Okay, so I am getting tired of the blue crabs eating my mud minnows before the fish can get to them. I am thinking of switching to artificials to increase my odds. I have had luck in the past with DOA shrimp and curly tail grubs, but I would like to get opinions on other hot artificial baits used here around Charleston.
Usually, if the fish are there and hungry they will get the minnow before the crabs do. Try z man paddle tails on a jig head or flutter hook. The z man plastics outlast most others and have great action. Also, they are a local company(summerville). No telling how many fish i have caught on the one that is on my pole now. At least ten and i can probably get a few more before its unusable. To me presentation is more important than color so take your pick as to which ones to get. I have caught fish on every color I have tried.
- I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
I have been tearing up the reds and trout on the Z-Man paddle tails in the Houdini color. I have been buying the scented ones and they work great. I have also had good luck with other paddle tails and curly tails as well. I usually fish mine on a 4/0 flutter hook in 1/8-1/4 oz depending on the tide. A jighead works too. I have found that lighter colors work better when the water is stained and the lighter colors when the water is clear seems to help too. But overall the Houdini color has been hot lately.
19’ Sea-Pro CC
“Swagger Wagon”
Yamaha 115 - 2 stroke
14’ CMF Skiff
25 Johnson - 2 stroke
14’ Heritage Redfish
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
It sounds like Z-Man is the way to go. It seems to be pretty popular here on CF. I will definitely get me some this weekend. Thanks guys.
Don’t get me wrong I LOOOVE Zman but I gotta say a charteuse DOA shrimp will beat a Zman for trout any day I’ve seen it happen countless times
quote:
Originally posted by FriedDOAShrimpDon’t get me wrong I LOOOVE Zman but I gotta say a charteuse DOA shrimp will beat a Zman for trout any day I’ve seen it happen countless times
I’ve caught quite a few trout on DOA shrimps (natural and glow colors), but never caught a redfish on them.
Z man worked for reds the other day.I bought some.
Stonoman
If the crabs are getting your mudminnows, try using an adjustable float to keep the baits off the bottom. Use a small float with a ‘Bobber Stopper’ and let it drift with the current. Try to keep the bait about a foot off the bottom. The moving bait will usually keep the crabs away…the only downside is that you have to work it. Popping the cork once in a while during the drift will attract fish to the bait also. This will work with jig and Z-Man or any type of artificial shrimp like Gulp or DOA. It works great for trout as well as reds. Even flounder will come up to grab your MM on this rig. Good luck.
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC
That makes sense using the float to keep the bait up from the bottom. I just bought me some new poppin corks the other day. I think I will give them a try this coming weekend.
Thanks for the tips guys 
quote:
Originally posted by PioneerLouieIf the crabs are getting your mudminnows, try using an adjustable float to keep the baits off the bottom. Use a small float with a ‘Bobber Stopper’ and let it drift with the current. Try to keep the bait about a foot off the bottom. The moving bait will usually keep the crabs away…the only downside is that you have to work it. Popping the cork once in a while during the drift will attract fish to the bait also. This will work with jig and Z-Man or any type of artificial shrimp like Gulp or DOA. It works great for trout as well as reds. Even flounder will come up to grab your MM on this rig. Good luck.
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC