Drag A Shrimp For Reds

There’s a reason why one of the most common fishing accessories sold in coastal communities is a flow-through bait bucket. Sure, you can hold baitfish in these containers, but shrimp remain the most popular option. Why? Because just about every predator in the ocean will eat a shrimp.

Common techniques include free-lining these live crustaceans in current or over deeper potholes and corking the bait over grass flats. Both work fine, but as fall yields to winter’s chill, a slower, more methodic dragging technique excels.

A Mustad Shrimp Jig Head simplifies the operation by combining weight and hook in one compact form. Hook live shrimp through the underside of the tail so the jighead positions in the center of the tail fins. (Measure first to establish the ideal hooking point.)

While the real deal is hard to beat, you’ll appreciate the more streamlined efficiency of an artificial presentation like the new LIVETARGET LIVE SHRIMP. Winner of the ICAST 2022 Best Saltwater Hard Lure award in Orlando, Florida, this innovative bait also earned runner-up distinction at the European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition (EFTTEX) in Budapest, Hungary.s.

So, where to drag your shrimp? Real or artificial, you’ll find consistent opportunities in these scenarios:

Jetties — These manmade rock formations fortifying inlets and causeways are feeding centers for a variety of species seeking crustacean meals.

Oyster Bars — Same as jetties and other rock piles, shell mounds are centers of life where redfish, sheepshead, black drum and seatrout come to eat. Target the deeper drop-off end during low tide and move up with the rising tide. Also, consider that oyster bars are inherently snaggy, so keep your rod tip high and use a hop-drag retrieve to prevent entanglements.

Potholes — These sandy depressions in grass flats offer predators strategic ambush spots, so a shrimp creeping along the bottom won’t go unnoticed.

While you’re at it, don’t overlook the surf. A lone shrimp looks like an easy target for redfish, black drum, sheepshead, croakers, etc. Look for the feeding zones — holes in the wave patterns, run-outs, and bars — and make 45-degree casts through these areas.

On high-impact beaches, which drop sharply into deeper water, you’ll often find predators patrolling the first or second trough. Put on a set of insulated waders during the colder months and cast nearly parallel to the beach to keep your bait in the strike zone.,

By David Brown