Thread: best artificial

For the past three trips to Fort Morgan, I've used Gulp shrimp (either in the plastic jar or the bags (new penny, natural) when fishing off the beach. Last summer we came across some guys out on the Ft. Morgan point where we were, and they were using Voodoo shirimp and gave me one. Didn't have any luck, but I wasn't having any luck regardless. Another brand I hear a lot about is DOA. I did some searching around the forum, and I got lots of hits, but I didn't see a thread where people compared the three. Any thoughts? The gulp baits have produced 1 large red, multiple lady fish, a ray or two, and that's about it. Generally I use them on a fishfinder type rig with the weight on a slider on the bottom and a 2-3 foot leader to a hook with the shrimp. Would you fish the Voodoo or DOA the same way? I've also tried putting a jighead on and doing a slow retrieve across the bottom without much luck.

IMHO Gulp shrimp ought to be outlawed they are so effective.
j/k but they are pretty effective in the 3" colors mentioned (also pearl white ;-)
I use them with a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jig head, mainly targeting flounder but using them have caught speckled and white trout, red and black drum, southern and gulf and northern kingfish (ground mullet & whiting), ladyfish, hardtails (blue runner and baby jack crevelle), catfish, even a few pompano.

If I used a Fishfinder Rig (or Carolina Rig) I would probably switch to the floating Gulp shrimp pearl color (again in 3" size).

The popular Voodoo shrimp is a tough plastic artificial with no scent, as is the DOA.
The Voodoo shrimp has kevlar molded in the tail so it won't get bit off.
The hook is molded onto a 'standup' style jighead which doesn't sink or rest very "naturally" IMHO.
I prefer the 3" or 4" Savage Gear Manic Shrimp (also with kevlar in the tail, but) with a 'swimbait' style weight molded onto the hook to give a more "natural" fall and presentation.

The DOA is another popular and proven lure, but at twice the cost of H&H TKO Shrimp (which have "natural looking" black eyes), they are NOT twice as good (if at all better IMO).
The Live Target Shrimp look most "natural" (to me) of all the unscented arty shrimp, but are fairly expensive.

Hope this helps!

The baits that you describe are not really designe to use as just bait They need action like on the jig head as you describe or a popping cork or otherwise I'm not a real fan of artificial a in the surf Catch a lot more fish there on natural bait like live shrimp fresh dead shrimp cut mullet etc but if you are going to use them keep them moving with some type of action They all work The pier is the ticket for artificials Easy to use and you can catch a lot of fish with them

P#'er deserves a raise. I'm down for a dollar, anyone else?

#r,
any input on how best to work the Yozuri Crystal Shrimp lure?

Have to agree on the Gulp, under a cork it rivals a live shrimp for it's effectiveness.
I have several of the others mentioned in my tackle box, they never produced much and just take up space.

The Yo-Zi Crystal shrimp is a contradiction for me.
It's a hard plastic bait molded to look like a shrimp (in various psychedelic colours)
but it runs 'backwards' from the way a shrimp swims to escape a predator,
and it has an exorbitant price tag which negates my ever using one.

But I've heard say it works,
sometimes ;-)
But don't they all?

Yep...even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Hope you're doing well David.

I bought a brown crystal 3D shrimp but I'm scared if I use it I will break it off and lose it! Academy has a clone of the Vudu shrimp(Mojo Shrimp) on sale right now for $2.99 for a 2/pk.

New Foley Academy store opens in a week. I will sure enough see if they got em.

My biggest flounder ever 23" was on a voodoo. Gulp is ridiculously effective though