Swim with the fishes
Swimbaits tempt reds with tantalizing tail actions
When it comes to tempting redfish, there’s nothing like the real thing, but swimbaits come pretty close. Built for maximum tail action, these innovative lures mimic live baitfish motion with astounding realism.
Tracing their roots to the California bass scene, swimbaits have also made a significant splash in saltwater. Some, like Berkley Power Swimbaits and Yum G-Shad, are sold as soft-plastic bodies to be rigged on traditional jigheads or fished weightless on worm hooks. Other companies, such as Mann’s, Storm, Tsunami and Calcutta, produce swimbaits with weighted heads enclosed within the bait’s soft form. The hook eye protrudes from the top of the bait’s head, while the hook rises from its back.
The latter group offers the benefit of reduced snagging, as the bait’s body provides a soft, protective cushion around the lead head – an arrangement that’s far more forgiving than an exposed jighead when negotiating busy structure. This style bounces along oyster bars, jetties, rock outcroppings or the legs of oil and gas rigs with minimal threat of snags or entanglements.
Fish-enticing design elements include high-end coloration; flashy foil inserts; scale, gill and mouth patterns; and realistic eyes. Berkley impregnates its baits with natural scents and flavors, which can help attract fish in low-visibility conditions and make them hang on longer after a strike.
For all swimbaits, the main attraction is the tail. Hold one by the head, and with barely any movement, the back end flops and wiggles just as a shad, sardine or herring would. Experienced anglers can make a jig or jerkbait hop and dance enough to fool a red, but a lure that out-wiggles them all with nothing more than a straight retrieve can prove incredibly persuasive on finicky fish.
Calcutta makes a 2-inch Flashfoil Swimshad that’s good for poking around docks and pilings, where fry often gather. Larger options in the 3- to 5-inch range perform well in deep water with heavy current. Just cast into the flow and let the bait wiggle like a baitfish fighting to stay clear of ambush points.
In Louisiana, Captain Anthony Randazzo often fishes swimbaits under floats around Roseau-cane points. Jerking the cork simulates surface feeding and makes the bait rise and fall like a wounded menhaden.
In deep areas, swimbaits are best fished on medium to heavy baitcasting outfits with braided line. Braids cut through the current easier than mono, and bites are easier to feel in swift current. Also, stout gear with braided line helps you wrestle big fish away from structure.
Most swimbaits come with plastic hook-guard sleeves that can be difficult to remove, as they tend to bunch up or snag on the barb if you try to pull them forward. The best bet is to lay a knife blade perpendicular to the sleeve, slice off one entire flank and then simply unwrap the remaining plastic from the hook. Another common drawback to swimbaits is that many are rather pricey, compared to a standard jighead and plastic tail. However, their productivity is undeniable, so the return is usually worth the investment.
Saltwater swimbaits
Some swimbaits, like the Berkley 6-inch Stinger Pogy come pre-rigged. Others, such as the Berkley 5-inch Swim Shad, are made to be used with a jighead or worm hook.