How To Retrieve The Mulligan Paddletail Near Oysters

This is how to retrieve the Mulligan Paddletail near oysters to trigger more strikes!

Oyster bars provide instant hotspots to target redfish, seatrout, snook, and flounder.

The challenge is swimming your lures as close as you possibly can without getting hung up or stuck in structure.

Here’s how to catch more fish on the Mulligan near oysters!

How To Retrieve The Mulligan Paddletail Near Oysters

Get Mulligan Paddletail Lures

Get Hoss Helix Hooks

Equipment List From Video

• Rod: Slot Machine Custom Rod
• Reel: Daiwa BG MQ 2500
• Line: 10lb J-Braid 8 Grand
• Leader: 20 lb Ande Monofilament
• Scent: Dr. Juice Saltwater Slam Exclusive Scent
• Lure: Slam Shady Mulligan
• Hook: Hoss Helix Hook 3/0 with 1/8th oz weight

Using Smart Fishing Spots, we found some oyster bars on a flat to show the best ways to retrieve the Mulligan to trigger more strikes.

The first thing you need to be mindful of is the type of hook you’re using.

I recommend using a weedless weighted hook when fishing tight to any structure, especially oysters.

As long as the oyster bar is in less than 3 feet of water, weedless weighted hooks are game-changers.

If you’re fishing in deeper areas, I would go with a Hoss Weedless Football Jighead to get down in those deeper pockets while keeping its weedless properties.

Oysters will easily hang onto any exposed hook and then you’re stuck with the headache of trying to unsnag your lures.

When fishing tight to structure, it is also critical to skin-hook the hook point in the lure to go completely weedless.

Retrieving Over The Oysters

We found an oyster bar that’s in about 1 foot of water sloping off to 3 feet along the edges.

Especially during high tide, I like to buzz the lure right over the top of the oysters.

To do this, rod positioning is very important.

When fishing over the shallower part, keep the rod tip up.

As soon as you feel any of the oysters, speed up the retrieve.

You want to get close to the oysters but not close enough that the lure gets wedged and stuck in between them.

As soon as I feel the bar start to drop off, I’ll lower the rod tip down a bit to follow the contour of the oysters.

It is very common for predatory fish to hide out right along that deep edge close to the structure.

As you move the rod tip and drop the lure down, it will pass right in front of the fish’s face and they can’t help but take a swipe at it.

After you catch a fish, be sure to reset the lure on the hook and bury that hook point in the plastic.

Retrieves Along The Edge Of Oysters

In this case, cast out along the edges of the oyster bar and keep the rod tip down.

As soon as you feel any of the oysters, bring the rod tip up immediately.

You don’t want to get hung up in the bar.

The idea is to keep your rod tip down as much as you can to keep that lure as low as possible.

But again, as soon as you feel the oyster, raise the rod tip up.

You can also try different speeds as well as mixing in twitches as you work the lure along the edge.

Get Access to our Smart Fishing Spots Platform

The Mulligan is an excellent, all-purpose lure that is perfect for targeting inshore redfish, seatrout, snook, or flounder.

It is 4 inches in length and works all year round.

When rigged on the Hoss Helix Hook, it is the best combination for fishing around oysters or mangroves in less than 3 feet of water.

Both the lure and hooks are ONLY available in the Fish Strong Tackle Shop.

Get Mulligan Paddletail Lures

Get Hoss Helix Hooks

Finding The Fish Help

In order to help make sure that you are targeting the right areas based on the latest feeding trends and upcoming weather forecasts, make sure to use the following 3 resources because they will save you a ton of time.

1. Weekend Game Plans (updated weekly)

These regional game plans will show you exactly what types of spots to target in under 10 minutes… just click the video to start, and you’ll be informed on what to do on your next trip.

Weekend Game Plan Lessons

2. Smart Fishing Spots Platform (updated every 15 minutes)

This exclusive software literally shows you where the most fish are likely to be feeding based on exactly when you’ll be fishing. It factors in the tides, wind, and weather to help you quickly see which areas to target throughout the day.

Smart Fishing Spots App

3. Community Reports (live feed)

The Insider Community platform is what you can use to see what is biting near you, and you can get to know other members who fish in your area. Plus, you can use it to keep a log of your catches so you can use past trips to help predict future catches.

Community Platform