Did I just eat Bait shrimp? Seriously!

Eeewwwww... floppy shrimp!... As HalfPint said, skewering shrimp as they cook will keep them straight, not curved. My guide is usually the visual color. I like my shrimp cooked enough so they are white-ish and not translucent (and floppy). Had lunch at a popular national chain last week (the one named after a pepper) and ordered a salad that included half dozen shrimp. Didn't care for the fact they were still translucent, took a nibble, then picked the rest off my salad plate. The rest of the salad was fine. I really hoped our server would have mentioned "The 'elephants' on the small plate", but she didn't, doubt it would have done any good to bring it to their attention anyway.......

How was the shrimp cooked/prepared? To get "straight" cooked shrimp, they insert a thin skewer through the shrimp body (from head through to the tail) and then cook it, usually grilling or deep frying. Then the skewer is removed prior to serving. It is not floppy though.

I am not familiar with bait shrimp. Any small shrimp (like bay shrimp) can be used as bait for crab and/or other large fish.

Are you sure it was actually shrimp? Could have been imitation "shrimp" (made with fish) like surimi.