Mike Fox Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Fishing in our competition on Sunday, I had a few rather plump pouting, and not having actually eaten any this year, I took a couple of decent ones home for dinner. When cleaning one, this little fella was in the stomach. It's a crustacean, with legs underneath (as pictured) a little like a shrimp, with two fearsome claws and a broad tail. This particular one was soft, probably having moulted rather than had it's shell dissolved, and been found by the voracious pout. Knowing how dangerous these things can be, I doubt the shell was hard when it was eaten. I do know what it is, but does anyone else have a clue? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niggle Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Looks to me like a mikefoxcrustaceanouslefthandous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike02380 Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Mantis.htm my first thought was some kind of mantis shrimp, a quick search threw up the link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggcol Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Mike we had the same Mantis Shrimps in our Pout on Sunday. We were over 10 miles out. Bobi put three back on her hook and had a bite as soon as it hit the bottom. Colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Mike we had the same Mantis Shrimps in our Pout on Sunday. We were over 10 miles out. Bobi put three back on her hook and had a bite as soon as it hit the bottom. Colin Well done Colin, you have discovered a special pout bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted April 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 (edited) Well done folks - right first time !!!! I remember reading about these things years ago. They're the tough guys of the crustacean world. Two basic claw types, with sharp or blunt ends, but one can stab through the shell of a lobster, and the other can stun it, or punch a hole. They've even been known to shatter aquarium glass. A few tales here: http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/faq.htm#faq3 If you find a live one, take care picking it up...even if you only want it for pout bait Mike Edited April 11, 2011 by Mike Fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Weyhey........... Mantisshrimpus poutus maximus and the specimen weight is.....................30 gms............ Can I borrow some of your bait mate................ Seriously though, there are a few less common species turning up at the mo.. interesting to keep tabs on these.. Long time since I had anything really unusual but Lowe's Berix was the last I had some 6-7 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 I didn't know you can find them in the uk, they are very nice to eat (well if big enough). Over in the far east, the large one are more expensive than lobsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 I found a Sea Mouse in the Poole Bay Cod Comp 2009 winning fish: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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