How to Catch Ghost Shrimp
Ghost shrimp are pale, soft-bodied burrowing shrimp of the tidal flats, one of the deadliest live baits for surfperch, sturgeon and halibut, pumped from their burrows with a slurp gun at low tide.
Ghost shrimp are bait, not food, and are fragile - handle gently and keep cool. Many areas set a daily limit even on bait shrimp, so check local rules, and only pump where it is permitted. Tread carefully on soft flats.
Ghost shrimp are the West Coast bait angler's ace in the hole - pale, delicate burrowing shrimp that live deep in the tidal flats and drive surfperch, sturgeon, halibut and countless inshore fish wild. You do not buy these; you pump them, drawing them up out of their burrows with a slurp gun on a low tide. Gathering a bucketful is a muddy, satisfying skill and a rite of passage for anyone who fishes the flats.
Why go for them
As live bait they are simply devastating - soft, wriggling and irresistible to a huge range of inshore and surf species that see them as a natural meal. They are also free if you are willing to work for them, and the low-tide ritual of pumping a shrimp bed is a genuine part of the fishing culture on the Pacific coast.
Where and when to find them
Ghost shrimp live in deep burrows in soft sand and mud flats, revealed at low tide by their small volcano-like burrow holes, often in dense beds. Work them on a good low tide when the flats are exposed, in the warmer months, and look for areas pocked with fresh, wet holes.
How to catch them
Use a slurp gun, a bait pump you place over a burrow and pull to suck up a plug of sand and, with luck, a shrimp. Pump slowly and steadily, then sift the slurry for the fragile shrimp. It takes practice to read the beds and time the pull. Keep the delicate shrimp cool and cushioned as you go.
Handling, cleaning and cooking
These are bait, not food. Ghost shrimp are extremely fragile, so keep them cool, damp and separated so they do not crush each other - many anglers layer them in wet sand or damp newspaper. Hook them gently through the tough part of the body so they stay lively and natural in the water. Use them fresh for best results.
Safety and the law
Even bait has rules - many areas set daily limits on ghost shrimp and restrict where you can pump, so check your local authority. Soft flats can be treacherous, so mind soft mud, tides and your footing, and never get cut off by a rising tide. For related notes, see our shellfish safety guide.