How do you properly rig a croaker when wadefishing for trout? Do you free line it, bottom rig it (carolina rig), or fish it under a popping cork like a shrimp? Thanks.

Stick the hook through the fatty part above the anal fin but below the lateral line. Some people hook thru' the top of the dorsal fin too.

Use a #5 kahle or #6 circle Hook..

Cork and free lining can both be used but free lining is a far better choice and producer IMO.

**Remember when you get a run let the fish take it for 3-6 seconds then set the hook!



-Z-

freeline that sucker! Also, like eagle said hook them that way and make sure you let the trout run with it for a second or two. We generally hold our rod tips up and then when we feel the hit, drop the rod tip and let the fish take the slack out of the line before setting hook. Good luck!

Thanks for the help. I'm pretty new to salt water and have learned a ton of stuff from everyone on here. I'm going to go tomorrow morning hopefully the weather is at least somewhat cooperative. As long as there isn't lightning we'll be out there. Besides, the fish are already wet right?

yeah they may be wet but they hate that fresh water runnoff from the rivers and stuff. Good luck the northwest part of galveston bay is rained out of gamefish but the baitfish remain as they always do.