[Mack in N.C.]

Went to the keys in june and hired a guide for 1 day back in june, Think i posted something on it but i didnt post the rig. He had live pinfish and live shrimp which we pinched the tail off then threaded them on a 3/8 oz white jighead. This rig caught pretty much everything out there,

we caught Tarpon, red drum, black drum, snapper, sheepshead, barracuda, and some pesky saltwater catfish .
This rig has to work in nc for black and red drum plus sheepshead and probably is a killer on flounder. I used to saltwater fish alot in the 80's and early 90's. mainly pier and surf and I can tell you this rig will catch flounder off a pier. In the eighties I used to fish with a bunch of old guys at the cherry grove pier and I have never seen a better bunch of flounder fisherman. they wore the flounder out of old daiwa millionaires and stiff bass rods. other than a millionaire being my first baitcaster those old guys are the reason why i collect and still fish with millionaires. I hate to say it but all are probably long gone now but wish i would of tried this back in the eighties.

I just may take Turtlestew up on his offer and this will be what i am gonna throw,

 

[trigger22]

I've used this very same rig on more than one occasion right here in NC with fresh frozen. It's a must in a few places during the dead of winter for redfish.

 

[Mack in N.C.]

nice , i figured dead would wk as the ones we put on were dead once threaded only..ouch!!....only difference is one is fresher, but it has to wk...i wasnt really surprised at the drum and snapper hitting it but the tarpon and sheepshead was a surprise, The sheephead we caught hit it HARD.

 

[2840-FISH]

EVERYTHING loves fresh shrimp

 

[ice cream man]

It's a killer set up for winter dock Reds. ...... ICM

 

[RouseD]

Thanks Mack. Will have to give this a try.

 

[sundrop]

2 weeks ago I hooked 2 old drum (unintentionally) both on 1/4 oz jig heads and very fresh shrimp yet nothing touched my big rods with mullet (expect rays and pinfish). I got to see both fish but didn't get them in the boat.

 

[SeaWolf72]

It is a good bait. When gulp shrimp is hard to keep on a jig, just bite off the tail and rig it the same way, from the tail end. You get more out of your gulp this way and it still catches fish.

 

[Great White]

Five years ago I moved to Fort Myers Beach mostly because the fishing is "year round" here. The rig you picture works really well. I tend to use just a small #2 circle tied leader to line with no swivels or weights. Large live shrimp are plentiful here in the winter (50 for $12). I hook the shrimp at the base of the tail and use the weight of the shrimp for the cast. I love it when the shrimp jumps from the water trying to evade.
What helped the resurgence on the gamefish here was when people had a bill introduced for public vote for the ban of gill nets. It passed into law some 15 years ago. I am not trying to rekindle that argument...however.

 

[Scott Hobbs]

Used a lot for reds and flat fish along the shores or bottom bouncing ledges.

 

[Mack in N.C.]

EVERYTHING loves fresh shrimp

I likes some shrimps too

 

[Nat's Dad]

Apparently cats at SH like them. Lowes had a killer deal on fresh steamed at the seafood counter the other night but the seafood butcher ( what are those guys called anyway?) told me they were long sold out. I was steamed! Pun intended.

I bet shellcrackers would hammer them!

 

[ncdead]

A live or dead finger mullet works well on a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce jighead.. Helps keep the live ones pinned to the bottom.

 

[roostertail24]

Shrimp is what I've been catching my catfish bait with.

 

[sundrop]

Shrimp is very good catfish bait. Grew up using it in the Santee Cooper lakes for nice Blue cats. I don't buy "bait shrimp" as I have found that the little fish will eat it but the bigger ones prefer it fresher no matter the species.. I buy good fresh NC local shrimp and keep it iced down and separated into smaller bags so I can eat any I have left from fishing.

 

[EvBlue]

We were up at Jessup Mill on the Dan River this weekend and my daughter found a squid on the mill dam. It was a long way from home. Never heard of using squid for bait in fresh water.