Shrimp under popping cork?

[fishingRED]

Went fishing Saturday morning and did not get any hits in shallow water. So I decided to move into deeper water and my choice of lure is usually gulp under popping cork (cajun thunder). Lately I tried moving away from fishing gulp, but I think I will be returning to using it. I purchased live shrimp but by the time Ive got to my spot it was 1/2 dead. I have not used any bait dead or alive for the pass year or so, so I did not have any equipment (hooks). I tried setting the shrimp in a jig head, tail first, then through the head, and then through the back. My problem was not the bite (if the shrimp stayed on when i popped the cork), my problem was setting the hook. Ive never had this problem with gulp, but I really regret not haveing it. Had two awsome bites: one took by cork under and pulled drag, and the other pulled my line towards me. Both time I tried setting the hook I will think I had them on but then they just released. Just wonder how people set live or dead shrimp and have succes.

[fishingRED]

Oh yeah.......fished out going tide, wind was not so bad, and the catch for the day waz a flounder and a trout caught by my friend using live mullet. For me just 4 under size trout and a croaker. Caught them using berkley swimming mullet.

[Moonpie]

Did you have an aerator on your shrimp bucket?
If you don't have one, get one. Not expensive. Can get them at Academy.

One thing I've noticed is people use too large of hooks.
Try going down to a small hook, size 1 or 2 flounder hook.
Don't use trebles. They tear up fish to bad getting them out.

I normally hook a live shrimp thru its horn. This allows them to stay alive while on the hook.
Dead shrimp you can thread on the hook any way you want. Just try to hook it so the bait stays on the hook as best you can.

Hope this helps.

[caz]

might have just been a crab

[Milkjug]

Yep. Bubbler is necessary. Carry back up batteries if the current ones aren't brand new. Remove batteries from the bubler after the trip and they will last longer.

You should still change the water in the shrimp bucket every hour or so. This time of year it isn't so hot, so it's not as much maintenence as keeping shirmp in summer.

Moonpie is right about hooking through the horn. Try to "skim" through the hard part and avoid hitting the black organ that sits nearby, or your shrimp will die.

Mullet as bait will get you fewer hits, but they are easier to keep, and the fish you do catch will be higher quality.

Try gaining confidence with artis. I don't even consider live bait anymore since it is so much of a hassle and expense, and you have to deal with all the dinks and trash fish since everything eats shirmp.

[rwscold]

If I use live shrimp, I use treble hooks. When fishing the shrimp you have to baby the trout, they will not always take it and run. The tend to bump it or try and snatch the end, then give the rod a little flick and they should hit it solid. Flounder are strange I've had some go nuts for shrimp or even dead shrimp and others you just feel a gentle bump. Just make sure you don't get ahead of yourself and set the hook to early. I've beena big fan of a Trout rig lately. They cost about $1.99, and can handle a good bit of fishing. I understand using live bait though, it took me a while to move up to artificial. Once you get confident with them I can assure you that you will likely not go back. I almost never catch trash fish on artificial, and the size of the fish is typically much better too granted that is not always the case. In regards to keeping the shrimp alive I usually get the biggest cooler I have and fill it with water, then set my bait keeper in there. This method usually gives me a bit longer to hit my spot before they die so I can get them back in the water. This time of year your shrimp should last if kept in a bait bucket in the water for quite a long time.

Moonpie the only time I have seen trebles really tear up the fish is if I was using a treble that was to small. I think I use a size 4 treble and 90% of my catch are easy to remove.

[Explorer21]

Donna uses new penny 3" gulp with a gig head and kills them. Not sure why, but she does really well.

[WestEndAngler]

I've removed treble hooks from my arsenal for fishing. I have not used one now for well over 10 years. I grew up using them but probably will never use one again after circle hook came out that is unless I'm throwing out a hook for some gator or gar.

[txwhaler 22]

x2 with west end ...try using an owner 2/0 hook ... 99% of the time the hook is in the corner of the mouth...for live bait it is the best...the only trebles i see are on all my topwaters...how do those trout miss all those hooks???

[caz]

x2 with west end ...try using an owner 2/0 hook ... 99% of the time the hook is in the corner of the mouth...for live bait it is the best...the only trebles i see are on all my topwaters...how do those trout miss all those hooks???

man i say that everytime i miss one.. i even walk near a treble hook and i get hooked like 5 times, how the hell does a fish thats trying to eat one not get hooked??

[sfef84]

I've removed treble hooks from my arsenal for fishing. I have not used one now for well over 10 years. I grew up using them but probably will never use one again after circle hook came out that is unless I'm throwing out a hook for some gator or gar.

You use em on topwaters dont you?

[fishingRED]

I am an artificial person, but this weekend I did not take gulp. The reason I was trying to move away from gulp was that they are pricie and tear up so easy. But I will be going to Acadamy to purchase some. Here is another question: Is the recharge pint really worth buying, or do you get the same amount if you buy 4 packs or a pint? I tried looking for the quanity in the label of the bucket but could not find it.
I am an artificial person, but since my fishing buddy for the day is into live, I taught about joining him with live bait. I changed from live to artis a year ago because is more action involved and I tend to get the fish I want. Sitting there and waiting for a bite is just not my thing.

I also use top water, but Ive only had caught some redfish in Matagorda with them. Here in galveston no luck yet. Had some blow ups here and there, but nothing really got caught.

[Milkjug]

I like the Gulp Alive for all the extra juice. I buy one, then buy the smaller packs to add as I use them up. If you run low on juice, get another thing of Alive.

Don't use the container they come in, it leaks badly. I use an empty mayo jar, and others have sucess with the tupperware that has an o-ring and latches.