Grouper Bucktails

[ksong]

I plan to experiment bucktails for grouper.
However, it is not easy to find quality bucktail in 8 - 10 oz range.
While I am seaching for quality bucktails, I realize most bucktails in the market are way below my expectations in terms of quality.
It is no wonder Japanese tackle products can easily penetrate into American market even for unreasonable high prices. I am not surprised to see bucktail markets are bombarded with Japanese quality products soon.
If anyone knows quality bucktails in 8 - 10 lbs range for me to test for grouper, let me know. The experiment with diamond jigs are over and I am going to concentrate on bucktail jigging for grouper in the future trips.

[Uncle Russ]

Kil: I googled the exact phrase: "8 oz bucktail" and got 639 hits. (Of course a lot of those were such items as 1/8, 5/8 etc. but some were for 8 oz heads. Of course, I doubt the quality of those would meet your standards as to hook quality etc. Another option--you may have thought of it--would be to have a custom mold made to fit the specific hook and body form you want and make your own. Do-It molds makes a blank that you can have machined. I realize this would not be ideal, but only an option if you can't find what you want easily.

I have explored this option for designing my own 4 ounce casting spoons until I found an existing mold that was close enough for government work.

One firm selling the blank mold is Jannsnetcraft, Do-It blank molds, make your own custom molds Some others are Barlows and Stamina. I believe that Do-It actually charges more than their distributors to encourge buying from them. The largest actual (pre-made) bucktail mold they carry is 2 ½ oz. They point out that custom machine work is expensive so to check on cost before buying the blanks mold. I think this mold is less than 6 inches long so may not be big enough for that size jig/hook.

Russ

[ksong]

Russ, Thanks for the information.
I bought a few 7 oz Shimano's Lucanus jigs. The jigs are so beautiful that I didn't mind spending extra for them. But I don't like the skirt and small hooks. I am going to replace with bigger hook and test them for grouper in NC on Thuesday. I also plan to try 6 oz Spro jigs, but I don't know whether the hooks can hold big groupers.

[ichibahn]

Hi Kil,
Check out "NEW BRAID - SEA FOX AND THUMPER SQUIDS" at Braid Lures.

[LEXPRO]

Ive caught AJ's to 44lb on spro jigs...

[jureal]

Kil, the guys that fish up at Alaska use these huge leadheads and plastic swim baits for the halibut and ling cod.
Those lead heads have a very sturdy hook and what looks to be 12-16 oz of lead. Perhaps you could just tie on some bucktail or plastic strips to that? Long Range fishermen also use something just as big for swimbaits for yellowfin tuna.

[ksong]

Originally Posted by jureal

Kil, the guys that fish up at Alaska use these huge leadheads and plastic swim baits for the halibut and ling cod.
Those lead heads have a very sturdy hook and what looks to be 12-16 oz of lead. Perhaps you could just tie on some bucktail or plastic strips to that? Long Range fishermen also use something just as big for swimbaits for yellowfin tuna.

Mel, I tried many jigs for halibut, but the best jigs for halibut are scampi jigs you are talking about. I go to Alaska in late June for halibut and king salmon jigging and the scampi jigs are going to be my main jigs for halibut.

[MrBill]

Believe it or not, I have been collecting bucktail jigs for over 25 years. One of these days, I will gather them all up from their different locations and take some pictures. I've bought a bunch from different countries.I try my best to hit local tackle shops when traveling. Some of the most interesting are local made by commerical fisherman.

Here's a reference page to most lure makers. I use it all the time if I'm looking for some oddball lure of any type. Save it in your favorite places.

www.Mels-Place.com - Directory of Saltwater Fishing Lures, Jigs, Bucktails, Poppers and Soft Plastics

[Bellyups]

Originally Posted by MrBill

Here's a reference page to most lure makers. I use it all the time if I'm looking for some oddball lure of any type. Save it in your favorite places.

www.Mels-Place.com - Directory of Saltwater Fishing Lures, Jigs, Bucktails, Poppers and Soft Plastics

Now I will never make it back to work yet alone to bed tonight

[ksong]

Originally Posted by MrBill

Believe it or not, I have been collecting bucktail jigs for over 25 years. One of these days, I will gather them all up from their different locations and take some pictures. I've bought a bunch from different countries.I try my best to hit local tackle shops when traveling. Some of the most interesting are local made by commerical fisherman.

Here's a reference page to most lure makers. I use it all the time if I'm looking for some oddball lure of any type. Save it in your favorite places.

www.Mels-Place.com - Directory of Saltwater Fishing Lures, Jigs, Bucktails, Poppers and Soft Plastics

Thanks very much for the info.
I am also checking Henry's catalog.