Soft Plastics!

[shefford]

I'm going to try soft plastics on the reefs next weekend, heres hoping the swell and weather go away.

I'm really interested in all these soft plastic posts and it's looks a whole lot more fun then bait fishing...The trouble is I don't know what colour's and sizes to buy?

I went just to have a look at gulps and squidgies @ the shops and ended up coming home with socks

What sizes should i look at getting?

4" to 7" ?

Colours natural/bright?

Squidgies/gulp?

And do i just buy a few sets of jigheads so i can test the sink rate with the current on the day etc?

Also what kind of reel would I need to have for jigging?

Hopefully i should have something to cover it!

Thanks for your help.

edit: do they go stale/off and an estimate of life date?

and the maximum depth i can use soft plastics in until they become less effective?

Edited June 1, 2008 by iricangi

[slinkymalinky]

g'day Iricangi,

Eventually you'll end up with a few different soft plastic outfits but to answer the question, I thing the most versatile is probably a 2500 size reel matched to a 4-6kg rod of about 7' or 7'6". Load the reel up with 10-15 lb braid.

That set up is good for snapper and reefies but also a good set up for flatties. If you were only going to target bigger reds, kings, cobia, jewies then a 4-8kg stick with a 4000size reel loaded with 20lb braid would be a better choice.

For softies, the easiest starting point is to get stick bait style plastics. For the former outfit get a couple of packets of 4 and 5 inch Gulp jerk baits or Squidgy 110mm Flick Baits. With thesecond outfit you could add some 7" Gulp Jerk Shads or 145mm Flick Baits. The advantage of this style of plastic is they sink faster because they have less water resistance so fishing deeper areas is a little easier. If you want to try some paddle tails for variety, get some 4" gulp Pogys.

As for colour about a zillion people will tell you to start with Gulp Jerk Shads in Nuclear Chicken colour or Blue Pille coloured Flick Baits, but there's a million different opinions. I've taken to using either 5" Gulp jerk shads in Blue Pepper Neon a lot at first light as they glow (so do the Nuke Chicken ones too).

Heads.... try either TT jig heads or Berkley Saltwater series jig heads. I use 1/0 normally for 4 or 5" and about 3/0-5/0 for the 7" plastics. Weight is a million dollar question but if you get some 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8oz heads they will cover a multitude of options. You want your plastic to drift to the bottom, not plummet. The deeper the water, the faster the drift, the stronger the current... the heavier you'll need to go. Start with a 1/4 oz and if you aren't getting to the bottom go heavier. If you're going straight to the bottom fast, go lighter.

One of the fun things about soft plastic fishing is experimenting so view this as a starting point and then play around with different plastics, different jig heads, different retrieves.. just relax and have fun with it.

Good luck mate.

Cheers, Slinky

[Ray R]

I agree with all that Slinky , I might just add that a flurocarbon leader around the 6, 7, 8kg mark is about the strength you will need as well, especially if you go chasing reds. As slinky says , the conditions dictate your tackle...

[shefford]

Hmm thanks for that, should have the gear to cover it just need to re-spool 1 of the rods with lighter line and get some flurocarbon leader.

[shefford]

Ok i just popped into the tackle store to buy some pillies as I'm going fishing tomorrow out on the reefs!

I bought...

5inch swim shade nuclear chicken

and

1/4 oz with no.2 hook jig head

Going to give it a try before I expand on my range

With luck I'll have a fishing report tomorrow with some fish!

[slinkymalinky]

Ok i just popped into the tackle store to buy some pillies as I'm going fishing tomorrow out on the reefs!

I bought...

5inch swim shade nuclear chicken

and

1/4 oz with no.2 hook jig head

Going to give it a try before I expand on my range

With luck I'll have a fishing report tomorrow with some fish!

Tight lines mate,

Find bait, fish or patches of either over good ground on the sounder and you'll be in business. Looking forward to reading the report.

Cheers, Slinky

[double pluggers]

Ok i just popped into the tackle store to buy some pillies as I'm going fishing tomorrow out on the reefs!

I bought...

5inch swim shade nuclear chicken

and

1/4 oz with no.2 hook jig head

Going to give it a try before I expand on my range

With luck I'll have a fishing report tomorrow with some fish!

And now it has started! Before you know it you will be pulling unopened plastics out of a bag containing other plastics that you didnt even know you owned. Yet you will have the desire to buy another packet every time you walk through the tackle shop door.

[slinkymalinky]

Am I the only raider who bought a packet of each of the new Gulp chicken 5" jerk shad colours just because they sounded cool and I didn't already have them?

Slinky

[shefford]

yes yes you are

Going out again on Sunday taking my dad and uncle out hopefully can pick up a dam fish on these plastics

[the1murph]

Am I the only raider who bought a packet of each of the new Gulp chicken 5" jerk shad colours just because they sounded cool and I didn't already have them?

Slinky

Haha mate I think so, but I want to go and get some soon.

Jack

[caranx]

The gulps that come in juice have to be kept in a liquid otherwise they will dry out and become useless. You will either need to get the replacement juice or use something else.