Fishing Friday: Jerkbaits for Saltwater
By: Steve Wayne
The unique thing about saltwater fishing is that there are a multitude of baitfish available for predatory fish to feed on. Finger mullet, pinfish, pigfish, croakers, pilchards, and menhaden are frequently on the menu. If it swims in saltwater, it lives a life of fear from being devoured by bigger fish! As an angler, how do we determine the best lure to emulate so many different species of baitfish available in our coastal waters? Which type of lure will consistently put fish in the boat or on the bank? For many anglers, a hard jerkbait style of lure is the choice for many different species of saltwater gamefish.
Jerkbaits have been around for decades. This lure is characterized by a long minnow shaped body normally with 2 or 3 treble hooks. A slender plastic lip on the front of the bait will cause the lure to dive and wobble back and forth in an erratic manner. Two types of lips include a smaller plastic lip that will cause the lure to dive normally 1 to 3 foot in depth while a longer lip will cause the lure to often dive much deeper. Jerkbaits are commonly found in floating, suspending, or sinking models.
Colors and Sizes
Picking a productive color of jerkbait should depend on the type of baitfish that you are trying to imitate and the clarity of the water that you are fishing. When targeting fish in clear water, imitating the color of baitfish commonly found in the area is vitally important as discriminating fish will get a better look at your lure. A good rule of thumb is to go with a silver or chrome imitation as this will replicate most species of common baitfish. Bomber makes their Saltwater Grade Long Shot jerkbait in a variety of natural colors such as mullet, menhaden, and bunker that are great options. When fishing in dirty water a white or bone colored jerkbait is often required because these colors are more visible. Cotton Cordell’s Redfin jerkbait comes in the Smokey Joe color that has a lot of white/pearl in the color that easily stands out in dirty water. Jerkbaits normally come in a variety of sizes with 3 ½” to 5” being the most common. Try “matching the hatch” and pick a color and size that most closely resembles the baitfish in the area that you are fishing. Having a variety of sizes on hand will help you dial in the correct size needed.
Targeted Species
If it swims, a jerkbait will normally attract their attention. Seatrout, redfish, snook, and tarpon are the most common species targeted however jacks, ladyfish, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel will readily take jerkbaits. For toothy fish such as mackerel and bluefish, a 30 lb. fluorocarbon leader is recommended to prevent break-offs. Make sure to check your line for any frays or nicks after catching a fish. If fishing in brackish water, largemouth bass can be a pleasant surprise when caught along with saltwater species. It is common to catch a snook or redfish on one cast and a largemouth bass on the next when fishing in brackish water.
Places to Target
Finding areas to fish jerkbaits will depend on the species of fish being targeted. For snook, try targeting bridges, mangrove shorelines, and areas with residential docks. Because you will be fishing around hard structure, a 30 lb. fluorocarbon leader is recommended to help prevent breakoffs. For redfish, concentrate on areas around oyster bars and shallow grass beds. For seatrout, find areas along grass beds with a “spotty bottom” which indicate holes in the grass. Trout will sit in the holes in the grass while waiting to ambush an easy meal swimming by. During cold months trout will seek out residential canals and creeks in order to find warmer water. Tarpon can be targeted around bridges and inlets. During summer months, tarpon will move to residential canals, creeks, and rivers and can be seen rolling on the top of the water. Spillways are great places to target as snook, redfish, tarpon, and trout as they wait for the buffet of baitfish that are unwearyingly passed through moving water of the water control structure.
Techniques
When targeting snook, a medium diving jerkbait such as a Bomber “Long A” can be retrieved at medium to fast speeds with a “jerk, jerk, pause” method that can drive snook crazy. Try casting around bridge pilings and under docks as well as inlets with fast current. For fishing around deep areas of bridges, try using a deeper diving jerkbait such as the Smithwick Perfect 10 Rouge that will readily dive to a depth of 10 feet deep. When targeting redfish in extremely shallow water a shallow diving jerkbait such as a Cordell Redfin will only dive a few inches on a slow retrieve and can be retrieved over the grass without hanging up. A slow and steady retrieve will often yield results. Trout will often prefer a very erratic retrieve with a lot of stop and go pauses. A good bit of rod action is recommended to create a back-and-forth darting action that seatrout prefer. Tarpon are normally finicky and a varied retrieve is recommended until you see what the fish want. When fishing at spillways, cast your jerkbait towards the spillway and retrieve naturally in the direction of the moving water. A retrieve against the current is unnatural and often unproductive. A fast retrieve in the same direction as the current is recommended in order to maintain direct contact with your lure in the moving water.
With so many choices for an angler to make, trying to find a lure that will consistently catch a variety of saltwater gamefish can be a confusing decision. A jerkbait is the answer! It can effectively mimic the size, action, and color of various species of baitfish found in your waters. By matching the size, color, and action a jerkbait will increase your chances for a successful day on the water. Try fishing a jerkbait for saltwater gamefish. You’ll be glad that you did!
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