What lures?

[Ste F]

I will be doing a fair bit of shore fishing around St.Pauls bay when I visit in June and was wondering what type of lures I will be needing? When I came over last year all I caught were small black and white fish on the float with bread and am hoping for something a little bigger this year. With thanks, Steve

[jean]

Hi Ste F,

With respect to lures I would surely place my bets on some good minnows (both sinking and floating), some metal jigs and also maybe some top-water lures like poppers just in case you fish in shallow waters. I would also include some silicone lures (mainly fish-type) on weighted hooks or jig-heads but during the retrieve you have to watch out not to leave your lures on the bottom. I don’t really use light and small lures, mainly due to my rod specs and also to cast slightly farther out, but in ports they are very valid.

Basically, you start off from the type of rod and reel combo you are going to use, but would suggest lures in the range of up to 13-15 cm when it comes to minnows. These usually range from 12 grams to further more (some are below that size but weigh a hefty 30grams approx - which might be good for some far casts).

Yo-zuri, Daiwa, Rapala, and other such brands are all excellent. Try to think of sea-swimming baitfish with respect to colours. I would also suggest spooling your reel with a good braid (take into account line weighting of the rod) and a fluorocarbon leader. In the Shore-Fishing; Spinning Section you will surely find some helpful advice. I'm still a beginner when it comes to spinning so such opinions can surely be challenged by the more experience members, but hope it helps 

jean

[placebo]

lately i notice a very strange thing happening.

This happened to me 2 times so far during spinning sessions.

Barracuda jumps out of the water and take the lure while the rod was hanging on the pier with the lure just above the water .... food for thought

[MartinB]

Happened a few times to me too,although not recently..Its also happened a few times when squid fishing from the shore,id just have my lure resting in the water next to the pier and all of a sudden a squid attacks it...go figure!!

[clutch_kick]

Barracuda's do a LOT of strange things when they are hungry!  The best i've seen was having hooked a small (300g) cuda, it's bigger brother attacked it and pretty much swallowed it! Only to spit it out again a few seconds later.

[jean]

  guess the small cuda didn't survive!

Similar story is when this guy went fishing with chkall, was retrieving a decently sized sargu, and mid way he ends up retrieving a cuda of around 2.5-3kgs! And on some itlian forum they were discussing surfcasting, and a leccia attacks and swallows the weight! Lucky fisherman!

Don't want to go off topic, but one thing that has been lurking around in my brain is spinning off sandy beaches using waders. I don't know whether its a valid option here in malta judging by my lack of catches when i use to go surf-casting. So not sure whether one day I should invest in waders or stick to buying a pair of decent boots (at least when i go to other places i will not look silly in waders hehe)

[MartinB]

So not sure whether one day I should invest in waders or stick to buying a pair of decent boots (at least when i go to other places i will not look silly in waders hehe)

I think waders are good!! And esp. if your gonna try spinning for seabass,i think waders are an asset!

[jean]

I found chest waders by Behr for 53 euros excluding shipping, but need to have a look here in malta. This is what got me thinkering: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWz1Aq_CYNU

might be dreaming but hey passions are fuelled by dreams

[MartinB]

might be dreaming but hey passions are fuelled by dreams

Good one! I think you'd be hard pressed to find a decent pair for 53 euro's here but i 'spose its worth a check around.

[clutch_kick]

So not sure whether one day I should invest in waders or stick to buying a pair of decent boots (at least when i go to other places i will not look silly in waders hehe)

I think waders are good!! And esp. if your gonna try spinning for seabass,i think waders are an asset!

I just invested €99 in a good pair heheh Seabass here i come hehehe spinning on beaches is good, but you need to know when the correct meteorological conditions exist, and ofcourse you need to know the good spots

[clutch_kick]

Anyway ... back to topic.  Steve, i suggest you get a medium setup, say a rod that's 12-20lb line, with about 1.5oz casting capability and a fast or medium fast action.  A 4000 or 5000 size reel is enough.  Around june Iwould suggest 12 - 14cm jerk baits, and don't even bother coming if you don't bring along some topwater lures, like poppers or WTD.  June is about the time when Leerfish start turning up.

If you need any help just PM me.

[J_Z]

According to you more experienced spinners on this board, what would be the 10 lures you won't go spinning without?

[clutch_kick]

Long Jerk minnows,  WTD's and some metal Jigs.

[J_Z]

Long Jerk minnows,  WTD's and some metal Jigs.

agreed.....

but what brands/models/sizes/weights ?

[clutch_kick]

I would be biased if I told you what brands to buy since i sell lures.

Having said that, I have had a lot of positive feedback.