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Sheddar Crabs/Grass Shrimp  FISHING METHODSSHEDDER CRABS and GRASS SHRIMP If you are a non-boater the public docks on the mainland and Long Beach Island are good places for weakfish from dusk to dawn on drifted shedder crab pieces on the # 1/0 or 2/0 hook hung under a slip bobber about 36" up. Jig heads and artificial worms will work good also. If you are a boater the methods mentioned above will produce but you have to be in deeper water. Channel edges and deep holes will be your target area and early or late in the day so boat traffice will be less. Sheddar crabs are prime bait but most inexperienced anglers shy away from them because of the cost. If the crab is used properly you get a least 10 to 16 baits from each one. That's half the price of a dozen sand worms, if this is new to you stop around to your bait shop and they will show you how. Live grass shrimp is maybe the most popular method. The hardest job some times is finding a place to buy them. When you find them alive they are easy enough to transport even if you fish the middle or south end of the bay. A medium sized cooler with 2-3 inches of ice on the bottom and covered with wet newspaper continued up the sides will hold your bait well enough. Once you are quietly anchored up (no anchor chains and lowered not thrown) proceed to start chumming up your slick by throwing 5 or 6 shrimp over about every thirty seconds to start. When you start catching don't forget to keep the slick going or you will have to start all over again. Tackle for these fish is very light and 6 pound test is not out of the question. Attach your number 1/0 or 2/0 bait holder (92641) hook directly to your line next cut the line about two feet above the hook and tie on a number 10 black barrel swivel. This will be all the weight you will probably need and will help keep twists out of your line. Take 2 or 3 shrimp and stick them on the hook and pass over the side, strip line out so that your bait moves at the same speed and level as the shrimp chum. If nothing takes your offering reel back in (this is where the line twists come in) and start over again. When a fish takes your bait the line will move fast, Engage your reel and lift your rod tip (don't yank on it) land your fish and while all this is going on don't forget to keep the chum slick going. Now when you have fish in your chum slick you can use other baits, live small minnows or here again a piece of crab, bloodworms or sandworms on the same drift back method or suspended under a float. The best way to learn and understand all about this is to con your way on an experienced anglers boat by offering to buy the bait, it may work. Or as some of us busy guys do it, any street light or well lit street end is fair game to a jig and worm. | ||||||||
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WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW? 
