Whenever I have caught Reds it’s either been on live bait at the bottom, DOA live shrimp, or OTF. I was wondering what lures if any yall use and are effective at catching Reds. So far I’ve read that spoons, especially gold ones work pretty well for Reds on incoming tides.
If yall were using a lure on a light tackle spinning rod in the flats or at low tide for Reds what would yall use?
Thanks.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretsky
The Berkley GULP! Jerk Shad in Nuclear Chicken so far is my go to bait. New penny is the other color I like that they have; both show up nice in dirty water.
Use a 5/0 weighted swim bait hook with a 1/8oz weight on the hook shank. I throw it on 14# Sunline Florocarbon with a 6’6" MH bait caster.
Throw in front of fish, let it sit, give a twitch, set hook, repeat. 
Chuck D - Hilton Head, SC
Ranger z21 Intracoastal
So no spoons? I don’t know where I heard that spoons worked good.
What about possibly using just a circle hook and a Zman scented shrimp or something, and lip hook it.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretsky
For the bottom?
Z man on a flutter hook while you drown a stink bait on the bottom.
big dog
For the bottom or not, I’m just looking for tips. I don’t enjoy bottom fishing as much as a DOA popping cork or fly fishing.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretsky
I like Zman too- paddlerZ in Redbone or Houdini on a 1/8 oz Gamakatsu flutter hook fished slooow. Ive been putting in some time with the gold spoon since it sounds as if its worked so well for so many people in the past. Not so good in my hands i have to say…
seems like spoons are more popular for redfish on the gulf coast - never hear much about them here but they are a staple where I learned about fishing the salt in TX. gold for dirty water, silver if its clear.
Caught just about every inshore species on them, but with all the scented and specialized lures available now there are probably better baits out there for most situations. spoons depend on actively feeding fish or a reaction strike as it goes by them, so you have to cover a LOT of water. But, spoons can definitely catch fish!
Angler 204 FX
Yamaha 150
Here is what I take for reds,trout flounder. curly tail grub,paddle tail minnow, zman paddlerz,zman streakz, top water plug, suspending plug(mirrodine) and ADL spoon. jig heads 1/16 to 1/4,flutter hooks 1/16 to 1/8. I like Slayer jigs and zman plastics. Also a shrimp and crab bait. I can cover all levels of water column and fish moods in all seasons. Dark colors for dark days and water, light natural colors for clean water bright days. Unpainted jig heads most of the time, chartruese for off colored water.Spinner bait arms to add to jigs also in dirtier water.
Now I am not saying I catch anything but that is what I use:smiley:
I have a ton of Houdini Zman Shrimp but I tend to not use them as much because they float unless I put a split shot on the line about 10 inches above the shrimp.
Edit: If I was going to use dead bait for reds, what would yall recommend? Shrimp or minnows or what?
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretsky
i don’t see what all the rucuss is about zman I’ve tried every color suggested on this site or by the guys at c. angler and never had luck. love the elasticity of the baits but never produce for me. Bass assassin paddle tail or jerk shad electric chicken works, but my bread and butter are gulp shrimp 4" and jerk shads in sardine color. Thats what I catch reds and flounder on, i use with or without a jig head either works. i like to texas rig the jerk shad with split shot when the water is even with the grass or just below. The shrimp work well what ever tide, work good at the jetties also. I wish someone would tell me what I’m doing wrong with the zman but until then I’m using gulp. I have also had no luck with the spoon. But you can use mirror lures on top as well as deadly combos if you like cork popping.
1996 Key West Sportsman
112 Johnson
Yea I agree. I love the way the Zman is super elastic but I’ve had NO luck ever with them. I HAVE had good success with the Sea Shad Bass Assassin like you said FishinFerReds. Also, the only thing I’ve ever caught on spoons was trout at Pitt Street (silver spoon, small) and a small and my only Tarpon in the surf which was awesome.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretsky
I used to tear up the tailing reds with a spoon. Havent had as much luck lately.
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
2002 Florida Skiff
90 Merc.
When you all use lures, do you frequently switch them out during a day of fishing, and if so, do you use a leader and one of those clips to quickly secure the lure. Just curious if the metal clip is a good method (not distract from lure), or if you re-tie each lure onto your line
It is funny how some people swear by a certain bait and others never catch anything on them.
Personally I have never caught anything of consequence on Gulp baits. I know they catch fish for other people. Not for me so I have no confidence in them. On the other hand, I have had extremely good results with Z-man baits of all shapes and colors. I fished with saltwater assasins for a long time and they work very well, but they do not have a bait that compares with the action of a Z-man Paddlerz or the grass kickerz rigged weedless. These baits are killer for working banks at low tide or pitching into sparse grass on the edges of the marsh.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14