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How to Catch Spot Prawns

Spot prawns are a particular variety of prawn with pale orange shells that give them an appealing glow. Inside, their meat is bright white and firm with a definitive sweetness to it which the LA Times compares to the taste of lobster. Catching spot prawns is extremely difficult because they inhabit areas of the ocean that are 1,000 feet beneath the surface. However, that doesn't make them impossible to catch; all you really need is the right equipment and some patience.

Things You'll Need

Fishing boat with ice well
Mesh traps with 36-foot long ropes
Cat food
Plastic buoy

Instructions

- 1
  Ride your boat out to designated fishing and trapping areas, such as off British Columbia or Santa Barbara, as those are the most desirable. Spring or summer are the best times of year to fish for these prawns.
- 2
  Open a can of catfood and place it in the middle of each trap in the bait container area. The bait will just suspend in the middle of the trap. Use a wire mesh trap that has funnel shaped opening so that the prawns can swim in but can't swim out.
- 3
  Lower your traps, interconnected via 3,600 feet of rope. Attach a plastic floating buoy to the top of the line. Wrap the last six to 12 feet of the rope around a cleat. Wait two to three hours, giving the prawns ample time to fill the traps.
- 4
  Check your ice well to insure that ice cold, 40-degree water is constantly being pumped in. The ice well will keep the prawns you catch ice cold so that their meat doesn't turn to mush.
- 5
  Raise the traps back on to the fishing boat by leaning low against the gunwale for stability and open them. Pick out the spot prawns by hand, tossing them all into the ice well at the center of your fishing boat.
- 6
  Pick out other sea life like octopus, small fish and sea urchins and toss them out into the ocean.

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