Live Target Croaker Swimbait! Does It WoRK or Does It SuCK?

Hey guys, got a hold of a couple Live Target's new Croaker Swimbait. Decided to put them to the test and do some river fishing with them. Check out the video to see if they actually work or not....
Tight Lines guys!
Enjoy!!!
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Gear....
7' medium action Star Stellar Lite rod
Piscifun Carbon X 3000 reel
10 lb. Powerpro braid
40 lb. fluro
4.5" Live Target Croaker
7 1/2' Medium Heavy Berkley Rod
30 lb. Power Pro
60 lb. Mono Leader
5.5" Live Target Croaker
Cameras.....
GoPro Hero 3+
GoPro Hero 4 Silver
GoPro Hero 5 Black
Galaxy S9+

[@rdzed3505]

Got to agree with a few peeps in the comment section about having a much stouter rod. I use a 7-0 MH for these baits and have probably a 9-1 land/loss ratio. Even 14" spikes get landed on a 4.5" bait. You need that rod resistance to engage before the hook set. These baits are phenomenal for reds, specks and flounder in the OBX sounds. Cheers.

[@rosemaryabbott1020]

Thank you so much for saving me the money.

[@ThurstonHowell3rd]

Wow I almost bought one of these tonight. Glad I saw this video first!

[@beardedyaker9767]

I love mine got a 30" Jack in the Indian then hit the beach got a 41" snook and some mid 20"inchers the next morning. They do tear easier then I hoped but they do work great!

[@alboogie74al]

Super glue it and keep on using it that's what I've done..

[@BusyBee11226]

Put a VMC Inline hook beneath it. Works every time.

[@KG-gl8yo]

I was in agony every time those fish spit the bait back out lol.... great honest vid!!

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks man!

[@tylershaffer4287]

One of the main reasons which i had to learn myself as well is you need a stouter rod i can tell in your vid that your rod has too soft of a tip with a heavier rod not much heavier just not such a soft tip nothing lighter than medium heavy. Med heavy works great for the hooking of this lure you just have to set the hook HARD and if you get the fish hooked arpund the lip and the barb gets through right at the hookup good chances of landing the fish

[@HOOKEMINTHEMOUTHKAYAKFISHING]

Man can’t believe how many times that live target 🎯 didn’t keep them hooked. It works but they don’t stick . Wow.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Yeah brother. It definitely frustrated me for sure!

[@PonyFoot123]

I think it has to do with that gimmicky hook placement thats for “Weedlessness.” I think that if they moved the hook before the top fin closer the hook eye, the fish will have less leverage to throw it but what do i know

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

@@PonyFoot123 Thsnks man. Appreciate your opinion.

[@miamiwax5504]

@@PonyFoot123 use a stinger/trailer hook off the main hook

[@sir.v3x403]

I use a treble hook off the bottom and seems to work better

[@RadReelingFishing]

Great video dude! They are definitely attracted to it, but so many lost fish, I wonder why. You have so many great fishing spots.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks J.C. I think the main problem is the weight of the lure...

[@dravencravin]

@@JupiterGeorgeFishing I think putting an Inline hook on the bottom will help hook ups

[@bobscruggs8886]

Also tried while fishing the Lady Chris never a hit I m sure many fish guys love it.

[@jerrytan4577]

Yep, great bait, if you put an O ring and a small treb hook underneath it will dramatically increase your landed fish. Same with the mullet

[@BusyBee11226]

Single VMC inline hook will do the job. No need for trebles.

Beautiful Fishing technique Congratulations! This place is incredible. Stay with god!👍

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks!

[@snookslayer4559]

It is a beautiful looking bait. Snook candy when we catch live croakers in the cast net.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Yes it is. Will definitely be paying with it some more and trying to figure out a way to keep em pinned...

[@snookslayer4559]

​@@JupiterGeorgeFishing My friend actually called me this morning and said "did you see George's video? Throwing an artificial croaker for snook!" You da man. We're going to Stuart next weekend for our annual snook trip. However, we mostly cheat with live bait. Not everyone can be Jupiter George.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Hahaha! Thanks man! Hope you catch em up!

[@twinbee13monsterhunter]

I had similar experiences with live bait target swim baits the hook gap is not wide enough plus the fins get in the way of the hook set. I cut the fins off and you gotta really set the hook hard. I don't use them anymore because all the fish do is spit it.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Hear that brother, hear that...

[@FREEDOME2]

Cool video, thanks for sharing!! I rather fish with DOA CAL Airheads they have work perfect for me. Keep up the good work, the place looks amazing!! 🤙🎣🐟

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks man.... Appreciate you watching and commenting...

[@commanderwoods100]

Hey boss just a tip try clipping the dorsal fin off of the bait and it seems to help out on hook up to catch ratio.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Appreciate the advice. Have tried it with the mullet... Doesn't seem to help. This bait is even heavier. It seems to be the weight of the lure that is the problem to me...

[@washchris]

Great video! You should try putting on a small treble or inline hook.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks man.. I am considering it but the only problem is it rides so close to the bottom. I feel like it will get snagged....

[@bassmandan9484]

Inline’s better

[@frankcastle4194]

I was looking at those this past weekend at Juno bait when visiting family. I have had great luck with the sardine pattern as far as getting strikes but 4 out of 5 spit it. I think its a combination of the wide gap hook and how heavy the lure is.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

I agree.. The weight is definitely one of it's biggest problems..

[@frankcastle4194]

I'm going to put a split ring and treble hook on one next time I head down that way.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

I give it a try and let me know.. The only problem I see with that is that it has to ride pretty close the the bottom and that treble might pick up a bunch of junk or even worse get hung up...

[@frankcastle4194]

That's been my biggest concern. I troll them in the kayak and would hate to snag something and have a $10 lure pop off. Hahaha

[@nickcriaris7830]

Try cutting the dorsal piece of plastic off... That will help a little w hook-ups

[@bobscruggs8886]

On Tuesday Aug 6th Dollman's beach just north of Jensen beach the bait pods covered the shore many many Tarpon I tried the live target 3 Tarpon hooked 1 sec , 1 sec sec 3 seconds the Tarpon just spit the Target screw this lure I proved it doesn't work to the trash it goes.

[@BusyBee11226]

Bob Scruggs Tarpon will spit almost anything in there mouth. I catch so many Snook with the Live Target Sardine.

[@fishinmagician81]

G Man ;1st great video and review of the live target Croaker that thing is dope looking..I think (JMHO)that your rod set up is the problem the snook you are hooking up have the advantage of leverage against your set up and are able to throw the bait,. try a stouter set up for this style lure I'm sure your land ratio will increase.I had this same problem when I was just learning to bass fish the gear I used was for trout (rainbow & browns up north) and I could not keep the bass buttoned ,till I changed my thinking and went with heavier gear ...Best of luck keep em coming .tight lines and full nets.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks man! I appreciate your comment. Makes sense. Will try it on heavier gear and see...

[@miamiwax5504]

They should advertyise this as the first self releasing lure! Hahaha!

[@Faze_mexican0907]

Put a treble hook on the bottom

[@mbweimar]

Nice work man! I've literally NEVER caught anything around that bridge. Its pretty shallow around there. The other two bridges though...

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks man... I know..Says something about the bait, right? They definitely liked it.... Now just got to keep it in their mouths...

[@mbweimar]

@@JupiterGeorgeFishing Definitely! Had a BIG snook on the live target mullet up a the locks that got off the other day.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

That sucks but I am not surprised... Have lost a bunch of fish on that bait too.. I keep throwing them though because they really like em...

[@gorchcleave5393]

I had to trim the dorsal fin on the live target mullet for it to stay tight. Could not get a good hook set.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

@@gorchcleave5393 I still have problems with that bait even when I trimmed the fin. The weight of the lure seems to be the main problem for me. I still throw it though because the fish really like it..

[@curtismatsune3147]

Looks like you need more backbone in the rod you tie this lure onto. It's really just a swimbait, a format that has proven effectiveness.

[@michaelwiseman1405]

Also put a treble hook on the hook an blurry one hook in the bait snook are short strikers

[@kayakandlandfishing2651]

Where’s that boat ramp

[@bobscruggs8886]

I wonder if it will work on bigger fish like Mahi going on charter boat will try on Mahi that circle the boat seems like the hook should be facing the other way since fish normally attack from head first , I guess the bait companies know best ?

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Always worth a try... Never know...

[@brianclark17]

Add a hook to the bottom, it solves the fish spitting it out

[@cormacstubbs6252]

Treble?

[@FungiOfFlorida]

Awesome video as usual👍. I use a med/heavy baitcast setup with the live targets and it has helped my land ratio versus spinning tackle. Not sure why exactly but it worked for me.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks... Maybe the stiffer rod keeps them buttoned better...

[@loganbrooking2552]

Jesus loves you spread it

[@rylantrigg3440]

There is a little eyelet under the bait I attached a treble hook to it and worked better

[@bettygarcia278]

What is that black Gadget on your rod just above your hand

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Remote control for my trolling motor...

[@tiefighter281]

Live targets trigger a lot of bites but I have always had trouble with the hooks being way too weak

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

It's kind of a bummer.. Because I know the fish really like it...

[@Alex-dn5hi]

Never had weak hooks, just weak hook sets

[@visualedtech]

A few Sebastian Inlet anglers cut off the dorsal fin on the Live Target scaled sardines. They claim that it provides a better hook set. I would never throw a 10 dollar swim bait when the 4" Berkley swimmin pogy pack is only $2.97 for 3. See Ya on the water.

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks man, appreciate the input... I have tried it with the mullet but still seem to lose them just the same, for me anyways. Thanks for letting me post to your page btw, I definitely appreciate it. Been fishing a bunch up your way lately. Your inshore fishery seems to be doing very well. Nice to see it coming back a bit. Tight lines brother!

[@cliffordaguilar1441]

You need to use a fast action casting rod rated for that lure weight. That spinning rod is too light to keep that hook pinned

[@guttamane8927]

It’s the top find the gives it hook up problem I just cut them off

[@anthonyhiggins721]

You do need a heavier action rod. Since the hook is a heavy gauge it takes more to drive that point past the barb, try cutting the fin off and tightening the drag a bit

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks man...

[@roch2429]

Where did you fish the lure?

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Sorry man I don't really name locations in my videos...

[@kix-mi9it]

Is that your trolling motor remote on your rod?

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Yes. Minn kota stopped making them unfortunately...

[@kix-mi9it]

@@JupiterGeorgeFishing That's awesome. Had never seen that before.

[@lukehanlon3179]

Check out the Butch brown rigging video

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks! Checked it out... Going to give it a try...

[@Mike-ew9zn]

Jigs with tails are much cheaper with better hookups! Great footage though...

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thank you... I do fish alot of jigs too! Definitely a favorite bait!

[@23streetsoldier]

They need to make a circle hook live target lure lol..

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

There you go!

[@stratpaulguy86]

Great video George! The problem with those Live Targets are they have a thick diameter hook and are fairly heavy...they tear big holes in the papery mouth of fish like snook and trout so they can easily come off with the slightest headshake. The "weedless" fin also hurts the hookup ratio. I've had more success with Spoolteks and DOAs in that regard...tight lines!

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

I agree man... Sucks cause the fish really seem to like them...

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thank you!

[@WesLovelace]

It's a great lookin' Bait & there's knot many gamers that will turn their noses up....From past Xperience I've always had mixx'd results when the hook is Xposed from the Dorsal Finn!!

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Yeah, I guess you can't always have it all brother...

[@captainzumafishing772capta9]

Good to see you on the boat.thats where its at.sorry,but I just can't get my head around buying expensive lures,that often don't work well and are made for mere pennies in communist china.im thinking that one cost $20+

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Thanks man, understand...

[@lifesabeachtv2131]

You should add a treble hook to that bottom

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

I know but where I was fishing it would have gotten snagged...

[@mykeythefishamador2213]

works , yet it sucks at the same time

[@jakedeal6508]

Looks like a frustrating bait to you haha

[@JupiterGeorgeFishing]

Nice to hear from you Jake! Yes it is! Lol!

[@enriqueteja5169]

Put a treble hook on it

[@MrTeteelgoldo]

Troublehook

[@theperfectpaintertoolreview]

I know this is 4 yrs old but your losing fish cuz your holding your rod tip too high in the air, forcing the fish to the surface where it has better leverage to throw the bait. Notice how they throw everytime they break the surface? That paired with a heavy lure is a recipe for disaster

[@michaelwiseman1405]

Man your to aggressive with reeling em in an loosing your drag to tight enough to set hook an work up your applying to much pressure on em

[@erice.1636]

Punctuation is a good thing...