Soft Plastics 101 helps you with your soft plastic, jig head, and gear choices for each local species ( sorted in Alphabetical order ). List our favorite plastics, jig heads, and set up to help you hone in on your target species properly. Below is also a short video that answers common questions from members on soft plastics fishing techniques.
AUSTRALIAN BASS / ESTUARY PERCH
Australian Bass and Estuary Perch are very similar in size, look, and behavior.
Soft plastics below rigged on a HWS jig head, depending on depth 1/20, 1/28, 1/40. 1-3 or 2-4 kilo spin rod, 1000, 2000, 2500 size reel. 4-8lb braid 1-rod length of 4-8lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite Australian bass soft plastics
- Munroes 2.75-inch paddle tail ( glass monkey )
- Berkley Gulp 2-inch shrimp ( camo )
- Zman Baby Goat 3 inch ( Green Pumpkin orange & Hot Craw )
- Keitech Swing Impact 3-inch ( Silver Gold Flash )
- Zman 2.5-inch grubs ( motor oil, midnight oil, bloodworm )
- Savage Gear Slim Minnows ( nuclear chicken )
- Berkley 2.6 inch powerbait T-Tail ( Black Gold Sparkle )
- Zman 2.5-inch slim swimz ( motor oil, midnight oil, bloodworm )
- Squidgee Wrigglers 80mm ( bloodworm )
- Berkley Gulp 6 inch sandworm ( Camo )
- ProLure Live Yabby ( watermelon )
BREAM
The soft plastics below are rigged on an HWS jig head, depending on depth: 1/12, 1/16, 1/20, 1/28, 1/40 ( Most commonly 1/16 and 1/20 ).
1-3 kilo spin rod, 1000, 2000 size reel. 4-6lb braid, 1 rod length of 4-6lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favorite bream soft plastics
- Pro Lure clone prawn 62mm ( jelly prawn )
- Zman 2.5 inch ST GrubZ ( blood oil )
- Zman 2.5-inch GrubZ ( motor oil, midnight oil, bloodworm )
- Zman 2.5-inch Slim SwimZ ( motor oil, bloodworm )
- Berkley 2.5 inch Salty Nippers ( Camo )
- Berkley Gulp 4-inch turtleback worm ( Camo )
- Berkley 2-inch Crabby ( Camo )
- Keitech 2.5 inch mini Mad Wags ( Green Pumpkin Pepper )
- Keitech 3 inch easy shiner ( gold flash minnow )
- Rapala 2.5-inch Crush City Creeper ( Banana Prawn, Black Nightmare )
- Hurricane Sprat Hybrid 85 ( Sickle UV )
- Squidgee Wrigglers 80mm ( bloodworm )
- Damiki monster miki 2.5 inch ( skin Blue UV )
Watch the Video Guide below on Al’s favorite Bream soft plastics.
FLATHEAD
Soft plastics below rigged on a 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/12 jig head. Most commonly I use 1/8.
2-5 kilo spin rod, 2500, 3000 size reel. 10-15lb braid 1-rod length of 10-15lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite flathead soft plastics
- Berkley 4-inch & 7 inch turtleback worm ( nuclear chicken & camo )
- FlatEdge 80 ( Tan )
- Munroes 3.75-inch paddle tail ( UV Filthy Pilchard )
- Berkley 4 inch jigging Grub ( nuclear chicken )
- Keithtech Easy Shiner 4 inch ( Silver Flash minnow )
- Zman 3-inch grub ( watermelon )
- Berkley 4-inch Turbo Shrimp ( Camo, Molting Shrimp )
- Zman 3-inch MinnowZ ( Purple Death, UV Pink )
- Munroes curltail worm ( Caramel éclair )
- Squidgee Wrigglers 120mm ( Silver Fox )
KINGFISH
Soft plastics below are rigged weedless so they remain sub-surface. 5-10 kilo spin rod, 5000, 6000, 8000 size reel. 20-40lb braid 1-rod length of 40lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite kingfish soft plastics
- Lunker City Slug-Go ( pre-rigged ) 9-inch ( Albino )
- Daiwa 4.2-inch bait junkie minnow ( white magic )
- Chasebaits – The Ultimate Squid
- Daiwa 7-inch bait junkie jerk shad ( pilchard glow )
- Squidgy 150mm paddle tail ( sardine glow )
MULLET
Soft plastics rigged on an HWS jig head, depending on depth 1/12, 1/16, 1/20, 1/28, 1/40. Most commonly I use 1/20. Smothered in S-Factor or ProCure Prawn scent. 1-3 kilo spin rod, 1000, 2000 size reel. 4-6lb braid 1-rod length of 4-6lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite mullet soft plastics
- Zman 2-inch grubs ( motor oil, bloodworm )
- Keitech 2-inch Swing Impact ( Silver Gold Flash )
- Savage Gear 5cm pro Grub ( UV Black )
- Zman 2.5-inch slim swimZ ( motor oil, midnight oil, bloodworm )
- Munroes curltail worm ( Caramel éclair )
- Squidgee Wrigglers 80mm ( Blood worm )
MULLOWAY
Soft plastics rigged on a 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, ( 3-0 or 4-0 size ) jig head. 3-6 or 4-8 kilo spin rods paired with a 2500, 3000, 4000 size reel. 12-20lb braid 1-rod length of 20lb fluorocarbon leader
My favorite Mulloway soft plastics
- Keitech 4-inch easy shiner ( gold flash minnow )
- Munroes 3.75-inch paddle tail ( Motor oil, glass monkey )
- Zman 4-inch diesel minnow (Pearl, opening night )
- Daiwa 4.2-inch bait junkie minnow ( white magic )
- Zman 3-inch MinnowZ ( Purple Death, Motor oil )
- Squidgy 150mm paddle tail ( sardine glow )
REDFIN
Soft plastics rigged on a 1/8, 1/12 ( size 2-0 or 3-0 ) can also attach jig spinners for great results. 2-4 kilo spin rod, 2000, 2500 size reel. 6-10lb braid 1-rod length of 6-10lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite Redfin soft plastics
- Strike Tiger 3-inch curtail grub ( Vodka n Orange, Banana Shock )
- Zman Baby Goat 3 inch ( Green Pumpkin orange & Hot Craw )
- Zman 3-inch MinnowZ ( Purple Death, UV Pink )
- Flash Arrow 3-inch J shad
- Zman 3-inch slim Swimz ( Calico Candy, Mood Ring )
- Munroes 2.75-inch paddle tail ( Cotton Candy )
- Savage Gear slim minnow ( nuclear chicken )
- Zman 2.5-inch grubs ( motor oil, midnight oil, bloodworm )
- Keitech 3-inch Swing Impact ( Silver Gold Flash )
SALMON
Soft plastics rigged on a 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, ( size 3-0 or 4-0 ) jig head.
Most commonly I use 1/8-1/4 on a 2-5 kilo spin rod, 3000 size reel. 10-15lb braid 1-rod length of 10-15lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite salmon soft plastics
- Lazy lures Bomb squad ( 12cm/120g in assassin white )
- Daiwa 4.2 inch minnow in white magic
- Zman 3-inch MinnowZ ( Purple Death, Opening Night )
- Keithtech Easy Shiner 3 & 4-inch ( Silver Flash minnow )
- Berkley 4-inch minnow ( Pilchard )
- Munroes 3.75 inch paddle tail ( Swarf )
- Zman 5 inch curlytails in coconut ice glow
- Berkley 3-inch power minnow ( pearl watermelon, smelt )
- Munroes curltail worm ( Caramel éclair )
- Berkley 4-inch turtleback worm ( camo )
- Zman 3-inch grub ( watermelon )
- Squidgee Wrigglers 120mm ( Silver Fox )
SNAPPER
JIG HEADS – Soft plastics rigged on 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, or 1/12 jig heads depending on the depth and current strength. ( I most commonly use 1/12 – 1/6 )
ROD-REEL – 2-5 or 3-6 kilo spin rod paired with a 2500 or 3000-size reel. Spooled with 12-20lb braid and finished with 1-rod length of 8-20lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite snapper soft plastics
- Catch 6″ Black Label Livies Curltails ( JacMac, Glowing Gurnard )
- Berkley Gulp Nemesis 5″ ( Nuclear Chicken, Violet Haze fleck )
- Keithtech Easy Shiner 4-inch ( Silver Flash minnow )
- Berkley 7-inch turtleback worm ( Camo )
- Zman 3-inch MinnowZ ( Opening Night, Coconut Ice Glow, Purple Death, UV Pink )
- Berkley 4-inch jigging grub ( nuclear chicken )
- Munroes 3.75 inch paddle tail ( UV Motor Oil, Filthy pilchard )
- Berkley Gulp 5-inch & 7-inch Jerk Shads ( Pearl White, Blue Fuse, Nuclear Chicken )
- Daiwa Bait Junkie 3 inch Wave Minnow ( Opening Night, Oil Flash )
- Squidgee Wrigglers 120mm ( Silver Fox )
Watch the Video Guide below on Al’s favorite Snapper soft plastics.
SNOOK
Very similar setup to Australian Salmon, Snook responds well to scents like s-factor or procure. Soft plastics rigged on a 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, ( size 3-0 or 4-0 ) jig head.
Most commonly I use 1/8. 2-5 kilo spin rod, 2500, 3000 size reel. 10-15lb braid 1 rod length of 10-15lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite snook soft plastics
- Zman 3-inch MinnowZ ( Purple Death )
- Savage Gear Fathead curl tail 8cm ( motor oil )
- Munroes 3.75-inch paddle tail ( Swarf )
- Berkley 3-inch power minnow ( pearl watermelon, smelt )
- Berkley 4-inch turtleback worm ( camo )
- Keittech Easy Shiner 4 inch ( Silver Flash minnow )
- Zman 3-inch grub ( watermelon )
- Munroes curltail worm ( Caramel éclair )
- Squidgee Wrigglers 120mm ( Pink Glitz, Bloodworm )
TREVALLY
A small selection here as Trevally responds really well to worm imitations. Soft plastics rigged on a 1/6, 1/8, 1/12 jig head ( size 2-0 or 3-0 ). Most commonly I use 1/8. 2-5 kilo spin rod, 2500, 3000 size reel. 8-15lb braid 1-rod length of 8-15lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite trevally soft plastics
- Zman 2.5 inch ST GrubZ ( blood oil )
- Keitech 2.5-inch mini Mad Wags ( Green Pumpkin Pepper )
- Berkley 4-inch turtleback worm ( camo, pumpkinseed )
- Keitech 3 inch easy shiner ( gold flash minnow )
- Munroes curltail worm ( Caramel éclair )
- Berkley Gulp 6-inch sandworm ( Camo )
- Keitech 3-inch Swing Impact ( Silver Gold Flash )
- Squidgee Wrigglers 80mm ( bloodworm )
- Zman 2.5-inch grubs ( motor oil, bloodworm )
TROUT
Soft plastics rigged on a 1/8, 1/12 ( size 2-0 or 3-0 ). 2-4 kilo spin rod, 2000, 2500 size reel. 6-10lb braid 1-rod length of 6-10lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite Trout soft plastics
- Daiwa Bait Junkie 2.5 inch minnow ( black n Gold, Chartreuse )
- Strike Tiger 1-inch nymph ( Black n Gold )
- Berkley 2.6 inch powerbait T-Tail ( Black Gold Sparkle )
- Flash Arrow 4-inch J shad ( gill silver )
- Munroes 2.75-inch paddle tail ( Black Gold )
- Zman 3-inch slim Swimz ( Calico Candy, Mood Ring )
- Zman 2.5-inch grubs ( motor oil, midnight oil, bloodworm )
WHITING
Soft plastics rigged on a 1/8, 1/12 ideally with a small size 6 stinger 75mm down for worm imitations. 1-4 kilo spin rod, 1000, 2000, 2500 size reel. 6-8lb braid 1-rod length of 6-8lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite whiting soft plastics
- Berkley Gulp 4-inch turtleback worm ( pumpkinseed, camo )
- Berkley Gulp 4-inch fat hollow sandworm ( natural )
- Berkley Gulp 6-inch sandworm ( Camo )
- Zman 2.5-inch TRD craw ( bloodworm )
- Berkley gulp crabby ( Camo )
- Munroes 2.75-inch paddle tail ( Motor oil, glass monkey )
- ProLure Live Yabby ( watermelon )
- Zman 2.5-inch grubs ( motor oil, midnight oil, bloodworm )
YELLOWBELLY ( Golden Perch )
Soft plastics rigged on a 1/8, 1/12 ( size 2-0 or 3-0 ) can also attach jig spinners for great results. 2-4 kilo spin rod, 2000, 2500 size reel. 6-10lb braid 1-rod length of 6-10lb fluorocarbon leader.
My favourite yellowbelly soft plastics
- Berkley Gulp Minnow Grub 3-inch ( Black )
- Berkley Gulp 2.5″ Salty Nippers ( Starry Night )
- Biwaa Deus ( bronze au, Wakasagi )
- Zman 3-inch Minnowz ( natural colours )
- Rapala Crush City Imposter ( banana prawn, purple haze )
- Daiwa Bait Junkie 2.5-inch grub ( Copper Flash, Black n Gold )
- Munroes 2.75-inch paddle tail ( Black Gold )
- Flash Arrow 3-inch J shad
- Zman 3-inch slim Swimz ( Calico Candy, Mood Ring )
- Strike Tiger 3-inch grub ( banana shock )
- Zman 2.5-inch grubs ( motor oil, midnight oil, bloodworm )
