Throw a shrimp rigged on a jig head out to a place with structure, current, and bait.
There is something wrong with the shrimp if it spins in the water. The fish will know this and not eat it.
It all comes down to how you rig it, and in this video, we’ve got Capt. Mark “Hollywood” Johnson showing us the best way to rig shrimp on a jig head.
He had me cast out the shrimp rig he made for me twice, and I caught two snook in a row to show how well it works.
P. S. One of the guests was a big, scary Everglades crocodile, which scared us all. I think Joe may have peed his pants. ).
Shrimp are a popular bait for many species of fish, but their soft bodies can make it tricky to keep them on the hook. As an avid angler, I’ve tried all kinds of methods and tricks over the years to prevent shrimp from slipping off prematurely. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share all my best tips and techniques to help you hook and hold shrimp so you can catch more fish.
Why Shrimp Make Great Bait
There are several reasons shrimp are such an effective bait:
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They’re abundant in many waters and form a key part of the diet of predatory fish. When you mimic their natural food sources you increase your odds of getting bites.
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They appeal to a wide variety of species including trout, redfish, flounder, snook, snapper, black drum and more
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They come in different sizes, so you can match the hatch properly based on the species you’re targeting.
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They’re easy to find live or frozen at most bait and tackle shops. Dead shrimp work just fine and some anglers even prefer them over live.
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They give off strong scent trails in the water to better attract fish to your hook.
Challenges of Keeping Shrimp on Hooks
While shrimp might be the perfect bait in many ways, their fragile bodies make keeping them hooked a frustrating challenge:
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Their thin shells and soft flesh tear away easily when casting out or on the retrieve. This allows them to slip right off the hook.
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Multiple casts will cause them to deteriorate and fall apart quickly.
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Lighter tackle requires careful and not-so-forceful casts to prevent shrimp from flying off prematurely.
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Strong current or wave action can rip shrimp off the hook easily.
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Strikes from fish can rip off chunks of shrimp instead of getting solidly hooked.
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The shrimp’s tail tends to wrap around the hook shank leading to reduced hookups.
So while shrimp are irresistible to fish, their delicate physical makeup means you have to put in some work to rig them properly and make them last. The good news is there are many proven methods to make sure your shrimp stay secured on the hook!
Making Sure Shrimp Stay on the Hook
Here are the best tips and techniques to prevent shrimp loss and keep the bait where it matters – on the hook!
1. Use Fresh or Thawed Shrimp
Fresh or properly thawed shrimp hold onto hooks better than frozen shrimp right out of the freezer. The flesh stays firmer providing more resistance against tearing. Let frozen shrimp thaw completely before baiting up. Refreezing shrimp that thawed can make them mushier and prone to fall off.
2. Hook Shrimp Multiple Times
Double or triple hooking a shrimp makes it much harder for fish to rip it off your hook during a strike. Push the hook through the head and tail areas a few times to maximize hold. Be careful not to puncture the body too much which can cause pieces to tear off.
3. Rig a Weight Above the Shrimp
Adding a split shot, egg sinker or other weight 8-12 inches above the shrimp helps keep it pinned on the retrieve. The weight provides leverage against current, waves or fish strikes yanking the shrimp off. Just don’t use too heavy a weight for the rod strength.
4. Use Stronger Short Shank Hooks
Short shank hooks give the shrimp less room to move around and fall off. Using strong sharp hooks like a Owner Mosquito Hook also requires more force to dislodge shrimp. Check your hook points regularly to ensure they stay sharp.
5. Hook Through the Head
Hooking shrimp through the head region helps keep the tail together. Shrimp tails tend to wrap around the hook bending it and leading to pull-offs. Keeping the tail intact prevents this.
6. Texas Rig Your Shrimp
Texas rigging shrimp on a jig head or swimbait hook is a great way to lock it on there. Push the point all the way through the head and bury it into the body with just the very top of the hook exposed. The shrimp can still move naturally with this method.
7. Use Bait Thread
Lure thread like P-Line or Uni Knot Tacky thread keeps shrimp attached by tying them directly onto the hook. Wrap the thread around the hook shank and over the shrimp’s body for a super secure rig. It also allows the shrimp freedom of movement.
8. Add Super Glue
Using just a touch of super glue or Crazy Glue Gel on the head and tail areas will keep a shrimp on the hook through almost anything. Be careful not to glue the hook eye! This is best for casting into heavy cover.
9. Tip with Bait Fish Strips
Adding a small strip of bait fish like squid or fish belly to the hook point gives you the shrimp for scent and profile, plus the bait strip stays put. Just be sure to check laws first as some areas prohibit multiple baits.
10. Use Circle Hooks
Circle hooks are less prone to dislodging shrimp baits, especially on the hookset. The circular shape rotational point helps keep the shrimp from tearing free. Just be sure to not strike too forcefully!
11. Bridle Rig Your Shrimp
Looping the line through the shrimp’s head area twice and tying it on the hook shank acts like a hitching post to keep it secured. This bridle rigging method prevents wrap arounds and keeps the shrimp centered.
12. Keep Your Casts Low and Slow
Making long bombed casts risks ripping the shrimp right off on release before it even hits the water. Make lower trajectory casts and avoid really whipping the rod on the cast. Letting line out slower prevents mid-air loss.
13. Check Your Drag Tension
Having your drag set too tight can cause a shrimp to tear free when a fish takes the bait and makes its first run. Use lighter drag settings to allow line to peel off smoothly on hook sets and runs.
14. Go Easy on the Hookset
Similar to the drag, try not to horse the hook too fiercely when you first feel a pickup. Gently sweeping the rod tip towards the fish gives the shrimp a better chance of staying pinned on through the fight.
15. Match Hook and Weight Size
Shrimp are best fished on lighter jig heads, hooks and sinkers that match their smaller profile. Oversized terminal tackle causes more leverage against the shrimp’s hold on the hook. Scale down when shrimp fishing.
Shrimp are a prime bait for many gamefish, but only if you can keep them on the hook! With these 15 tips and tricks to bait, rig and hook shrimp properly, you’ll be able to cast them with confidence knowing they’ll stay put.
Whether you’re fishing shrimp under a popping cork, on a jig head, or Texas rigged, putting these methods into practice will help you hook, fight and land more fish. While no rig or tactic is 100% fail-safe, using fresh or thawed shrimp of the appropriate size along with the right hooks, rigs and fishing technique will definitely prevent annoying shrimp blow-offs.
Soon you’ll be hauling in trout, reds, flounder and more with ease using everyone’s favorite bait – shrimp! Just remember to check regulations in your area, use ethical practices, and get out on the water with these shrimp rigging tips in mind. Tight lines!
Hook Shrimp On A Jighead [VIDEO]
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To make shrimp on a jig head hydrodynamic (so they won’t spin around in the water against their will) and aerodynamic (so they’ll cast far), follow these steps:
Step 1: Pinch the tail off.
You let more scent into the water when you pinch off the tail, and you also make room for the hook.
Step 2: Thread the hook through where the tail was and out of the back.
This will help the shrimp stay straight in the water. Make sure the hook goes out through the middle of the shrimp.
Step 3: Cast it out and catch some fish!
You can drag shrimp on a jig head along the bottom, bounce them on the bottom, or do a lift and drop like I did here to get them back.
All three methods work, so test them and see what is working for you that day.
Pro-tip: Use a boxing glove-style jig head.
Although I was using a trout eye jig head in this video (which I prefer for using artificial lures), I recommend a boxing glove style jig head, like the Mission Fishin jig head, if you’re fishing live shrimp.
This is because when it’s on the bottom, it’ll sit upright.
You can see that when Hollywood put the shrimp on the trout eye jig head, it just slid off of his hand.
It’ll do that under the water, too, which doesn’t look natural.
But with a boxing glove-style jig head, it’ll sit upright, look more natural, and catch more fish.
You can get the boxing glove style Mission Fishin jig heads from our store here.
To hook shrimp on a jig head, pinch off the tail and run the hook through the hole where the tail was and out of the shrimp’s back.
This makes it hydrodynamic (so it doesn’t spin in the water) and aerodynamic (so it casts far). It also catches fish, as the two snook I caught here show.
Have any questions about rigging shrimp on a jighead?
What’s your favorite way to hook shrimp on a jighead?
Let me know down in the comments.
You can get the Mission Fishin jig heads from our shop here.
And if you’re in the Florida Keys and want to book a trip with Capt. Hollywood and his crew, you can find them at FloridaKeysFunFishing.com.
P. S. Want to know about our favorite fishing spots, get fishing tips, and get discounts on our online tackle store? Click here to join the Insider Club!
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How to Bait Dead Shrimp on a Hook Trick / Tip
How do I choose the right hook for hooking live shrimp?
When it comes to selecting the right hook for hooking live shrimp, there are a few key factors to consider. One of the first things to think about is the size of the hook. The size of the hook you choose will depend on the size of the shrimp you are using as bait.
Can I eat raw shrimp?
Eating raw shrimp is not recommended. Raw shrimp can contain bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It is also a good source of purines, which can trigger gout attacks. If you want to eat shrimp, cook it thoroughly to reduce the risk of food poisoning and to help prevent gout attacks. Cook shrimp until it is opaque and pink to ensure that it is safe to eat.
How do you keep shrimp from sticking to a jar?
Place a piece of cut shrimp on top of the salt. Place a layer of salt on top of the cut shrimp. Place another piece of cut shrimp on top of the salted shrimp. Repeat alternating between salt and shrimp layers until the jar is full. The salt will preserve and toughen the shrimp to make it stay on the hook longer.
What size shrimp hook should I use?
The size of the hook you choose will depend on the size of the shrimp you are using as bait. If you use a hook that is too large, it may be difficult for the shrimp to take the bait properly. On the other hand, if the hook is too small, it may not be strong enough to hold the shrimp securely.