While the big trout opener will garner a lot of the attention of many outdoor enthusiasts, quietly another opener will happen a week before the “big one.” Though not as popular it has its die-hard followers and if you already fish or crab local waters, you will only need a small investment to enjoy the fun.

Recreational shrimping has been gaining popularity, but I doubt that it will ever match the big trout opener. Many of you already know that many of local waters have some very good crabbing and the same goes for shrimp. Not to compare with some of the major shrimp fisheries of Puget Sound, but for the weekend shrimper there are places worth a look.

Before we talk about where, you need to know what equipment you need. This is a boat-only affair. These little buggers live in some very deep water and there is just no other way to get to them without a boat. You don’t need a large yacht, but be practical when choosing a craft. Last summer was very tragic in area waters so please use a boat large enough to keep you safe. Keep an eye on the weather and always wear a personal floatation device.

The other major item you will need is a trap. If you crab, you have an idea of what a trap is. It is basically a wire mesh box or cylinder with conical shaped openings that allow shrimp to enter, but make it difficult to escape. Most pots are weighted, but to get to some of the depth additional weight may need to be added. To the trap you will need weighted line. Since the depths will vary from 100 to 300 feet, ensure you have plenty. It needs to be weighted, because if you have 300 feet of line and are shrimping in 200 feet of water, there will be plenty of line floating on the surface to become entangled in passing boat motors. Then you will need a buoy. A buoy must be made of durable material; please do not use antifreeze jugs, milk containers or old bleach bottles as buoys. These have a tendency to break apart and litter our beaches.

If you plan to leave your pots unattended, they must be yellow and visible from all sides. In addition, they must be clearly labeled with your name and address. You can shop around and put together a rig, or to make it easier many of our local sporting goods dealers have complete setups for sale. Purchase a couple of these and you are ready to start shrimping.

Now you cannot just throw the pot and expect the little guys to give up freely. There are many bait concoctions that people swear by and I would need an entire article to write about the ones I have heard about.

You can find some commercial bait at the sporting goods store or talk to one of the old salts about his homemade variety. For me, I was given sure-fire bait many years ago and it always worked for me. It may be difficult to find, but you can experiment, as you like. I would take a piece of PVC pipe and seal one end. Drill holes throughout the pipe and find a cap for the other end. Load the pipe with Puss ‘n Boots fisherman’s blend cat food. I have tried other varieties, but this brand worked the best for me. It is a very easy system for handling bait. You can make up your tubes before you leave and just load and go when you get to your favorite spot.

So now that you have the taste for some fresh scampi where do you go? You need not motor all day to get into some productive waters. One of my favorite places to go is just off Onamac Point off Camano Island. There is a shelf that drops down to depths in excess of 200 feet. I have routinely had success in this area. Mark your depths and drop your pots. Give it about 15-20 minutes, then check your traps. You may need to move a bit until you find good concentrations of shrimp.

Other areas to look at are Elliott and Browns Bay near Edmonds. Some of the best areas are around Possession and Elger Bay areas near Everett. Look for entrances to narrow channels, like area around Gedney Island. The islands can be very good for shrimping, but strong currents can wreak havoc if you don’t weight your traps properly. Check your tide tables for times when the tides are weak. If this is not possible, head out to have your traps set one hour before to one hour after slack tide.

The recreational shrimp season will open on April 20 for local waters. Consult the current regulations for bag limits, descriptions, and dates in other areas of Puget Sound.

Seafood is always best when you can get it fresh, and there is no better shrimp dinner than ones you caught that afternoon.