For most inshore worm fishing, I prefer spinning reels mounted on a 7-foot, medium-action rod, spooled with 12-pound-test line. I use a 1/0 offset worm hook when I wish to rig my plastic worms “Texas-style” so that they will be weedless. To rig in this fashion, insert the tip of the hook about a quarter of an inch into the head of the worm and bring it out through the body. Slide the hook forward until the quarter of inch of worm is in the offset portion of the hook with the eye of the hook at the head of the worm. Now, rotate the hook one-half turn so that the tip of the hook is facing the body of the worm, and insert the tip of the hook back into the worm at the point where the bend of the hook will ultimately be located. “Skin hook” the worm by pulling the worm forward slightly at the point where the tip of the hook is located and letting the worm fall back over the tip and barb of the hook. The worm should hang straight without being coiled or kinked.
Another way to rig a plastic worm is with a 1⁄4-ounce jig. Put the point of the hook into the tip of the worm and bring it out at about the spot where the bend of the hook will be. The weight of the jig head can vary between 1⁄8 ounce and 3⁄8-ounce for shallow-water applications.
Plastic worms are readily available in a variety of sizes and colors at freshwater tackle stores, larger retail stores with a good fishing department, and from catalog sales. I also suspect that a buddy who fishes for largemouth bass would be willing to part with a few packages, or better yet, fish with you in the salt using his lures. Plastic worms may be the most overlooked lure available to shallow-water anglers and if you will give them a fling, who knows what you might catch?
