How to Make a Wood Shrimp Trap

Shrimping is not just for professionals with boats, nets and dragging equipment. Individuals can catch shrimp with a simple-to-use trap. Bait the trap with cat food, meat fat or any organic matter that will attract shrimp. Tie the shrimp trap to a pole so it can be found and retrieved. Submerge the trap in shallow water for 2 to 4 hours where shrimp are known to congregate. Check local shrimping laws to make sure your trap is legal.

Things You'll Need

  • Four 24-inch wood planks
  • Eight 2-by-2 wood planks, 12-inches long
  • Hammer
  • 30 to 50 nails
  • 4-foot roll of small-holed wire mesh
  • Wire cutters
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make a frame for your trap. Use four 12-inch long pieces of wood to form a square. Lay your four pieces in the square and use two nails on each end to hammer the sections together. Make one square for each end of the trap. Use four pieces of wood, approximately 24 inches long to finish your frame. Use one piece of wood at each corner to connect the two square ends and make a rectangular frame.

    • 2

      Wrap the wire mesh around the outside of the frame. The wire mesh should extend past the square ends of the frame. Position the frame in the middle of the mesh so there is an equal amount of mesh extending from each end of the trap. Nail the mesh to the 2-foot sections of wood.

    • 3

      Use the 10 inches of mesh extending past each end of the trap to form the funnels the shrimp will use to enter the trap. If there is more than 10 inches of overhang on each end, use the wire cutters to remove any extra. Fold the wire inward over the end of the frame. Nail the mesh down if it doesn't stay folded. This will form sides slanting inward toward the center of the trap. Do this on each end of the trap. The shrimp will walk up the slope and go into the trap through the hole in the center of the mesh funnel. They will not be able to get back out.

    • 4

      Cut a flap about 3 inches square on one side of your trap. Use this flap to insert the bait and remove the shrimp. Twist a piece of wire on each of the two corners of the flap to secure it when the trap is in use.