Prawn trapping bait, anything I might have at home to use?

Question

I want to go out and drop my prawn trap today. What can I use from my fridge or cupboard ? I don't want to drive 30 miles to the nearest bait store today. How about frozen shrimp, salmon, fish, dog food? Any suggestions? Also what is the shallowest depth I can sink my trap and catch prawns? I'm dropping it off my kayak Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

You didn't say where you are prawn trapping. I run my prawn traps near Kelsey Bay and Johnstone Straight areas of BC, Vancouver Island. I have used frozen fish, salmon heads canned cat food, and Beneful dry dog food for bait. Usually I use a prawn bait I pick up in 2 gal buckets at one of my local bait and tackle shops, cheap priced. They are the small dried pellets that smell like seafood to me. I fish my traps from 150ft to 250ft down setting them on wide shelves on the bottom with plenty of weight to hold them down. I like to leave my traps out overnight and run them before fishing in the morning. Side-stripped shrimp can be caught in shallower waters from 75ft to 100ft, but prawns like the deeper waters up here. 40yr exp