I have used trout worms in the surf many times and traditional freshwater bass worms as well. My favorite color for trout worms is orange which also is one of my favorite colors for perch grubs too. I can't deny the fact that Motor oil and clear red flake are great colors but there are plenty of other colors that work just as good and often even better. However very few will stray from motor and if they do it's clear red flake or just another variation of motor oil. I have used plastic trout worms to catch yellowfin croaker, perch, corbina,and halibut but I wouldn't say they work any better than grubs or swimbaits. They can be better some days but fall short on others. If the conditions are right and the fish are there anything is possible.

JerryG