I'm not an expert on fishing for spec but I justcame back from a trip down to the gulf fishing for Reds and Specks. Live shrimp are usually the 'best' with minnows a close second but if you want to go artifical the can use Gulp Shrimp. I personally caught specs on paddletail fluke with a 1/8 jig head, gulp shrimp, and walking a spook topwater.