Live Bait for Fishing in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, AL

Plying the waters of the Alabama Gulf Coast for coastal and inshore game fish requires skillful use of both live and artificial baits. Live baits work real well when conditions are favorable, but when winds and water currents picking up can make live bait frustrating and down right unproductive. That being said, having live bait handy can be useful when none of the artificials are working.

"We got live shrimp!"

These words will make any fisherman's heart start to race.

The first step for fishing with live shrimp is finding the live shrimp. Unless you've got a shrimp net on your boat and a free morning, you're going to have to depend on someone else catching them and buy the shrimp from them. Get on the phone and call until you find someone that utters the magical phrase, "We got live shrimp!" Hang up the phone get down there with a bait bucket that is equipped with a bubble box (aerator) and buy plenty. A five gallon bucket will hold quite a few dozen shrimp. Be sure to keep the bucket cool to ensure the shrimp living as long as possible. Keep the shrimp in the same water you got from the bait shop. You can also find buckets made for hanging off the side of the dock or boat while you fish.

Don't forget to ask for bull minnows while you're at the shop. While live shrimp are the far flung favorite, bull minnows can produce strikes and hook ups from some of the bigger fish hanging around.

How to fish with live shrimp

Spinning combos are the best rig for fishing with live shrimp. The saltwater spinning combo best suited for this consists of a spinning rod of at least 6'6" and a light tackle spinning reel. Up to twelve pound line can be used and for beginning anglers 10 pound line should help you land just about any fish you hook while drifting or pier fishing. Slide an egg sinker (egg shaped lead) onto your main line and attach a #1 barrel swivel to the end of your main line. To the bottom of this swivel attach 12-18" of 15-20# fluorocarbon leader. Using a uni-knot (it is best to learn this knot before you get on the pier or boat) tie on a #1 -#4 bait hook (more on hooks on the Hooks page). Thread the hook through the horn area of the shrimp's head being careful not to puncture the black dot inside the head. Cast the live shrimp rig out with gentle ease so you don't throw the shrimp off. You'll get the hang of it after a couple of times. Allow your bait a five to seven second drop to get to the bottom then begin working the shrimp back by turning the reel handle slowly. You should be able to feel the shrimp dragging the bottom. When the fish strikes, lift your rod tip sharply (not forcefully) and bring in your fish.

**Redfish will generally grab the bait with a tug and want to take off. Let him. He will make a run and you will need to wait out his fight by simply keeping pressure on the rod. Trout will generally slam the shrimp and start shaking his head violently until you get him landed.

Where to get live shrimp