Last Updated on February 11, 2021 by Eric Bonneman
Paddletail (or paddle tail) lures are a great option here in Florida as they can be fished in nearly any situation at any time of year. There are several ways to rig a paddletail, but my personal favorite is with a belly weighted hook in a weedless configuration. Aside from this, I like a paddletail with a pocket in the belly for additional scents. Something like Pro-Cure shrimp gel works great on inshore species.
In regards to colors, again there are several valid arguments and options available. A sure-fire color combo will always be natural color configurations. These are generally green, tan, or brown backs with a light-colored belly. All white variations such as pearl or bone also work very well.
These types of lures can be used all year. In hot summer months, they can be fished to mimic the action of fast moving bait, while in the winter they can be slowly bumped across the bottom as a crustacean would move. That is just a couple of methods, but the reality is a good paddletail lure can be used to mimic several types of bait with nearly any kind of action.
Several species will readily strike a paddletail lure. Some of these species include:
- Redfish
- Seatrout
- Snook
- Flounder
- Black Drum
- Snapper
- Grouper
