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[KarateKick]

Do you use raw or cooked shrimp?

Do you keep small bags of shrimp in the freezer, and defrost one bag (in the microwave) each time you go fishing?

Worms seems to be harder to find during these hot and dry days, so we're resorting to buying bait.

Thanks.

[TimL]

What are you fishing for? Are you fishing in fresh or salt?
For saltwater groundfish, I use raw shrimp and yes I package them into smaller bags and store them in the freezer. I thaw out one bag overnight before the day I go fishing. Sea worms are much better though..you can get them by flipping rocks at low tide. Dew worms work too but not as good as sea worms.
 
You can also buy dew worms from the tackle shop if you can't find any.

[Rodney]

If you go to the grocery store, and purchase a pack of cooked deli shrimp (in the refrigerated section, not the frozen part), head to your local tackle store and purchase a bottle of Pautzke Bait FireCure (I prefer red). Place all shrimp into a container with a lid and sprinkle FireCure onto shrimp. Leave it in the container for a couple of hours and shake it once awhile. The shrimp is then cured. Pack shrimp in small ziplock bags, perhaps a couple of dozen per bag and freeze them. Take a bag out a few hours before the trip and they are ready to go.

[KarateKick]

Thanks guys.

[Wiseguy]

Try raw prawns cut in small pieces, no cure required. I buy a couple frozen bags from the local grocer and take a few out before a fishing outing and let them thaw then cut them up.

[KarateKick]

Would it be okay to thaw by microwave?

[Fish or cut bait.]

I guess you could.

But why? 
Do you want to pack a few frozen  shrimp AND microwave?
If you only have a few they thaw pretty quickly.
Even if still a little frozen, they'll finish thawing after a cast or two.
Just put them in top of your gear for the drive to your destination.
But don't forget about them

[marrington03]

Something a friend of mine got me on to...

Get the *raw* prawns and then microwave them to cook them. They get very rubbery and stay on the hook quite well, and I find they have a more pronounced smell.

It has out fished precooked prawn on many occasions.

[Fish or cut bait.]

I see.
I sometimes thaw them, then salt them ( the salt draws out some of the moisture firming up the meat) or procure or the like as mentioned.
I also give a bit of borax to them ( not so slimey to handle) and refreeze them, even a couple times.
I know some guys who leave them out so they start to reak