In an estuary a small shrimp lure can be quite deadly but this is generally for small fish as they require a very small hook.

In the surf they may help as an attraction but I wouldn't use one unless it has a tasty morsel of fresh bait attached. I believe we all know the best baits are oily and bring fish to the offering.

The television shows tend to show soft plastics, jigs and rubber lures in a false light. First they are fished differently from a boat as to how we fish the surf. Also you will notice that in all the shows where they are simply slaying snapper of lures, it is always filmed around Auckland or north thereof.

Meaning no disrespect to any of those television producers, they don't show surfcasting south of the Bay of Plenty as they know they wouldn't get enough film in the can to make anything of a show. Even then they tend to show Torpedoes as they are confident they will film fish coming ashore.

That's my two pennyworth, I hope it helps.