Thread: Shrimp for Spanish

I have caught several Spanish mackerel on live shrimp when fishing for other species in the shallows (pompano, sheepshead, flounder, etc.). Usually, the fish have been caught on a fish finder rig with a 1 oz. egg sinker. However, I have read about many using shrimp to target the Spanish. How would you rig for this type of fishing?

#4 treble hook, 40 or 50# mono leader, small split shot, about 3-4' under a cork.

Why would you want to buy shrimp to catch Spanish, when any number of artificial baits are just as capable of filling your box? Many are cheaper than a single live shrimp.

If there, I usually don't have a problem catching the Spanish on looney jigs, bubble rigs, gotchas, spec rigs, etc. However, just looking for another option when the fish flash and short strike lures.

I'll toss a .34¢ shrimp if that's what the big ones are hitting hard-n-fast. Sometimes it beats working an artificial, especially if you get bit off several times.
A treble and a shrimp is pretty inexpensive.

Anyways, Carl answered the OPs question.

Originally Posted by DRH

Why would you want to buy shrimp to catch Spanish, when any number of artificial baits are just as capable of filling your box? Many are cheaper than a single live shrimp.

One answer is, "If spanish aren't biting, other fish will hit a live or fresh dead shrimp". Sometimes spanish will just flash at a lure, but not actually strike it, while they'll take a live shrimp and won't hit anything else. Another reason for using live shrimp is that it's a different bite. In clearer water, you can see the spanish approach your shrimp, inhale it and take off with it as you set the hook. Sometimes, spanish are not "in" or biting and you need to be able to fish for something else.

Regarding spending money on bait - Every fisherman values the experience differently and the financial circumstances of some fishermen are also different to the point that they'd rather have live bait and give it away if they don't use it, than to feel like they needed it and didn't have it. That's pretty much where I am with my priorities - I'll have live shrimp and fresh fishbites (for other species), as well as Gotchas, Looney jigs and a diving lure or two that are also effective for spanish.

For fishermen on vacation/holiday, I'd suggest that if they spent hundreds of dollars on a condo/hotel room, lots of money on equipment and travel expenses - do they really want to penny-pinch on bait? Again, though -- everybody's circumstances are different in the way that they value the experience.

I've caught some of my biggest spanish onvlive shrimp. If those little ly's aren't around and bubbles aren't catching them, drop a live shrimp about 4-5ft under a cork and let it drift

Originally Posted by bigboyjames11

I've caught some of my biggest spanish onvlive shrimp. If those little ly's aren't around and bubbles aren't catching them, drop a live shrimp about 4-5ft under a cork and let it drift

My son and I met you at the pier last summer. I believe you had just gotten married. I actually remember seeing you catch a very large Spanish on a shrimp on the octi one afternoon after the main bite had died off.

I couldn't get them(Spanish) to eat artificial at Navarre. I had live shrimp and just lightly cast them out into the school. No weight, no swivel, just a double uni knot-12 lb mainline connected to a 60lb mono leader, #2 ssw owner hook. If the shrimp gets spooked and flicks, it's almost a guarantee it's going to get hit. Don't snatch, let him eat and run.

Originally Posted by DRH

Why would you want to buy shrimp to catch Spanish, when any number of artificial baits are just as capable of filling your box? Many are cheaper than a single live shrimp.

I had an old tymer on the old the old pier tell me just about that same thing about sheepshead once ;-)

As far as spanish: sometimes they want it and sometimes I just get tired of jigging.

BTW, which lures cost less than 34¢ each?