Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ Review [How to Rig & Underwater Demo Video]
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
The Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ is a lure I added to my tackle box a while back that I have really enjoyed.
It’s a tough and durable lure that has fantastic action in the water. I love to use it when fishing the flats in shallow water and when working structure in deeper water.
After using it for a while now, I wanted to give my honest review of what I like and dislike about this lure.
You can also see how to rig the Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ and what they look like underwater in the video below.
If you’ve used this lure, let us know what you think of it by commenting below.
Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ Packs: Rigged and Unrigged
The Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ comes in two different kinds of packs — rigged and unrigged packs.
The pre-rigged packs come with two EZ ShrimpZ rigged weedless on weighted hooks. The rigged packs are $6.99 each on the Z-Man website. You can see the rigged pack in the photo below:
The unrigged packs come with four EZ ShrimpZ with no hook. These packs are $5.99 on the Z-Man website. You can see a picture of the unrigged pack below:
One suggestion I would make if you’re inclined to buy the rigged Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ is to buy a spare pack of unrigged EZ ShrimpZ as well.
These lures’ tails have a tendency to break down over time or could even be eaten by a small-mouthed fish like a pufferfish or pinfish.
The unrigged EZ ShrimpZ are easy to use to replace damaged rigged EZ ShrimpZ because the unrigged are cut exactly the same as the rigged and can be added to the rigged hook in the same way.
Overall though, I like that these lures are durable and can be used many times before you need to replace them.
Check this out to join the Insider Club
The Best Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ Colors and Rigging
I’ve used quite a few different colors of the Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ and figured out that the greasy prawn and natural-colored EZ ShrimpZ are by far my favorites to use.
To me, the greasy prawn-colored EZ ShrimpZ is the most natural-looking for the area I generally fish. It’s a greenish-grey color that works well on the flats for redfish, trout, snook, and more.
The natural-colored EZ ShrimpZ is actually more of a pinkish color. I like this color because it can stand out a little bit in slightly-muddied water and is also an effective choice when fishing at night.
I like to rig both these colors on the Z-Man hook that comes with the rigged EZ ShrimpZ and on jigheads. Both riggings can be effective, as well as unweighted weedless hooks.
When I rig this lure, I always use a loop knot like the Non-Slip Loop Knot to connect my line to the hook. The loop knot gives the EZ ShrimpZ more action, which naturally already has great action, making it an even deadlier lure.
Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ Cons
I haven’t found many problems with these lures, but there are a few.
1. Difficulty Finding Replacement Hooks
I had trouble finding replacement Z-Man hooks like the ones that come in the rigged packs of the Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ. I bought my EZ ShrimpZ in a store and the store did not have the Z-Man hooks to replace the ones from the rigged packs.
2. The Lure Turns on Its Side When Sitting on the Bottom
The weight on the Z-Man hooks that come in the rigged packs is very narrow. Therefore, when the lure sinks and is sitting on the bottom, it turns on its side and has a bit of an unnatural presentation. When bouncing this lure off the bottom, I have to make sure I do not let it sit on the bottom and turn on its side.
This hasn’t been a huge issue but is something to note when using these lures.
Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ Review Video
You can see my full review, including how to rig the Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ and how they look underwater, in the video below:
Check this out to join the Insider Club
Conclusion
Overall, I really enjoy using the Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ on the water. They are tough, have great action, and come in different colors I can use depending on the situation.
The cons to this lure are minimal and easy to overcome. I think that the benefits are far greater and that this is a lure worth adding to your own tackle box.
If you have any questions about this review or a suggestion for the next product for us to review, let us know in the comments below.
Also, don’t forget that we are not affiliated with any lure or fishing gear companies and that all our reviews are 100 percent independent.
Tight Lines!
Related Articles:
- Zman MinnowZ Product Review Video [Top 3 Pros & Cons]
- Z-Man EZ Keeperz Weighted Hook For Soft Plastics [VIDEO REVIEW]
- The Quick And Easy Way To Rig Z-Man Jerkbaits [Cool Trick]
Then you’ve got to see this private fishing club! Here’s what you’ll receive today:Do You Want To Quickly Find New Fishing Spots In Your Area?
Click here to join today.
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
What about the Ned rig for this?. Wouldn’t it stand straight up instead of laying on its side?
Yep that can work very well! Ned rig also works great with our Power Prawn shrimp lures.
Hey Tony, the weighted hook was 0.2 ounces or 1/5th of an ounce when I weighed the hook without the lure awhile back.
Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the info Adam, good to know!
Great report Tony. I’m a Big fan of Z-man baits. Will definitely be adding some of these to my arsenal.
Thanks David!
Gotta admit that this review makes me want to go and see the action of the bait using the weedless weighted hook for the power prawn. I wonder if the rounded head with its weight forward will allow the Z-man bait to not roll over when at rest.
The heavier and/or larger the weight it will have a tendency to make the bait fall over at rest. A weight that’s more forward on the lure can usually help.
Tony, was curious have you used the VuDu Shrimps and any chance to get a similar type of review on them?
Hey Lorenzo!
I haven’t really used them much but we do have a video comparing them against DOA shrimp here:
https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/doa-shrimp-vs-vudu-shrimp/
Haha poor little shrimp needs a little nappy time on the pause! That’s embarrassing! A company that big, and can’t design the proper weighed hook for that thing. That’s probably why they don’t sell those hooks in separate packages.
Haha
Tony, have you tried this shrimp on a swivel Texas Eye or Texas Eye finesse?
Hey George!
Yes it works really well on that style of hook with the swivel head. Because these lures are buoyant, that style of hook almost gives the lure its own action as it rests on the bottom.
I used some Z Man prerigged shrimp this fall under a popping cork. I had no problem catching fish with them. They have some great color patterns.
My only complaint was they didn’t hold up compared to Vudu Shrimp.
Great underwater footage! I love seeing lures underwater like that.
I weighed the pre-rigged version and it’s 0.38 ounces with none of the lead removed from the hook. The weighted hook with all of the lead but without the shrimp is 0.2 ounces.
Thank you for the great feedback Adam!
Due to the buoyancy of this lure (Zman plastics) it will actually float when it is not weighted down. If you push it down under water it almost suspends wherever it stops which is pretty cool as well.
Love this shrimp in two day i caught a surf bream of 1 kg a rather nice flounder a really ally nice golden spotted cod and a flathead in roughly 50 casts, they really work wasgetting sceptical in relation to soft pladtics fishing but my faith has been restored by this shrimp.