Ive been fishing nothing but gulp shrimp for the past couple years, granted I dont fish thaaaaat much, but anyway I want to try somthing new. Any suggestions? Im referring to artificials too, Im kind of done with live bait for the most part.

Im thinking maybe some sort of suspended lure. Something not topwater but not something thats going to sink to the bottom either. Im thinking something that I could fish over oyster beds without it sinking down and getting caught up in them. What do you think?

My favorite lure (which also fits what you are looking for perfectly) is a DOA shrimp. A steady retrieve will keep it at whatever depth it is at currently. So reel as soon as it hits the water to fish it near the surface, or countdown a few seconds while it sinks to fish deeper. Also has the hook on top so getting snagged on the bottom isn't much of an issue...

The actual directions on the lure tell you to twitch it and let it fall, which definitely works... But my personal favorite retrieve (and the one that catches me the most fish) is a steady retrieve, just fast enough to keep it suspended at whatever depth I want to fish it...

The lure probably looks a little boring and "actionless" to most people, and that's because it pretty much is... But the beauty of it is how well it imitates a real shrimp... I have caught pretty much everything on a DOA shrimp, including multiple limits of trout and redfish, flounder, even trash fish such as ladyfish, bluefish, catfish, and pinfish! (the trashfish aren't a great selling point, but it's all about tight lines, right?!?)

I have caught ~75 keeper size trout this year (many released) and at least 80% of them came on a DOA shrimp... If you learn to work a DOA and gain confidence in it, you will fall in love...

ok, ill pick one of those up next time im looking at tackle.

I have to second the nomination for the DOA shrimp. The only thing you have to worry about is working the lure too much. I like to cast it across the current and retrieve it by simply lifting the rod tip and reeling in the slack with a twitch every now and then. My second choice would be the Mirrolure 17MR suspending twitch bait. Get one of each and see which one you like best. Good luck.

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Hobie Outback
Malibu Stealth 12

I really want something that will suspend in like a foot of water over an oysterbed. Ive never seen a red tail but Ive seen reds and sheepshead foraging on top of oysterbeds in shallow water.

1/4 Weedless Gold Aqua Dream living Spoon

Sebile Stick Shad Suspending White w/Blood Red

Popping cork with DOA shrimp

Super Spook in Mullet

DOA 5.5 Jerkbait Glow with 5/0 Offset Worm Hook with hook through the chin only

Rapala X-Raps or Yo-Zuri Crystal minnows that are about 3" long. Ive caught many fish on most of the colors.

Next in line would be the Mirrolure Mirrodines.

Hope this helps you narrow your decisions.

CT09

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I have been banned from this site for being insolent, immature, and disrespectful to others. I was warned but chose to continue my unacceptable behavior.

Mirrolure Catch 2000 is a great 'just under the surface' lure when the topwater bite is non-committing.
The Mirrolure 52m was one of my all-time trout killers. That one sinks slowly.
They're both in Mullet patterns (shape) but I love the baby trout color of these lures. Everything eats baby trout...especially big trout.
If you like to cover a lot of water, these are great lures. Especially if you don't have the patience for DOA shrimp (which work great of you do have the patience).

If you want the most lure on the market and the only one of its kind go to www.eclecticfish.com

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Wilderness Systems Ride 135 Angler Sit-On-Top Fishing Kayak

Sebile....absolutely any product.

Well I got a pack of DOA pre-rigged shrimp and an "xtreme action slashbait, x-rap, shadrap profile, shallow running lip, suspending", lol. The shrimp dont have the color listed but theyre a sort of clear/translucent coloring and the x-rap is silver. Hopefully get to try them this weekend, rain permitting.

Try a sebile floating stick shad. Always works great over oyster beds and in shallow water.

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Come kayak fishing in St Augustine with us. Updated December `09
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