Saltwater lures for Specks/Reds

[BenDiesel]

Hey gang. My wife, brother, and myself are going to Shell Island Fish Camp in Florida, middle of July. We have rented a boat to fish the flats and bay, was wondering if anyone has some tips on lures for Speckled Trout and Redfish. Not necessarily looking for size, just wanting to have a good time and catch some numbers. I’ve googled, etc but I’d like to hear if anyone has some personal experience/lures that work well. I’ve already picked up some inshore poppers, and was looking at clacker rigs also. What are your go to flats lures?

Thanks in advance!

 

[hoop235]

As far as lures go, we used Mir-O-Lures in red & white and gold & red colors for specks. Giztits in white with pink tail, Bass Pro used to sell them, worked real well for both species. Also, you my want to try a white or bubblegum colored flukes. I've caught reds and specks on flukes when other baits seem to slow down. I was fishing from the bank one time on St. George Island and watched as a boat pulled in and stated chucking shrimp at the bank, after about 30min. they gave up and moved on. I walked down to where they anchored and proceeded to catch my limit of specks on a white ice fluke and had an absolute blast.
Good luck and enjoy your trip. The best thing about fishing in salt water is you never know what may hook into!!!

 

[Nauticman]

Hard to beat a Gulp new penny shrimp on a red lead head.

 

[31airborne]

+1 on pink flukes. I've caught my fair share of reds on big ol' spinner baits. Bigger is better, w/ big blades (gold!).

 

[occasionalfisher]

A Mann's - 1 will work as well.

 

[churly]

Nauticman - 5/20/2019 1:50 PM

Hard to beat a Gulp new penny shrimp on a red lead head.

Ive caught a gazillion fish on those baits

 

[horseshoer20]

Gold and Black spoons.

 

[finbully]

Voodoo Shrimp in natural colors work too. There are new restrictions on the trout so be aware of that. Try putting a lead head (I use white most often) with a Gulp curly tail plastic under a clicker float like you would use with live shrimp for the trout too. Look for bare spots in the grass - they sit in the grass waiting to ambush anything that ventures out of the grass.

Also check out Florida Sportsman for the region you are going to fish:

https://forums.floridasportsman.com/

 

[BenDiesel]

Awesome guys, thanks for all of the responses!

Hoop235 that’s what’s exciting about this trip to me, not knowing what we might catch!

The Gulp! Shrimp on a jighead was going to be one of my picks to use, and spoons also. I’ll snag some flukes as well. Anyone have a particular lead head brand they prefer over another? From my reading, it looks like 1/8oz in shallows, 1/4 in deeper water; I just want to make sure the hooks are sturdy enough for saltwater/mouthy fish.

Finbully I’ll have to check out the new restrictions for sure then. Definitely don’t want any issues there.

 

[richg99]

Gold Sprite spoon; don't forget the swivel or your line will be twisted for weeks.

 

[BenDiesel]

Glad you mentioned that rich; I’ve got some spoons on order but had forgotten to get the swivels. Thanks for the reminder!