Yes, you can use the standard skirted spinnerbaits in saltwater. Actually, there are dozens of spinnerbaits designed FOR saltwater - none of which are the skirted variety, though.

I throw skirted spinnerbaits and chatterbaits in the salt with plenty of success. I tell my buddies this all the time: if a bass will eat it, a trout or redfish will eat it. I haven't found a "bass" lure yet that a saltwater fish won't eat. Senkos, cranks, grubs, swimbaits, Texas rig, Carolina rig, finesse worms - you name it. I've caught saltwater fish on all of it.

And in terms of keeping the grass off, the spinnerbait will work pretty well, but the arm and blade assembly are still going to snag some grass. I've found that chatterbaits come through grass a lot better than spinnerbaits. And if it's really grass, just use a Texas or Carolina rig and you won't have to worry about a thing.

 

I've caught a lot of reds on the grass flats using fire tiger skirted spinner baits with gold willowleaf blades. I'm glad you asked, because I haven't used them in years for some reason (been using soft plastic near exclusively) but I need to pick some up. They can be deadly, they cast a mile, and they don't pick up too much grass or snag on oysters...all very good qualities. I don't really like the ones made for saltwater, they seem like a slightly beefier version of a beetle spin but at 10X the price...seem a little too cheap looking if you ask me. Plus, the concept of the skirted bait is for the turbulence of the blades to make the living rubber skirt pulsate, it makes for a lot of action that you don't get when you swap that skirt for a swimbait. Remember, everything we throw in the bay was originally designed for bass fishing...everything!

 

I don't really like the ones made for saltwater, they seem like a slightly beefier version of a beetle spin but at 10X the price...seem a little too cheap looking if you ask me. Plus, the concept of the skirted bait is for the turbulence of the blades to make the living rubber skirt pulsate, it makes for a lot of action that you don't get when you swap that skirt for a swimbait.

True, but my experience is that a standard skirted spinnerbait, with a solid arm going from head to blade is easily bent completely out of shape by a redfish.

I still throw them, but I probably go through two of those spinnerbaits versus one of the "beetlespin" type simply because on the beetlespin type the head is free to flex and move, so it doesn't bend.

Don't get me wrong, I still throw the skirted spinnerbaits all the time, but a redfish can put a hurtin' on one of those things in a hurry.

 

Yes they do. Terminator makes titanium spinnerbaits... but they're about 7 bucks.

 

You can even catch a tarpon on one. :rotfl:

I throw both kinds and have caught plenty of fish on the skirted as well as the safety pin style. There are some heavy duty safety pin styles on the market out of Louisiana. They are much stronger and better than the Redfish Magic. Marsh Works and Bayou Buck Lures both make them in various colors with a super strong wire.

 

Ding, ding, ding !

Bayou Buck Lures

 

the biggest flounder i ever got was on a skirted spinner , right at 19.5 inches.

 

Don't buy the clip on h&h beetle spin blades!! They rusted even after i rinsed them off with freshwater... Didn't have any problems with the redfish magic blades.

 

Reds and flounder love spinnerbaits.

 

Got a buddy that makes his own spinner baits for salt water.
Little more similar to the H&H type. His wire is more durable and the main eye is a complete loop, not just a bend that tends to open with a big fish on.
I believe he ordered his blades from Bass Pro.
He uses good quality, wide gap jig heads. Either the Bass Assassin or the jighead with the "screw" at the bottom of the lead.
I think he said he can make one for roughly $2.

 

You wouldnt happen to know what kind of wire he uses do you? Or where to get it?

 

#2 silver blade Mepps . My favorite Calif. trout lure and it catches all the purdy Texas fishies.

 

at any given time you can catch anything even on a piece of gum. does that mean you should use it? deep questions need deep answers...you just never know! good luck!

 

It's leader wire for offshore fishing .. I think a #17 is what I use I'll check .. You can get a small pack for $5 that will make all you want.. Academy sells some but FTU has the best selection..just bend the shape you want and go fishing

 

I use a Strike King Model made for saltwater. They have
gold Colorado blades no skirt. Have caught several reds.
Really good in stained water.

 

i go "bass fishing" the kema/ seabrook boat docks with all my bass fishing luers. redfish love bass baits

 

My dad has had good results from buzz baits for reds, trouts and smacks.

 

Thanks guys, I've got some bucktail jigs that I'm going to clip a silver colorado blade spinner blade onto tomorrow morning down in the surf. That Colorado blade puts out alot of vibration and is very flashy, should do well if the fish are there, after I throw my topwaters. I never heard of a chatterbait before but looked them up and saw a couple youtube videos of them, looks promising. There are several good bass baits that I've thought would be good for trout as well, time to start experimenting.

 

i caught a coupla nice trout in palacios last week using redfish magic. used the white or pearl colored swimbait on it. also caught several disgusting, slimy to the max catfish. i had slime about 14 inches up the line. had to wash my glove when we got home.
also caught a couple on ttf xl big mino in white/pearl w/ chartreuse tail.

 

Check out Marsh Works for some awesome wire baits (spinnerbaits and buzzbaits). These guys crank out some amazing stuff that is very high quality but don't charge an arm and a leg!

http://www.marsh-works.com/