| If your a surf angler you can salt cure your own | | | | shrimp. You want it to retain as much of the natural |
| shrimp bait easily. Salt cured shrimp bait will get just | | | | scent as possible |
| as many strikes as live shrimp and it stays on the | | | | Use any plastic container about 6"-8" round with a |
| hook much longer. | | | | flat bottom. Start with about an inch of salt in the |
| How much better would it be if you didn't have to | | | | bottom of the container. Place in a layer of chunk-ed |
| deal with live bait? The advantages are numerous. | | | | up shrimp and another inch of salt. Continue building |
| - You don't need a bait bucket | | | | layers of shrimp and salt until all the shrimp is under |
| - You don't need an aerator | | | | the salt. Do not seal the container. You can place a |
| - You can carry a bag of bait in your pocket | | | | rag or a towel over it if you like. |
| - Salt preserved shrimp will catch just as many fish | | | | The shrimp will cure relatively fast usually in one day |
| as live shrimp | | | | but allow at least a few days to be sure. You can |
| - What you don't use doesn't spoil | | | | shake it a little bit every once in awhile just to be |
| - It stays on the hook much better than live bait | | | | sure that the shrimp stays in contact with the salt. |
| - It's simple and easy to preserve shrimp yourself | | | | Once the shrimp has cured you'll notice that it is a lot |
| - Cured shrimp has an indefinite shelf life | | | | more firm than before curing. This is the reason it will |
| Salt curing has been around for ages but since the | | | | stay on the hook much longer than fresh shrimp. Any |
| advent of refrigeration you very seldom hear about | | | | surf angler knows you can go through a lot of live |
| it. The reason why salt curing works is because it | | | | bait when your surf fishing. |
| inhibits the growth of microorganisms. | | | | After curing you can place the shrimp in zip lock or |
| Once you start using shrimp that has been cured as | | | | vacuum seal bags and you're ready to head to the |
| see how well it works you won't want to go surf | | | | surf anytime. Surf fishing will take on a whole new |
| fishing with live shrimp again. | | | | meaning once you start curing your own bait. |
| Go to your local super market and buy a box of | | | | Curing your own bait is a great way to have bait on |
| kosher salt (do not use iodized salt) and a pound of | | | | hand ready to go at a moments notice. Try it for |
| uncooked shrimp with the shells on. Peel the shells off | | | | yourself and see how well it works. You won't be |
| and cut the shrimp into chunks about ½" to | | | | disappointed. |
| ¾ of an inch long. Do not wash or rinse the | | | | |