How to Catch Coonstripe Shrimp
Coonstripe shrimp are striped Pacific pot shrimp caught in baited traps alongside spot prawns, nearly as sweet, living on rocky bottoms at moderate depth - a prized cold-water shrimp for the boat-and-pot angler.
A deep-ish pot fishery needing a boat, weighted pots and long line - fish only with proper gear. Seasons and limits are short and strict; check local rules and release egg-bearing females. Shellfish is a serious allergen.
Coonstripe shrimp are the spot prawn's handsome, striped cousin - a cold Pacific pot shrimp, boldly banded, caught in the same baited traps and nearly as sweet on the plate. They favour rocky and mixed bottoms at moderate depth, often a little shallower than spot prawns, which makes them a fine target in their own right for the boat-and-pot shrimper. Prized and prolific where they run, they are a genuine cold-water treat.
Why go for them
They are sweet, firm and prized, close behind spot prawns in the eating stakes, and they give shrimpers a second, sometimes more accessible target when the deep prawn grounds are slow. Pulling a pot full of boldly striped coonstripes is a highlight of the cold-water shrimp season.
Where and when to find them
Coonstripe shrimp live on rocky and mixed bottoms of the Pacific, often at moderate depth and sometimes shallower than spot prawns. They are taken during short local shrimp seasons; the ground is structure-oriented, so a sounder and local knowledge of rocky bottom help you place pots well.
How to catch them
They are caught in baited shrimp pots dropped on rocky bottom from a boat, baited with oily fish or commercial shrimp bait and left to soak, then hauled - often with a puller. It is a boat-based pot fishery like spot prawning; go prepared, and measure and count your catch to the local rules.
Handling, cleaning and cooking
Chill them immediately, and as with all pot shrimp, either eat the tails fresh or remove the heads promptly, since head enzymes soften the tail within hours. Cook the sweet tails briefly - a flash in a hot pan, on the grill, or as sashimi - and never overcook such delicate meat.
Safety and the law
Coonstripe seasons, pot limits and possession limits are short and strictly enforced, so check your local authority before setting a pot and release egg-bearing females. Pot fishing at depth needs a seaworthy boat and experience. Harvest only where open and certified safe; shellfish is a serious allergen. See our shellfish safety guide.