Hood Canal Spot Shrimp 101

Note: As of June 1, retain the heads in the field (in May you can toss em). I've been shrimping 15 or 16 times since my initial spot shrimp quest. Here's what I've learned, friends!

[@WAFishQuest]

Please note: Heads must be retained in the field after June 1. So retain those heads! In May you can chuck em, June 1 and after you have to retrain in the field.

[@FishKepr]

I showed my Mom this video and she said that the heads make excellent shrimp stock.

[@SoundFishing2020]

Thanks, Blake. No matter the species, when I want to know how to catch something, you're the first person I think of. Excellent video, brother!

[@btm11109]

Thanks again Blake! Great video and glad you are back. Makes me proud to be a PNW’er even if I am displaced in CA now.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks a ton! WA respresent! I hope CA is treating you well!

[@gapper509]

Hey Blake! I have the Scotty puller myself and although I love it as it pulls really well, my back hated heaving the pots over the side of the boat. I had an aluminum extension made to lift the pot puller higher off the side of the boat on the downrigger mount. By doing so I lift the put up high as I can then just pivot the entire pot puller on its mount and swing the entire works 180° and lay the pot right on the floor. It was cheap to have it built and my back loves me for it!! Just sharing! Tight lines, Buddy!

[@WAFishQuest]

That's a great share! I really appreciate it. Maybe I'll get that set up this winter!

[@gapper509]

@@WAFishQuest If there is a way to share a photo, I can do that. Definitely a game changer. Take care, Blake!

[@wojomojo]

As a fellow Asian I can tell that Shingo (?) is well trained in Ninja-Do, which is why he can't be identified on camera and moves as quietly as a mouse. Of all Ninjas, the selected few who have boats are the best ninjas, so consider yourself fortunate!

[@WAFishQuest]

Definitely glad he's on my side! I-I think...

[@bobsnextadventure]

Love it, not only super informative. Very well put together! Thanks for sharing!👍

[@WAFishQuest]

thanks a ton Bob!

[@e.h.3002]

I am a long time fisherman in Washington it's great to see people shrimping a good spot to go to is squim there is no time limit there if you drop your pots close to protection island around 200ft yull pull up 100+ shrimp per pot also coho fishing is really good a sekiu now and in squim the limit per person is 120 to bad its closed now

[@WAFishQuest]

Well that sounds even better! Thanks for sharing! I do spend a few nights at Flaggler most years. Which you know, pretty close.

[@e.h.3002]

@@WAFishQuest coho fishing in sekiu is really good at the moment just drop the line down about 60 to 90ft with a coho killer or green hoochie in the morning pink hoochie in the afternoon yull catch them all day the king salmon fishing there just slowed down but you can still catch 9-10lb kings every now and so but salmon fishing is bomb for coho at the moment tho I'm am chasing kings at the moment 😂keep fishing!🤙king salmon have been coming late this year king fishing is quite slow but cohos are really good fishing now

[@WAFishQuest]

@@e.h.3002 thanks for letting me know! I probably won't be able to get up there until late August, but glad the Cohos are already in!

[@babywueso]

When’s the best time to shrimp there?

[@nate.or.nodate]

Very informative! Great content as always!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Nate! I appreciate it!

[@Mo_Taser]

Great video. I fish for them up off Vancouver Island, among other things.

[@WAFishQuest]

That's awesome Mo! Thanks for the comment! Wishing you full traps in 2023. 🤙

[@chichixixi99]

love your videos… keep it up!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks Chris!

[@lisalisalisa7721]

Always save the heads to make stock. Yum

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks! When I've tried they taste like cat food. But I know other people save them and do just fine!

[@spiltmilt]

Tons of information in here! Nice job.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you sir!

[@maniactre]

Man i think i need to start doing this rather than buying em at the store. i guess at the long wrong i’ll be spending nothing but time and maybe few dollars for the bait. Paying 25 to 30 bucks a pound or buying 4 cages? i’d def go shrimping. Great vid man! i learned a lot

[@SledorFish]

Sautee in butter and olive with mushrooms, basil, garlic, and a little squeeze of lemon. Pour over your favorite kind of spaghetti noodle and enjoy. This is my favorite recipe for spot prawns.

[@WAFishQuest]

Nice! Thanks for sharing it!!

[@AaronSprague1]

So much good info.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks a ton Aaron!!

[@cobia1794]

Thanks for the post, I really appreciate it!...

[@WAFishQuest]

You're welcome thanks for watching!

[@localparfait]

This is another awesome video, you'll have to let us know how they grill up!

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks a ton Andrew! They are great!

[@ianmiranda4637]

After using cat food and my secret bait. My secret bait caught shrimp doesn’t taste like cat food anymore. Hahahahaha

[@Melaqua]

Rules say you need to retain heads while in the field. They are also excellent deep fried. As well make for a good shrimp stock

[@WAFishQuest]

That was my understnading for years, Melaqua. But they must have changed it. If you look at the 20-21 regs page 142 it states "Shrimp heads may be removed while in the field, prior to coming ashore." Wardens have told me the same, because up to about 5 years ago I did save the heads, and they told me I didn't need to. thanks for watching and commenting!

[@WAFishQuest]

wait-- you are right! June 1, it changes. Usually, the Hood Canal season is just in May! COVID pushed it this year.

[@Melaqua]

Ahh good to know, like your videos!!

[@Melaqua]

Washington Fish Quest we did remove them in the field we just kept them in separate bag.

[@WAFishQuest]

@@Melaqua unfortunately I can't put a note in the video anymore. But I'll put it in the description and a pinned comment. Hopefully, a warden would be understanding, since the purpose of the rule is to not smuggle spot shrimp, but in Hood Canal, ONLY spot shrimp is open.

[@garychiang2568]

Posts locations on a great KZbin channel. Wonders why places get so busy. Oh the curse of success!

[@WAFishQuest]

Ha! Yeah. Yeah... part of why I shared so much on this one is I love Hoodsport and hope people will spend their monies there. Thanks as always!

[@outdoorloser4340]

Can't wait for the next one! Octopus maybe?

[@WAFishQuest]

Maybe some day! I used to catch them shrimping. If you take the grating off the entrance to the shrimp pot, they'll enter the cage.

[@porterspnwadventures610]

Another helpful video. Where do you launch your boat near Hoodsport?

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you! Union launch.

[@Nwfisher]

Is this a 15’ Smokercraft Alaskan? I’m looking at getting one maybe and this seems like a great size for shrimp, crab, and salmon. Thanks for the great videos!

[@WAFishQuest]

Hey Neil! You nailed it!

[@thomasdevecchis6385]

Make a video on your favorite shrimp recipes!!!

[@WAFishQuest]

Sure! I'll do that this fall/winter maybe!

[@chucksmith9772]

Nice video

[@WAFishQuest]

Thank you Chuck! I appreciate it!

[@chucksmith9772]

How did you end up doing on Wednesday? We fought for our 4 limits at edmonds

[@jonahv9572]

Shrimps! 🦐

[@nixonvlark6390]

Love your videos. You ever get to fishing in the North Easter part of the sound?

[@WAFishQuest]

Rarely. I loathe I-5! But maybe once every two years or so.

[@nixonvlark6390]

Washington Fish Quest I don’t blame you. There’s always up the peninsula and across the Port Townsend ferry. A quest to the San Juan’s would be awesome to see. You have the best Washington Fishing channel. It’s not bragging or boasting like the rest. Just a guy who Loves to Fish

[@Royinwa]

I launch at Salisbury Park and go down to Dabob bay or launch from Seabeck... Wilson Point in Quilceene Bay is also a great area...

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks a ton Mr. Da Fishhead. Great to know!

[@c.montgomery6442]

I tried cat food for crabbing once out in Sequim Bay with no luck.

[@WAFishQuest]

Good to know! I will not try that then. Appreciate the Intel!

[@ryeinn6971]

Can you ever get shrimp off a dock or are they never their?

[@NST50cc]

can we ever win a trip with you... snorkeling trip that would be awesome

[@WAFishQuest]

I do need snorkel buddies!

[@somecostcoguy]

Helpful hint tho, is it is required that you need to have weighted line out there, floating is actually a no-go.

[@WAFishQuest]

Thanks. Even with line weights? News to me! Maybe I'll see you out there next season.

[@ThaxorSmash]

any experience with coonstripe or pink shrimp? It's open down here in 13. Was thinking combo shrimp nisqually jigging trip.

[@WAFishQuest]

if you watch my second "as the crab pot turns" you'll see some coonstripe enter the crab pot. That pot was dropped in East Oro Bay in Anderson Island. But I'll be danged if I can get those coonstripe to actually enter my shrimp pots! (I've tried twice... have the smaller meshed pots too)... Outside of that, I haven't targetted them.

[@gapper509]

Where do you launch your boat near Hoodsport?

[@WAFishQuest]

Union ramp. I've used Skokomish launch too but it's shutdown now.

[@ryanmcwade3371]

@@WAFishQuestI’ve always dropped pots further north near Seabeck. Did you drop pots near Hoodsport?

[@husseinal-asadi3674]

Is that your new boat? How do you like it?

[@WAFishQuest]

No sir, that's my buddy Shingo's. Smokercraft Alaskan. It be a fine vessel!

[@husseinal-asadi3674]

Looks like a good boat for the Sound. Just have to watch out for those 5 foot cargo ship wakes!

[@joelcr250]

my favorite part was when the shrimp.

[@WAFishQuest]

Well then you had to wait awhile. :P thanks for watching!

[@somecostcoguy]

You area almost adjacent from where I go! I usually try to avoid that point n Union

[@WAFishQuest]

Nice! Bet we'll see each other out there sometime!

[@wishiniwasfishin6960]

my town lol

[@WAFishQuest]

Heck yeah! Great place! I seriously may retire their or Union.

[@wishiniwasfishin6960]

@@WAFishQuest lots of good fishing

[@c4snipar]

$35/lb better keep those heads and deep fried them.

[@WAFishQuest]

When I've tried keeping the heads, bellies full of cat food has been a deterrent. I may try switching up bait to see if that helps.

[@brodiwheeler7583]

Don’t take the heads off!! That’s the best part! 🦐

[@WAFishQuest]

I've tried making broth, but comes out like whatever bait I'm using. Any tips?

[@brodiwheeler7583]

Washington Fish Quest I guess if you’re using cat food as bait, then that’s going to be on the head/guts... I just love cooking them with the heads on because it imparts so much more shrimp flavor, and sucking the heads is delicious... although that’s with ones that didn’t recently feed on cat food or some other bait concoction. I’m sure it must be hard to gamble on another bait cuz you only have a short window and you know what works, but maybe just some fish from the freezer? Cool video regardless, exciting to see you pull up some full pots! 🤙🏼

[@juliemanarin4127]

Wow...crappy LOW LIMITS

[@kashfiqbal]

Ngl $500 for the Scotty is a bit of a ripoff for what it is. $300-$350 would be more appropriate considering its capability. I picked up the ace for $650 recently, Scotty works just fine if you can’t justify the extra cash but in terms of value per dollar definitely seems lower

[@WAFishQuest]

You ain't wrong! It's dang near bulletproof is it's greatest asset. I assume the Ace is too tho. But agreed, the price is crazytown. And this was filmed way pre-suoer inflation. Thanks for the comment!