18 | fishingworld.com.au | February 2015
ABOVE: Patrick
lured this GT
up on a Rapala
X-Rap cast from
the stones.
RIGHT: The basic
metal lure hasn’t
changed much
during the past
four decades. It
remains a piece
of shiny metal
wound fast to fool
predatory fish.For example, I’ve found smaller metal lures
between 30–60 grams are most effective in
shallower bays and clear water, while in deeper
locations metal lures upwards of 60 grams are
generally better as they enable you to wind the
lure through the water column. Letting the
lure f lutter to the bottom after casting can
quite often result in hits from mackerel and
other species such as trevally and cobia.
When it comes to colours and finishes, I tend
to believe natural looking tones like blue and
green are best. Plain chromed lures seem to
work best on clear bright days while solid
coloured lures (I like white) are often a standout
in low-light or overcast conditions.
For most tuna species I use 30–60 gram
Spanyid Snipers or Surecatch Bishops skipped
across the surface. Using these smaller, lighter
lures enables you to wind at a slower pace to
achieve this skipping action.
Bigger lures from 60–85 grams are preferred
to effectively work various depth ranges when
targeting mackerel. Spaniards in particular are
well known for their speed and lures should be
worked f lat out from the bottom to the surface
to entice these sharp-fanged predators.
When the fish are “on”, lure selection doesn’t
seem to matter. Sometimes ravenous tuna,COVER STORY: HIGH SPEED SPINNING