Shrimp
Inshore saltwater's can't-miss bait.
Technique
Popping cork or free-line
Depth
1-8 ft
Water Clarity
Any
Best Conditions
Inshore flats, tidal creeks
About This Lure
Live or fresh shrimp fished under a popping cork or on a jighead, irresistible to inshore species.
How To Fish It
Hook the shrimp through the tail segment or just beneath the horn to keep it alive and kicking. Utilize a popping cork to suspend the bait in the strike zone, or free-line it into current eddies where predatory fish wait to ambush. Maintain a tight line to detect the subtle pick-ups characteristic of larger Speckled Trout.
Retrieve Cadence
Pop the cork aggressively to create surface commotion, then pause for five to ten seconds to let the shrimp drift naturally.
Best Colors
Sizes & When To Use
Commonly Rigged On
Recommended Gear
Pro Tips
- Always carry a small aerator for your bait bucket to keep the shrimp lively; a sluggish bait will rarely draw a strike.
- If your shrimp is constantly being picked apart by small baitfish, switch to a larger, harder-shelled specimen.
- Hook the shrimp through the head armor just behind the eyes to encourage a downward swimming action.
- Change your leader length frequently based on depth; keep the bait at least 12 inches off the bottom to avoid catfish.
Species This Lure Catches
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