Florida Sport Fishing - Crazy about Critters!

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Crazy about Critters!

Written by Captain Mike Genoun

crazy about critters AS SEEN IN THE MARCH/APRIL 2007 ISSUE

Plastic shrimp – quite possibly the most versatile, and arguably, the most effective shallow-water artificial baits ever created.

Bonefish, cobia, flounder, grouper, jacks, ladyfish, mackerel, permit, pompano, redfish, sheepshead, snapper, snook, tarpon, trout, even broadbill swordfish eat live shrimp! The tasty critters are a mainstay in the diet of nearly every game fish swimming in state waters. To clearly comprehend why the hard-shelled crustaceans are so well-liked, one must first understand a little bit about their life cycle.

crazy about critters

There are numerous sub-species of shrimp roaming the Gulf of Mexico and Western Atlantic Ocean. They are categorized by five major sub-species and at one time or another, you have probably consumed every one of them: brown shrimp, pink shrimp, white shrimp, royal red shrimp and rock shrimp. The vast majority in and around Florida’s near-shore aquatic ecosystems which our piscatorial pursuits primarily feed on are of the pink variety. You see, South Florida's seagrass and mangrove dominated estuaries serve as perfect nursery grounds for pink shrimp - the very same nursery grounds where countless juvenile members of many of the aforementioned species spend their early years learning the ropes of survival.

Early tagging studies suggested that Florida Bay, the Florida Keys, Whitewater Bay, Coot Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands house the largest concentrations of pink shrimp. It’s deep in these nutrient-rich waterways where the shrimp thrive before eventually making their way toward the Tortugas. Grass covered estuaries from Indian Key to Pine Island Sound also serve as healthy habitats for pink shrimp migrations prior to their trek to the offshore waters outside of Sanibel. Large numbers of juvenile shrimp also mature along the East Coast of Florida in Barnes Sound, Biscayne Bay and as far north as the St. John’s River. From tip to tip, the crustaceans are a statewide commodity.

The relationship between inshore nursery grounds and the shrimps’ deep water haunts is complex and apparently poorly understood. What researchers do know for sure is that millions of pink shrimp venture into deeper water during each month of the year with two peak movements occurring between March and May and August and October. The spring run is the larger of the two. What else is known is that once shrimp commence on their exhausting journey to the vulnerability of open water, their feeding habits change. This is also when the unsuspecting critters are barraged by nearly every single species of fish with fins.

As mere mortals, we are not privileged enough to witness the vast majority of these feeding scenarios because pink shrimp primarily move at night, under the cover of darkness. Gracefully drifting with the tides, the crustaceans roam throughout the water column, so other than the small number of surface cruisers we see picked off by keen-eyed snook and tarpon around bridge and dock lights, the real damage is being done unseen by us. It’s along the bottom and in mid-depths of the water column where countless numbers of migrating shrimp fall victim to the crushing jaws of marauding jacks, packs of feeding mangrove snapper and such. Even grunts, pinfish and triggerfish do their part in depleted the shrimp population.

As far as an enticing offering is concerned, we all know that nearly nothing is as appealing as a live shrimp. This fact alone clearly explains why so many leading soft-bait manufacturers have taken the initiative to imitate the baby bugs. Right from the very start, artificial shrimp became an immediate fishing success story, though, unlike the clumsy imitations that preceded them, today’s fakes feature ‘live shrimp’ looks, feel, smell, taste and even sound. That’s right, taste and sound. Manufacturers now impregnate soft-plastic shrimp with natural flavors and micro rattle-chambers. That’s not all - prominent eyes, vibrating legs and consistent flutter rates duplicate the real thing to the tee and continue to successfully fool every species of inshore and near-shore game fish known to man. Light tackle anglers need only to present the lure in their favorite shallow water estuary with a methodical retrieve to be insured of a remarkable day on the water.

Shrimp Secrets:
There are a few important tips all of the professionals share when it comes to rigging imitation shrimp, and none of them are secrets. The first of which is to use a loop knot when tying the artificial to the end of a 30-inch, 30 lb. test fluorocarbon leader. A loop knot will allow the lure to swim just a bit more freely so it will appear slightly more enticing to a predator that is eyeing it up for a tasty cocktail. The leader itself should be tied to your running line without the use of a swivel. If you do choose to rig with one, use the tiniest barrel-swivel you can find. Regardless of the application, eight to 15 lb. test monofilament, or even better yet, ultra-sensitive braid, will enable the angler to detect even the most subtle strike.

Regardless if you are fishing a mangrove-lined shoreline, partially exposed oyster bar or current swept point, cast the shrimp out and let it slowly settle to the bottom. Then, remove the slack from your line and twitch the shrimp as slowly as you possibly can. The key word is S-L-O-W-L-Y.

If you are fishing shallow grass beds, hold the rod tip up high and impart slight twitches in an upwards motion, mimicking an erratic, darting critter flickering across the lush blades of grass.

Of course, you can fish an imitation shrimp below a float or popping cork which is an extremely popular tactic utilized statewide. The distance between the cork and the bait depends on the depth of the water you are fishing. Ideally, the shrimp should briefly settle on the bottom between each “chug” of the float.

For sight fishing applications, cast the critter about two feet in front of the target and move the bait very gently across the bottom, keeping in constant touch with the line as you feel for soft pick-ups. While aggressive redfish or trout may smash a soft-plastic shrimp with authority, at other times, these very same fish will simply inhale the passing treat before slowly moving off on their merry way.

Three-inch shrimp may entice the greatest number of strikes, but when you’re in search of quality rather than quantity, four-inch or five-inch imitations are a better choice and will sometimes discourage smaller fish from picking at your bait.

Catch ‘em on a critter!
While we know imitation shrimp fished slowly and stealthily are a staple for all sorts of inshore predators, do we know how to rig them for different applications? Can getting the greatest distance out of your cast be achieved by the same rigging approach when throwing weedless? I bring this up because when we present artificial soft-plastic baits of any kind in any body of water, we have to consider how the natural bait that we are attempting to mimic really moves.

Under typical conditions, shrimp flicker, or kick, in a forward motion, but if they are threatened, they can and will dart backwards very quickly. So, should we rig our soft plastic shrimp from the head or from the tail? Either approach is effective which is why there are many imitation shrimp on the market today pre-rigged each way. I have found that whichever rigging method you decide on- may it be a simple jighead or elaborate weedless configuration- there is a big advantage to rigging these artificial baits perfectly straight; they cast further and more accurately.

We can’t forget that live shrimp are lightweight creatures typically weighing less than an ounce, so the thinnest hook and least amount of weight possible when rigging imitation shrimp will usually provide the most realistic presentation.

In reality, artificial crustaceans- shrimp or crabs- are types of baits that would be hard to rig wrong. They can be fished on the surface, just below it, or deep in the water column. They are also the types of artificial baits where the less movement imparted on the lure, usually results in the greatest number of strikes. While advances in technology continue to allow manufactures to introduce new gizmos and gadgets, I don’t believe that anything will ever surpass an artificial shrimp. The bait’s simplicity is its most valuable asset.

Sensational Shrimp:

-Subtle success…

A basic shrimp rig can be used for slowly working the artificial at or near the surface. The point of the hook protrudes through the top of the fake and as close to the center of it as possible. This helps maintain balance and allows you to work the lure in many different fashions. You can creep it along the surface, twitch it with brief pauses or let the bait flutter for a moment before darting it back up. With an exposed hook point, the basic shrimp rig is an ideal approach in areas with few obstructions. Furthermore, when a fish inhales the critter, the exposed, razor sharp hook is easy to set.

-In the weeds…

When throwing shrimp tight to a mangrove shoreline, across lush grass beds or underneath weathered docks, weedless is the way to go! I prefer to rig my artificial shrimp with a pre-weighted thin wire hook. This enables me to ‘bounce’ the bait through the submerged roots and thick vegetation without risk of constantly getting grassed-up or snagged.

-A hop, skip and jump...

Presenting shrimp in relatively deep water or at a desired depth in the water column requires an altogether different approach. This is when imparting the soft-plastic on a painted jighead is a hot combination. A long-standing producer of all inshore game fish in deep holes and around channel edges, the weighted head presents the bait in the strike zone while the soft body provides the action. A jig/shrimp combo can also be jigged in the current. Imparting an erratic action will enhance the shrimp's overall appeal which is precisely what you are relying on to tempt your quarry.

tailing redfish