Well I hate that this thread has caused controversy, but it has also provided some much needed know how, and that is appreciated. I saw above that Topsail Angler suggested, "You should do well with that popping cork with a live shrimp under it - that's the hot ticket right now for specks 'cause the near shore waters are full of shrimp (lots of trawlers in close too). ". I usually only get to fish @ Ocean Isle Beach in Southern NC. Last time I was out there I paddled my kayak out to follow a trawler. I didn't have any shrimp, but was trolling a Rapala Xrap. No luck on that, but I noticed that they were throwing out their bycatch and it seemed there were small specks floating in the water from the by catch. By small I mean 6 to 9". Maybe someone could advise me answers to a couple questions.
1. How far back should you be when trolling? I was about 30 yrds back.
2. In this situation, I would assume that fish are targeting the shrimp, and then the food cycle starts w/ the bigger fish eating the smaller ones. Would minnows work as well as shrimp in this situation? Or would shrimp be the best bet. Seems like from the above discussion, bigger fish eat bigger bait, and more minnows than shrimp, 80% diet I think I saw.
3. If you have experience trolling behind a trawler w/ minnows, what type of minnows did you troll with. I have a cast net and will be able to toss it on shore for live bait, but would have to go back to the creek to get shrimp probably, as I don't seem to see too many in the surf.
Thanks again, and please keep the knowledge coming.