Ledgering Prawn`s

[Neilcox]

Anybody tried ledgering Prawn, my Brother down tides from his boat (ten yards from the shore) on a Bass mark and they out fish Peeler most of the time.
I have float fished them and had excellent results.

If you put two or three on, hooked through the tail they don’t seem to get on, hence a lot of movement/vibrations which attract the fish.
Obviously no good on whack of 100yrds or more but a gentle flick will see them staying on.

I just wonder if a bait as plentiful as Prawns are very under used...

[Portland Pirate]

I think that Prawn is without a doubt one of the best live baits available. I have caught more Bass on live prawn than anything else with the exception of plugging.
I use Live prawn from the boat on the drift and anchored up. I also use it float fished from the shore. It is great down the side of pilings and harbour walls. It takes a lot of Pollock and Wrasse as well. The two major downsides to it is that it does not cast very well and it is a one hit wonder. If you miss the bite you need to rebait straight away. I normally only use a single prawn unless they are small. I use a size 2 Kamasan and hook it through the tail.

[MRG2000]

One of my regular anglers ,brought along Tiger prawns last summer and had 4 double figure Smoothounds in four sucessive casts over a half hour period.He was gutted he`d only brought the 4 prawns.They definatly work,i`ll be takin a couple of pound for bait when the smoothies arive in May....

[John Marshall]

Originally Posted by Charter Skipper

One of my regular anglers ,brought along Tiger prawns last summer and had 4 double figure Smoothounds in four sucessive casts over a half hour period.He was gutted he`d only brought the 4 prawns.They definatly work,i`ll be takin a couple of pound for bait when the smoothies arive in May....

Shell on Dave?... no I'm not tacking the mickey, just never used prawns as bait.

[Neilcox]

Going to get some pots this year so have a look at these....

http://interextrading.com/large_multi_catch.htm

Fancy the no3 for around £20.00. folds up nicely just add a rope and weightbait..... prawns/edibles/lobsters the world is your oyster...

[big guy]

there's cylinder ones on ebay i've brought 4 for a mate to use on his boat. he's gonna put them in this weekend so i'll let you know if they work.

the 4 pots cost just over £35. bargain imo.

[Greenheart]

Been meaning to get a small pot to try for freshwater crayfish. I wonder how they would work as sea bait?

[tommy a]

Sorry to be naive chaps but our boat will be in Exmouth this summer so how do I go about getting fresh prawns for fishing ?

Do I need to buy a net or pot and if so what do I do with it then? Are the prawns any good for the bass over wrecks and the pollack by the rocks ?

I havent the vaguest idea so if someone can advise that would be great. Also Mike I assume the tiger prawns for the hounds were frozen ones ?

Thanks for any help.

[big guy]

either leave a pot over the side of a boat or find a sandy beach and use a shrimp net to get a load.

i'm gonna use any i get this summer to be fished uder a small float, on freshwater gear for the bass in the harbour. should be good fun.

[Neilcox]

Ok Guy’s here are my tips for getting Prawn’s (Margate Humps)

LW Springs, Use a small triangle shaped net on solid handle (Rock Hopper)look for the Kelp, if it is daylight and the water is clear the P`s will be under the Kelp sometimes in just inches of water. (Hiding from predators)

If the water is coloured they will be more scattered and a larger net will be needed (A Shrimp net is good but it maybe difficult to push because of rocky ground)

Obviously the sea needs to be calm. Calmer the better.

If you go at night there eyes reflect the light and you can even tell how big they are by the width of there eyes.

Use a square drop net on piers at LW and drag it against the wall through the kelp/bladderwack. You may get the occasional Peeler /Velvet; i sometimes get enough for small fishing session.

I have had prawns in a baited drop net at HW of piers; they seem to be of larger size but less in numbers. (You also get Ponga`s (edibles) in some places and if your really lucky Mr Lobster.

Never used a Pot, seen a few creeping in at my " Secret Place" and I had a little look inside a couple, there were loads of the buggers and they were all BIG, all big BUCKS so me thinks it must be a sort of domineering type of thing.

As for the time of the year I have always found SEPT/OCT is when they seem to be the largest (Bucks) but I have had plenty in May onwards but they are a lot smaller and there shells can be soft and many have eggs so I tend to be more selective when sorting.

I went last Sept for 2 hours along a 50 mt rocky ledge and filled a large doubled height bucket; I could hardly carry it of the beach.
It took me 2 hrs to cook the lot. I bagged em up and took them over the pub.
Paid for me beer all-night.

How I cook em:
Boil large pan fresh water, chuck em in, (seaweed, small crabs as well) and bring back to the boil, simmer for 2 minutes, drain and leave to cool.
I like to eat mine when they are still warm or when they are cold, soaked in a little vinegar (I like vinegar on bacon as well, weird that way)

So there yeah go all my secrets…Trouble is you still have to get out there and get them. One day they are there and next nothing.If using for fishing I just take an onion sack on a rope and leave them in the water.

Anybody got anymore tips on catching eating Prawn’s?

By the way, I have just eaten two packs of cooked Tiger Prawns from the Co Op with me boy, and he said he prefers the ones we catch… priceless

L8ter Sk8ters