Wrasse Plastics.

1721 Views 25 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Andy Marquis, Feb 7, 2010

Dicky Smith

Discussion Starter · Jan 25, 2010

I've been having a play with the wrasse in the kayak, with mixed and unexpected results.

Firstly I had great success using spindleworms and xorus sayori shads but the drawback was the heavy tackle losses and so expense.
Plus those ballans make a meal of 'em too!

So I got a selection of likely looking SPs at the buget end of the scale.

The top 4 are some really nice lugworm patters (well maybe not the silver one). These I tried on dropshot but were, suprisingly, a waste of time.

Next is the slug-go ss, had a couple on these and they do look great on the dropshot.

Next 2 are some paddle tail shads which were very successful, 4.5" long fished on a dart jighead.

Next one down is a sow tail bay shrimp, like a shad and the wrasse loved these too!

Bottom 2 are the expensive sayori shad and spindleworm, great lures but lose 10 and wear a black armband for a week!

The only problem I've found is getting a solid hookup using 4/0 jigheads and this size SP.

I've got another load of smaller stuff on it's way including really lifelike prawna and crawfish (squat lobsters methinks).

I'll let you all know how it goes, I'm really enjoying this!

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1 - 20 of 26 Posts

Keith White

· #2 · Jan 25, 2010

This could turn into a great thread.

I'll go digging for plastics and pics now.

If Paul B reserves a 16gb card for taking pics of his stuff we'll be just fine. LOL

I still have his spindleworms... :aarrg:

Mike Hayes

· #3 · Jan 25, 2010

Looking down into clear water seeing a decent wrasse watching the xlayer, then just hammering the sucker, awesome!

Retired

· #4 · Jan 25, 2010

Re: Wrasse Plastics - You don't know what you're missing.

An I don't just mean the fun of it all.

The big problem with wrasse is they eat lures. Well thats the first part of the problem anyway. They like to bite them in half, all too often just behing the hook, and they have a taste for expensive lures.

So a expensive sinous and enticing Motherworm becomes a short slug. Now wrasse still take these (I've tried), but the little voice in your head tells you that no sensible bass or big wrasse is going to do that, so you reach for another and it all gets progressively more expensive.

And the second part of the problem? Well its simply the unknown. On marks that regularly produce 5lb+ fish, was that last one that bit you off a 7lber? Or bigger? You'll never know unless you see it.

So there's the financial misery and the mental cruelty to get over. It's hard being a softie fan.

What to do? Well I am going to recommend a stinger. See the the old SP post on Mick's blog. In fact, I am more and more tempted to go for one of the French techniques for vertical fishing for big bass and maigre and do away with a hookpoint on the jighead altogether and just use the shank to mount the SP, then add a strategically placed stinger.

In fact its got to be done.

Cheers

P

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Dicky Smith

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 25, 2010

What I find interesting is the willingness of the wrasse to nail something that looks like a cabou (blenny, goby, etc) but leave a lugworm lookalike alone.

I remember reading an old book by Trevor Housby saying that blennies etc were a great bait for big wrasse, he'd caught wrasse to over 10lb on them ( before the records shakeup).

Certainly the action of bouncing the SP on the bottom seems irresistible.

Keith White

· #6 · Jan 25, 2010

Dicky Smith said:
What I find interesting is the willingness of the wrasse to nail something that looks like a cabou (blenny, goby, etc) but leave a lugworm lookalike alone.

I remember reading an old book by Trevor Housby saying that blennies etc were a great bait for big wrasse, he'd caught wrasse to over 10lb on them ( before the records shakeup).

Certainly the action of bouncing the SP on the bottom seems irresistible.

I think territorial rights play a part too.

I use Zoom fluke tail gobies. Wrasse are built to bite the heads off those puppies.

Danny Meagher

· #7 · Jan 25, 2010

Re: Wrasse Plastics - You don't know what you're missing.

Paul B said:
An I don't just mean the fun of it all.

The big problem with wrasse is they eat lures. Well thats the first part of the problem anyway. They like to bite them in half, all too often just behing the hook, and they have a taste for expensive lures.

So a expensive sinous and enticing Motherworm becomes a short slug. Now wrasse still take these (I've tried), but the little voice in your head tells you that no sensible bass or big wrasse is going to do that, so you reach for another and it all gets progressively more expensive.

Good point Paul,

See my thread on Damaged Soft Plastics.

On some marks last summer we had a hard time keeping Xlayers in one piece while targeting Bass as they ran under the ledges.
Dont get me wrong , they are a fantastic fish and excellent fighters on the light gear. But they destroy your soft plastics after one offering!

:badlol:

Danny.

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Dicky Smith

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 26, 2010

Keith White said:
[quote="Dicky Smith":3k7vna0p]What I find interesting is the willingness of the wrasse to nail something that looks like a cabou (blenny, goby, etc) but leave a lugworm lookalike alone.

I remember reading an old book by Trevor Housby saying that blennies etc were a great bait for big wrasse, he'd caught wrasse to over 10lb on them ( before the records shakeup).

Certainly the action of bouncing the SP on the bottom seems irresistible.

I think territorial rights play a part too.

I use Zoom fluke tail gobies. Wrasse are built to bite the heads off those puppies.[/quote:3k7vna0p]

Yeah, they certainly like the more brown coloured shads.
Got some real lifelike goby lookalike shads on the way.
Might be the way they dive into the bottom on a sink and draw retrieve that gets 'em going.

Keith White

· #9 · Jan 26, 2010

Yeah, they certainly like the more brown coloured shads.
Got some real lifelike goby lookalike shads on the way.

I use these gobies ---

http://zoombait.com/trickflukes/flukes/fluke-tail-goby/

Alabama Craw and Kiwi colours.

Try craw's and tubes too.

In really heavy nasty cover, weighted hook texas rigged worms can score.
You can use a suspending leader too in heavy weed. This is something I'm
experimenting with right now. This keeps your line clear of bottom rubbish
but it needs to float the leader/braid connection, not the plastic bait.

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Dicky Smith

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 26, 2010

Look good Keith, nice and supple.

I've got some of these coming, but reckon the will be tricky to get them to 'work' effectively.

http://www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk/great-lakes-goby-browngold-fleck-pi-374.html

Keith White

· #11 · Jan 26, 2010

Dicky Smith said:
Look good Keith, nice and supple.

I've got some of these coming, but reckon the will be tricky to get them to 'work' effectively.

http://www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk/great-lakes-goby-browngold-fleck-pi-374.html

They will work just fine me thinks.
Right colour too.

The Squid

· #12 · Jan 26, 2010

Keith White said:
Yeah, they certainly like the more brown coloured shads.
Got some real lifelike goby lookalike shads on the way.

Click to expand...

I use these gobies ---

http://zoombait.com/trickflukes/flukes/fluke-tail-goby/

Alabama Craw and Kiwi colours.

Try craw's and tubes too.

In really heavy nasty cover, weighted hook texas rigged worms can score.
You can use a suspending leader too in heavy weed. This is something I'm
experimenting with right now. This keeps your line clear of bottom rubbish
but it needs to float the leader/braid connection, not the plastic bait.

Been looking for a suitable jighead for my Gobies --- any ideas?

Dicky Smith

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 27, 2010

Latest delivery of goodies to try at the weekend.

All about 3 1/2 to 4 inches long.

The bottom 2 are Storm Rattle Hot Craws, they can take a glass rattle for added attraction.
They look and feel amazing.

The prawn is a Yum bait with built in leaded 3/0 hook.

Hope the weather behaves!

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Tim Murphy

· #14 · Feb 1, 2010 (Edited)

Howdy

Hi all, 1st post. Interesting Thread... I go out fishing on the boat just off the rocks, we get the usual pollack and coalies (which are known as sh\tties here, 'cos they were plentiful around the pipe outlets KWIM?) We know there are wrasse about because we've caught 2 this year, that's out of about, what, 250 pollack. I'd been wondering about trying prawn-type lures to target the wrasse but I've always reservations about the heavy tackle loss and partly due to my not liking leaving plastic lying around. I've only discovered the weedless technique this year and it's been a revelation. It's really upped my game against my mate who always always always uses frozen sandeel. I haven't been able to find a prawn/lobster-alike that can be rigged weedless, do such a ting exist?
I'll be interested to follow the results the worthy members have.

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Keith White

· #15 · Feb 1, 2010

I rig craws (lobster etc) 2 ways..

The main way is like this..

weighted, skinned 'Texas' rigged.

Use a strong hook especially for Pigs.

Selection of Gene Larew craws, proper hooks, decoy stops and sliding cone weights.
You can move the stop away from the bait to give a more delicate presentation if needed. Rare with Pigs.

Eat me !

When you rig, rig it a little longer than the bend so when you 'skin' it, the SP sits straight.
This one is rigged on 20lb fluorocarbon.

Hope this helps.

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3

Mark Sleep

· #16 · Feb 1, 2010

I have seen these lures in the past and thought that our Bass wouldnt come across many natural baits like that, compared with Crab and Blenny etc. But then yesterday, having gone rooting round at low water on a big tide, I couldnt believe the assortment of stuff. I saw loads and loads of Lobster type things in the 5-15cm range when turning stones and sifting through weeds, I think they were Squat Lobster or something. Saw a lot more of them than I saw Crab.

Dicky Smith

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 1, 2010

Yep, they are squat lobsters. Used them for wrasse before and they love 'em.

Rooting around??? How many ormers then?

Mark Sleep

· #18 · Feb 1, 2010

Haha, 11, but my first attempt! Spent most of the time wishing I'd brought a rod with me

Andy Marquis

· #19 · Feb 4, 2010 (Edited)

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Righto... I accept the wrasse challenge with the above which arrived today... More to follow... (I'm nuts!!)

1st pic is a special!! 1" Lil Crawdad in Smoke Red. This is my secret weapon for a spot I know where you get loads of Rock Cooks, Goldsinny and Corkwings. How cool would that be on a lure!! I got the local record for white bream last year (massive 2oz it was, Hell of a fight on the mullet gear :shock

so i'm aiming for some more in the mini species as it winds up our local rag correspondent so much to have tiny fish weighed in even if they are records. I keep them live in an aerated tank for weighing etc. The bream went back fine btw.

2nd is a 3" Helgie Brown Bug. Was cheap and looked ok. Who knows.

3rd is a 4" Storm Rattle Hot Craw in brown

4th is the cheapo AGM own brand 2.75" Scented Cray in Natural Craw colour

Last is the Storm again but in Green

Some more coming from Japland with my ultralight rod which is apparently on the way!! :-D

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Andy Marquis

· #20 · Feb 4, 2010

Can't get the pics to display right. never mind...

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