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I've slowly gathered up a small collection of plastics and I have tried using them when the fish aare not biteing on baits but to no avail. Is there any-one out there that can help me with rigs and technices that might change my fortune for the better
What plastics do you have and what jigheads do you have?
For beginners, I think a good start to catching fish with plastics is to try something like a 3" grub like an atomic in pumpkinseed, with a 1/16 jighead on a size 2 hook. Cast out towards structures and where you think the fish might be hiding. Its a bit different from fishing with baits where you throw your bait out and wait for the fish to find it. You have to actively 'hunt' the fish and put your plastic right in the strike zone.
Its really hard at the start and you have to keep trying and keep the faith. Its a lot more work that fishing with bait because you may need to cast a couple hundred times in a session. But when you get the hang of it the quality of fish caught are often better.
As Vertico says, depends where you fish, water depth and current all play parts.
At Wello and shallower reef systems, we use TT jigheads ranging in weight from 1/12th up to 1/4oz. 1/8ths is probably the most used though. You need enough weight to get you to the bottom whilst it is still fluttering, not plummeting down. To know this, it just takes practice and patience.
A good flouro leader will help as well, tied to braid line with knot of choice. At the moment I am using 6lb fireline and 8 or 10lb Nitlon leader.
SP's vary, but there are some essentials I always take....these being 3"gulps in white and p/seed, 4" gulp in watermelon, 3 and 4" Bass Minnows in watermelon, 4" zoom superflukes in baby bass and watermelon, 4" watermelon saltwater assassins, and 3" motor oil sliders.
I always try to cast in front of the drift, makes it easier to keep the SP in the strike zone.
Hope this helps.
PS Try using the SP's when the fish are biting, and not when they are quiet. This way you actually know they are there, and then you will know if you are doing something wrong!!
Beefaman, re your PS.... I have not caught a legal sized squire yet but quite a lot of undersize ones... Would I be safe to say that my technique is ok or is it the movement you put on the lure that gets you the big ones?
If my technique is ok, then maybe I just have to move to deeper water, better spot, better time etc...?
Stingermuz, if you can get the smaller undersize squire then keep persisting. The bigger ones will come. It just takes time. Keep the technique your using if it catches ou fish. Keep persisting.
Matt
I agree...... you technique is probably fine if you are catching fish however i find i was bring home better quality when I fish particular periods.....
Like tide changes just before and after dark especially, on or near new and full moons
and try and find quiet water away from other boats and traffic. I find the further from sight the other boats the more fish I tend to hook !
done plenty of fishing with plastics in estuarys but is it the same sort of retrieve when trying for snapper?? I've found that generally retrieving as slow as possible has worked for me in the past but never given the squire/snapper a crack. Im sure it probably depends on depth and tides but any advice on the type of retrieve that has given you the most sucess would be appreciated.
Fincho keep the slow lifts going for snapper/squire........90% OF THE TIME FISH HIT THE PLASTICS ON THE FALL!!
With all fishing persistence is the key to success.
Fish as light as possible to make the plastic look natural drifting in the current.
You will get more bites on 2 kilo braid and 6lb leader but also tend to lose some of the bigger fish but hey its great fun chasing the 50cm+ ones around the shallows.
Cheers Brent
Mate, if you are catching fish, you have got it right....big ones dont come around all that often.
Times and tides are what is important, you can never be too early, but you sure can be too late
Try your bottom bouncing rig and put a Sp on the top hook this way you can still bait fish and you are trying them when the bit is on not when it shuts down.