Instead of casting a line and hoping for the best, fishermen may soon have the option to fish effectively without bait. While this claim may sound unbelievable, researchers at the University of Exeter and Fishtek Marine in England have discovered the potential of using LED light as an alternative to traditional bait. The researchers tested this method by using fishing pots with LED lights to catch northern shrimp off the west coast of Scotland, an area known for its fishing opportunities. So why are shrimp attracted to light? Here’s the hook: They aren’t. “We think that the light attracts zooplankton — like moths around a flame — which in turn attracts shrimp (which eat zooplankton), and that entices larger fish predators into the pots to gobble up the shrimp,” said Robert Enever, science and conservation strategy director at Fishtek Marine. Courtesy of iStock.com/Denis Novikov. The larger predators that Enever referred to in this instance were the Norway lobster and the poor cod — a smaller cousin of cod. The LED pots proved to be effective for catching northern shrimp, with lit pots catching 19× more northern shrimp than unlit pots. The illuminated pots caught 50% fewer Norway lobsters (also known as langoustines) and 88% more juvenile poor cod. By attracting smaller organisms that in turn lure larger fish, the LED-lit pot functions as a self-baiting fishing pot. A watched pot may never boil, but it just might catch a meal. That being said, the pot may not be the ideal solution for baitless fishing due to the increased risk of snags, also known as bycatch. Bycatching refers to the unintentional capture of nontarget fish or other marine species while targeting a specific one. Trawl fisheries for shrimp, for example, suffer high rates of incidental mortality for all captured species and have some of the highest discard rates globally. Though baitless pot fishing is a better alternative than trawling, it will still lead to an excessive haul. “Finding lower-impact alternatives — including static gear such as pots — is essential for more sustainable fisheries,” said Tim Horton, a researcher from the Centre of Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus. A proposed solution to reduce bycatch in LED fishing pots is to tailor them specifically to the target species. For northern shrimp, the experimental placement of shrimp tubes within the pot performed the best, resulting in minimal bycatch and the highest catch rates of the intended species. If given a broad net, so to speak, this approach could help to reduce bycatch and lessen the ecological effect of the fishing pot. The ecological impact of bycatching across the fishing industry is leading to a growing interest in diversifying fishing methods. With the additional lure of LEDs, the tackle box of those on the water could include methods that offer lower impact, greater selectivity, and increased sustainability. And these results would be quite a catch for those who make their living from the sea. The research was published in Ocean & Coastal Management (www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107663).