than dead bait.
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Scent Dispersal – Live shrimp release appetizing scents into the water that act like a dinner bell for hungry fish in the area
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Duration – Live shrimp stay lively on the hook longer than dead bait, keeping the irresistible actions and scents going for extended periods
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Visual Appeal – The shapes, colors and movements of live shrimp closely mimic the natural foods fish are adapted to feed on.
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Versatility – Live shrimp work for numerous inshore species like trout, redfish, flounder and more. Their popularity makes them a universal go-to bait.
Clearly, having a supply of lively shrimp is a major advantage for successful inshore fishing. But shrimp are most lively when sourced freshly, making accessibility a challenge. So where are the best options for getting your hands on live shrimp when you need it?
Local Bait Shops – Fresh But Limited Hours
The first place most anglers think of for buying live shrimp and bait is their local bait shop or tackle store. These shops are great when open, as they often stock freshly caught local shrimp. However, their major downside is limited hours that don’t cater to early-rising or after-work anglers. Most bait shops open at 5 or 6am and close in the early evening.
If you want to get on the water before sunrise or after a 9 to 5 workday, stopping by the bait shop for live shrimp likely isn’t an option. You’ll be forced to either buy dead frozen shrimp that are less effective, or forego shrimp altogether.
So while bait shops are a top choice when timing allows, their hours ultimately constrain sourcing live shrimp when it’s most convenient for many anglers’ schedules.
Fishing Piers – Accessible Live Shrimp Supply
Public fishing piers are another place you’ll often find live shrimp available for purchase thanks to bait vending machines and concessions stands. The perk of piers is most are open 24 hours a day or have extended overnight hours to cater to night fishermen.
This makes piers a convenient option for sourcing live shrimp early in the morning before your local bait shop opens. Instead of an out-of-the-way trip to the bait store, simply stop by the pier on your way to your fishing spot and grab shrimp from the vending machines.
The downside is fishing piers don’t always keep the vending machines freshly stocked. Inventory and freshness can be hit or miss. And selection is often limited to basic shrimp without other live bait options. Still, piers are a reasonably reliable option for early risers aiming to get live shrimp before dawn.
Live Shrimp Delivery Services – Shrimp Right to Your Door
A newer trend that solves the accessibility issue of traditional bait shops are live shrimp delivery services. These companies ship fresh live shrimp overnight right to your door, enabling you to stock up on live bait whenever it’s convenient for your schedule. No waking up at the crack of dawn for a bait run required!
Ordering is simple – just visit the company’s website, choose your desired shrimp size and quantity, provide shipping info, and your lively shrimp shipment arrives the next day. Prices are reasonable, especially considering the convenience and reliability factors.
The only downsides are needing to order a day in advance, and that most shrimp arrive via USPS, so you need to be home to receive the shipment or have them held at a post office. But with a bit of planning, live shrimp delivery takes the guesswork out of sourcing great bait.
Members-Only Live Shrimp Vending – 24/7 Access
On the complete opposite end of the accessibility spectrum from traditional bait shops are unique 24/7 live shrimp vending machines that provide members with self-service purchasing.
These vending machine operations are stocked with continuously circulating live shrimp and allow members 24 hour access for ultimate convenience. No more crossing your fingers that the bait shop is open when you swing by early in the morning!
Members can visit any time of day or night and grab live shrimp themselves via secure access keys or apps. This on-demand functionality brings unmatched reliability for sourcing lively shrimp. No worrying about stores being closed, inventory being sold out, or dealing with store hours.
The tradeoff is vending machines have limited inventory compared to fully-stocked bait stores. But for anglers prioritizing accessibility over selection, they offer a revolutionary shrimp-getting solution.
Catch Your Own – Guaranteed Freshness
Finally, the hands-on approach of catching your own live shrimp guarantees peak freshness and control over size. Cast netting shrimp or setting bait traps are great ways to independently source lively shrimp from local waters. And it saves money by cutting out the bait shop middleman.
The drawbacks are the time and learning curve. It takes practice to effectively cast net shrimp consistently. And setting multiple shrimp traps is time intensive. But for self-reliant anglers, DIY shrimp catching means ultimate freshness and freedom.
Get Your Live Shrimp and Get Fishing!
As any experienced angler knows, success on the water depends heavily on bait. And lively shrimp is as good as it gets for inshore fishing. The key is reliable, convenient access to fresh live shrimp when you need it. Local bait shops, fishing piers, home delivery, vending machines, and DIY catching all offer workable solutions. Evaluate the options and choose the method that best fits your schedule, budget and bait needs. Then get out on the water and start reeling in the big catches that quality live shrimp makes possible!
Product details Great for saltwater fishing. Weighted internally for an ideal swimming action with a flash foil tail and a premium VMC® needle point hook. Natural color patterns and a life-like swimming action plus tough yet soft outer body this bait looks and feels like a real shrimp.
- Natural color patterns
- Rigged with a premium VMC® needle point hook
- Shrimp scent
- Life-like swimming action
- Holographic swimmin flash foil
- Strong soft body with internal lead head
| Model Number | Body Length | Jig Weight | Single Hook Size | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLSP03 | 3″ | 1/4 oz. | 3 | 3 |
Rigging Live Shrimp In The Head vs. Tail (Best Way To Rig Shrimp)
Where can I buy freshwater shrimp?
Find Everything You Need To Start Your Freshwater Fishkeeping Hobby From The USA’s Largest Online Retailer Of Freshwater Shrimp, Fish & Livestock! Flip Aquatics is the largest freshwater shrimp retailer in the USA. Their specialty is in all things nano related; shrimp, fish, snails and plants.
Should you use live shrimp for bait?
Here are some reasons why you might want to use live shrimp for bait: In the video below I’ll show you where I was fishing, why I chose that area, how to rig shrimp for more bites, and the best strategies to catch fish with them. Enjoy! P.S.
What are live bait shrimp?
In the winter our live bait shrimp are often Pink Shrimp (Hoppers) which transition to mostly Brown Shrimp during the spring and early summer. Once the heat of summer settles in and fall begins to take us back towards the winter our live bait shrimp inventory is mostly made up of White Shrimp with a few Brownies and Hoppers mixed in.
How much does freshwater aquarium shrimp & supplies cost?
Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp & Supplies FLAT SHIPPING rate of $11.99 on all orders! Shrimp keeping’s popularity is growing across North America! The Shrimp Farm has specialized in freshwater aquarium shrimpsince 2005 and has since grown into its largest U.S. retailer.