New Gulp Alive Softbaits

Like many saltwater anglers, my Softbait fishing has been pretty much self taught. A typical days Softbait fishing for me has been to blast out to the usual haunts around Slipper Island and try a drift or two in the same places where I have had success with cut baits. While my tactics have been hit or miss, I have certainly had great results when I have happened to be in the right place at the right time.

For the test-fish however, I was lucky enough to be able to team up with a real Softbaiting expert, Jason Harris from Pure Fishing. Pure Fishing is a multinational company that owns brands such as Abu and Berkley (which manufactures and distributes Gulp Softbaits). Jason is a mad keen angler who has rarely used any bait other than Gulp from his boat over the past two years, so it was good to have the opportunity to learn from a one on one fishing session with a master.

We launched from the Te Kouma boat ramp south of Coromandel with a very brisk NE blowing. Neither Jason nor I have fished this area very much in the past as we both predominantly fish the Eastern Coromandel. However to me this just added another challenge to the test situation as these conditions would be a true prospecting trial for the new Gulp Alive Softbait colours and the much anticipated Gulp 2 'Recharge' fish attractant formula.

We ignored the mussel farms, concentrating instead on drifting over holes, drop-offs and wash fishing around the rocks and islands that are dotted throughout the Sugar Loaf area.

Jason taught me to change the colour, size and shape of the Softbaits I was using if I had no joy with them. This is where the new Gulp Alive tubs come in handy, as they are re-sealable. The strange shape of these Gulp 2 Recharge pots not only reduces the chances that they will get knocked over and spill, it also means they come with a generous amount of the liquid 'Recharge' fish attractant formula. We recommend you immerse your regular Gulp Softbaits in these tubs too meaning you can have instant access to your favourite selection. Jason also pointed out that Softbaits should be treated as expendable - so in other-words bin them if the tail is bitten off as fussy fish will not be fooled once they stop swimming naturally!

Jason came armed with two pots of the new Gulp Alive with Recharge formula, and what's more he had both filled with many of the new Gulp 'chook' colours and shapes - see the advert opposite. By prospecting over new ground that looked good on the sounder and experimenting with colours shapes and sizes we caught ten nice snapper (plus we lost a similar number).

Other good advice is to load your reel with specialised spin reel super-line like Berkley Fireline of no more than 20lbs breaking strain, we used 16lb For the ultimate in abrasion resistance and transparency use a quality fluorocarbon leader, we use and recommend the Stren brand.

When rigging the jig-head lay the Gulp Softbait beside the jig with the point of the hook on the top of the bait, measure where it will come out and then feed the bait onto the hook in the centre of it and slide the bait around the hook bringing the point out where you measured. A good trick is to use a cloth to get a better grip. Jason assured me that to work properly Softbaits need to be rigged correctly as anything else will make them spin unnaturally and scare fish.

If drifting, cast the Softbait forward of the boat with a jig head weighted to get the bait quickly to the bottom but without being too heavy. Once on the bottom twitch it, retrieve any slack line as you drift and as the bait moves past the boat keep in touch with it, again keeping it moving. Once the line is out the back of the boat and too far back to impart action, retrieve it and cast out towards the front of the boat again repeating the process until you catch your fish!

If wash fishing use a jig head that's not too heavy. Cast into the wash and retrieve slack line as soon as the soft bait hits the water and then start working the bait back towards the boat. Don’t let the Softbait settle or you will be snagged on the foul bottom.

Good Luck.