Which soft plastics in Port Phillip Bay to save your life !

[cobby]

I've found Zman paddletails in Bleeding Banana to work really well, better than motor oil ones. No idea why, it looks nothing like an actual fish.

100mm Squidgy Wriggler. You can catch literally everything you normally target aside from Garfish and large amounts of squid in PPB from Snapper and Flathead to Bream and EPs all with the 1 plastic

I like these but they get chewed up pretty quick. Do you use the bloodworm colour mostly?

I've used almost all colours and done well. When you tear one around the hook exit rerig it half a mm to the other side on a fresher bit of plastic. Can usually get a dozen or so pinkies and a couple of frogs off the one tail doing that

[Nude up]

I have been using warmisham soft plastics lately also z mans. Plus I have most of the others I am a sucker for them. As for jig heads I use many different size and style from a sixth of an ounce up to 1 ounce. I always wondered why pumpkinseed, motor oil work so well but I have pulled up some fish with small bait fish the same colour in their guts.
I tend to vary the style of plastic ie curly tail versus flick,paddle tail to the fish I am targeting. I like to drift a lot and for flathead you have to be on the bottom it’s either bigger jig head to match the speed of the drift or Carolina method.

[Troy McLure]

I’m very new to soft plastic fishing but enjoy it a lot. What’s more important? Style of plastic or colour? Curious to hear your opinions.

[Sinsemilla]

I’m very new to soft plastic fishing but enjoy it a lot. What’s more important? Style of plastic or colour? Curious to hear your opinions.

I reckon first profile and how you work it, then colour.

[ecoronad]

I’m very new to soft plastic fishing but enjoy it a lot. What’s more important? Style of plastic or colour? Curious to hear your opinions.

I reckon first profile and how you work it, then colour.

Totally agree. That's why the bath tub or swim test is almost mandatory - so that you know what the plastic (that you spent your hard earned money on) does when you "twitch", "lift", "pause", "fast roll" or "drop". Even leader size re: 6lb vs 12lb has an effect on the action. It's pretty eye opening the reactions some fish make to different types or combinations of retrieves. Eg. Flathead - a couple of long rod tip raises combined with a slow winding of the reel handle to accommodate the ensuing slack line so that you can feel the weight of the jig head (this action attracts the flatties from around the area and they swim over to investigate). Then a couple of small hops with pauses in between (this action allows the attracted flatties to "ambush" your soft plastic). Quite often, it's during this small hop retrieve that you will just feel a sudden weight, and strike instinctively.

The weight of the jig head and shape also needs to be considered due to it's effect on the action of the plastic. Like I mentioned previously, speak to someone in a tackle store who has plenty of experience. Unfortunately, this forum will only give you a small glimpse of what to look for.

[SteveoTheTiger]

I’m very new to soft plastic fishing but enjoy it a lot. What’s more important? Style of plastic or colour? Curious to hear your opinions.

I personally think that other factors come in to play first such as presentation and whether the fish are feeding. But then i am not a fish, so im just guessing. I have seen a video recently of Kingfish eating every piece of burley dropped to them and totally ignoring the piece with the hook in it.
I truly believe that all those shapes and colours are designed to catch fishermen.. not fish.

edit: and my two double sided trays of squid jigs will tell you that i am one of those fishermen.

[Andrews]

I think you are all right about the importance of a soft plastics movement through the water and silhouette being greater than colour.
I am also glad that other factors such as leader weight, thickness and jig head size that affect the swimming abilities has been mentioned. I'd also add that the knot used makes a difference. A Lefty's Kreh/loop knot adds more freedom to the movement than a stiffer uni-knot does.

I think the closer you can minic a baitfish in silhouette, movement and colour the better your chances are for a strike. Not knocking the insane range of colours offered for soft plastics, but I feel that different colours work better for different locations. I think fishing clear waters of my local pier is a completely different ball game compared to the murky brown waters of other locations. You've also got different species and every location so who knows, I think like squid fishing finding what best for your location is key.

Those double sided trays rock, though mine is full of doubles of my favourite colours.

[Sebb]

Has anyone ever tried fish arrow? There's paddle tail and split tail. It looks good.

[purple5ive]

Tear Easily, i didnt go back for more after my first pack...

[DougieK]

Has anyone ever tried fish arrow? There's paddle tail and split tail. It looks good.

130 looks spectacular.