Newt says, as have others, that today's shellfish oil is not real. Rather, they say, it is synthetic. What I want to know is: #1 can critters tell the difference and #2 why is it synthetic?

#1 probably not
#2 because it's cheaper? idk

What makes it synthetic? I mean, is it made of rotted/rendered crabs and such or is it something out of chemistry class?

Yep and is cut even further with other stuff usually.

Doubt critters can tell difference, doubt they come into contact with shellfish oil in their environment, lol.

No idea as to why, probably cost prohibitive to produce real shellfish oil as well as not enough use's for it to be produced on a large scale.

Chemistry class.

When put in a food processor with cheap shrimp from Walmart it sure does make for a real good smell synthetic or not.

It don't taste good to coons though warden. Id not put it on my bait, just use it as an attractor in case they miss the trap, they get a taste of that stuff one time they won't fool with it again.

Thanks for the advise Jackie. I didn't know that. I always say you learn something everyday. Jackie just taught me something today as he has on other days aswell.

So, if it isn't rendered shellfish, what is it?

I have heard that for yrs but live coon tell me its mighty tasty. Atleast the ones I have tested have.

That's the problem river rat, I really don't think any two shellfish oils are the same, lol.

Too much cutting with and that here and there, I never know what im getting, nothing wrong in that as all of it works, but isn't consistent in my opinion.

For the record though, shellfish oil is about all I ever used when I was trapping coon, it fit my style I guess more than anything else, i never was one to make a big fuss about making a coon set, just flop a trap down, squirt oil near it and move on to the next spot.

You an I think they same as far as set trap and go go go. I get my oil from 2 places both get it directly from the manufacture in NJ. Its the pure stuff, one whiff will tell you that. I am going out on a limb here but I beielve most not all but most shellfish that is sold by the oz is cut. You can tell the diff once you have seen the pure stuff. I bought 2 gallons from Rich Kasper a few yrs ago and just now getting to the bottom. That stuff is STRONG !!! Another thing that changes it is air it needs to be stored in GLASS with no amount of air getting to it, that plactic will suck the gogo right out of it as will air if stored that way long.

What's the chemical name for it?

Jtrapper said "It don't taste good to coons though warden. Id not put it on my bait, just use it as an attractor in case they miss the trap, they get a taste of that stuff one time they won't fool with it again."

------------------------I AGREE------------------------
All I use is Fish Oil. Coons love it.Try some out on your dog. He/she will go crazy over it.
If your on LOCATION Fish Oil has a strong enoug oder to draw the coon in. If you want something for a longer distance call.Use a LDC,like my KRYPTONITE

I do set on location but tend to believe what LIVE coon in front of my eyes tell me not lure peddlers or other so called experts ... I listen to the target critter . ..

Because of where I live I catch a lot of grass shrimp every couple of days and use for coon bait grey fox bait. I have blue crabs in season as well as fiddler crabs / sand fiddlers. I also have quiet a few mussels, freshwater clams and oysters we can,t eat because of PCB s. Is shellfish oil (the real stuff) just one species or is a combo of several different things? Is making it like making fish oil? I read somewhere that it is cut with vegetable oil because it is so overpowering.

I read somewhere that it is cut with vegetable oil because it is so overpowering.

If thats the case why do they charge the same $$$ for the cut stuff ??

I was thinking of trying to make some . I,m just gathering info , your question I don,t know

I have made clam oil, and crawdad oil , neither is quite the same. And now making clam oil in IA is outlawwed .

Ive been putting uncut synthetic shellfish oil in my bait for 20 years or so, just dont over do it. Ive seen 1000's of pockets scraped out and bait eaten by coons, and have seen 1000's of coon die for it. I will have to say that coons not eating bait with shellfish oil mixed into it is nonsense.

"I have made clam oil, and crawdad oil , neither is quite the same."

I wonder if "shellfish oil" is just shrimp, shrimp shells and crab shells rotted down, cause you a,int lived till you smelled 3 day old crabs. Shrimp after a couple of days a,int that bad

Id would die for Kaspar's bait, just cant afford 25 gals. every season. But if I could It would be all I used!!!!!

I've bought into the coon not liking to eat shellfish based baits.Interested in your opinion Rich.I've never tested on coon whether they will eat something with shellfish in it or not.Been reluctint to use shellfish based baits in little grizzes because I thought it tasted bitter to them.

"I've never tested on coon whether they will eat something with shellfish in it or not."

This is not a real test but behind a couple of bait shop / crab houses I trap the coon are all over the dumpsters with mussel shells clam shells crab shells etc just a thought out loud

My best day as far as full traps was when I baited with fresh frozen crab shells. Smelled good and loud too.

I havent read any response above explaining what synthetic shellfish oil is, or where it comes from. Come on now, someone out there knows what it is. I'm a chemist and I've search for this info before... As WR otis asked above, what is synthetic shellfish oil -- what is the chemical name? What chemical company makes it?

I'm almost positive it's the identical chemical to the natural stuff. But I'd like to know a little more about it. Anyone?

DMSO is a loud rank odor but I never thought to compare the two. I may have a degree in chemistry myself.

I believe if you look in Nick Wyshinski's newest book on lures & baits, he talks about how Shellfish oil came about. (I have the book, but can't find it to quote directly!) To paraphrase:
Shellfish oil was developed after talking to trappers requesting some type of a "shellfish essence". He then contacted a chemist friend who was able to come up with what we today call "Shellfish oil". But to answer part of the original question, yes, it is synthetic.

And to quote Russ Carman,"Despite claims to the contrary, shellfish essence is a synthetic product..."
"It's not a lure in the true sense of the word, it's a bait."

That's assuming that WalMart shripm are clean.
Waugh!
45/70,

Where is that lt. grey when ya need him lol??

I believe if you look in Nick Wyshinski's newest book on lures & baits, he talks about how Shellfish oil came about. (I have the book, but can't find it to quote directly!) To paraphrase:
Shellfish oil was developed after talking to trappers requesting some type of a


"shellfish essence".

so did any one ever use a oil made from ??? shrimp crab etc that was rendered like fish oil or has it always been a synthetic product? TIA guys

Yeah, shrimp oil is to be found, rich kaspar was selling it at one time, may still be, but its not the same as shellfish oil lol,more like just plain old fishoil.

Real uncut shellfish oil has a 25 dollar HAZMAT charge to get shipped any place so it was uncut you payed 25 dollars to get it to your door.

LOL Braveheart, it sounds like you've ordered it too. I don't understand the $25. hazmat charge, but the way I understand it, its because its flammable.

Yes, the shellfish oil you get today is synthetic. Synthetic means that molecularly its the same as organic shellfish oil, but produced in a lab. Imitation shellfish oil would not be moleculary the same, but may have a similar odor. (This is the way it was explained to me by my lure formulating mentor, Dave Edwards)

There are a lot of us who don't cut our shellfish oil. Usually you can tell by the price. If you find shellfish oil dirt cheap, the chances are a lot of that shellfish oil is vegetable oil, or another cutting agent.

It does have a hazmat charge from the manufacturer, but other lure makers that resell it usually dont charge it as the quanities are much smaller. Just because we dont charge a hazmat, doenst really mean it has been cut.

A can of worms for all of us, if you can read between the lines.
Many of us are flying below the radar so to speak.

I dont want a hazmat charge on orders sent out, and I dont think YOU do either. Lets just leave sleeping dog lie, eh.

Paul stated it best, when you see cut rate pirced shellfish oil, chances are its been cut with veggie oil.

There is an old saying "You get what you paid for"

Let me add this to the mix. When I use shellfish myself straight at the set, I DO cut it for my own use. Straight its very volitale, and disperses too rapidly at the set Ive found, so by cutting it about 50/50 it actually sticks around longer. In bait or a multi-ingrediant lure I see no need to cut it though, just when used straight.

It does taste like ca-ca, as Ive stuck my finger in it and tasted it (still alive). Added to fish, just keep it at 2-4 oz per gallon, and let yourself see if coons will eat it or not.

Ive tried rotting shrimp, clams and other stuff to make a natural shelfish oil, and have gone back to the synthetic every time.

THere is a synthetic shrimp and clam essence oil made also, and some real rendered ones too.

Ive found most natural sun rendered oil a little to rank for my liking as a coon attractant. Canine and cats a different matter.

Nick Wysinski is who got shellfish oil made for the trapping trade in the begining. He was the only source it could be boughten from for some years. I used to buy a lot of stuff from Nick 20 years ago.

The way I understand it from talking to lure-making friends, it's the high volatility of shellfish oil that makes it valuable as an additive. My partner and I add it to our fish oil at the 2-oz-per-gal ratio Kaspar recommends above, and it adds an extra bite to the otherwise mild-smelling oil. According to my lure-making buddies, the shellfish oil evaporates and carries with it molecules of fish oil, and thus the scent carries farther. Since we use our fish oil mostly for a trailing scent and we use a lot of it, we couldn't afford to use straight shellfish oil. Sounds like we wouldn't be wise to do it even if we could afford it, if it's so volatile it loses its strength quickly.

And as far as the synthetic issue is concerned, who cares? If it's made in a lab, quality control will be much better. I can't imagine a scenario in which a coon would refuse a set because the shellfish oil wasn't the real McCoy.

My questions have been answered at last!