How to work Shibuki

[ksong]

Shibuke lures become hot items for tuna popping.
When I fished on the Big E out of Freeport, TX past weekend, I was surprised many guys on the boat knew about these lures and had them.8*
There are two distinctive types of Shubuki. One with lip and one without lip as you see in the picture below.

without lip
This lure is believed to be designed when casting toward boiling tuna. Jerking/cranking or jerking/pausing is very effective when using this lure. I could be an excellent lures for boiling bluefin in Cape Cod Bay. I tested this lure twice in Gulf of Mexico and had limited success though I had some nice yft and blackfin on it.

with lip
You can use this lure by cranking fast, jerking/cranking or jerking/pausing. All are working. This lure was very effective in Gulf of Mexico for me. I even had a hit on this lure when it sit still while I was trying to untangle with other line.

Any lure can be used in different way. Let's hear about your experience with these fabulous lures.

[PurEvl]

I find that the lipless sinking in order to work effectively you need to let sit a few seconds become working back in. If you crank fast after hitting the water the lure rides the top more than if you let it sink. The lipless dives automatically therefore no need to estimate depth you are at. I got more hits on my shibuki when letting it sink and pausing after each interval of retrieve.

[MrBill]

On a drifting boat, I like holding the tip of the rod close to the water. Cranking very fast non stop with left to right swinging of the rod tip. (model with lip) I've found that all species will attack the lure. Bad thing is the toothy critters. Cuda's and hoo's will also attack these lures.

It's the best inshore trolling plug I've ever used. Inshore trolling with the shibuki should always have a wire leader. Kingfish will hit this lure way before a rapala, russell lure or lip-ed mirrorlure. This year I had at least a dozen kingfish and Jackfish hit it while trolling.

It's a expensive lure, but it produces. Well worth the price. Don't leave port without a few in your tackle box.

[PurEvl]

Mrbill,

That is a good point I forgot to mention, working it with rod tip down is more effective than pointed up. We had complaints from deckhands to point rod tip up so lines had less chance of tangling but we managed =)

[BretABaker]

i need to get some of these. Kil caught fish both times on the trips I fished with him on with this lure. It does produce very well.

I used another surface lure, and tried all of the aforementioned techniques. I think slower retrieve worked better on yellowfin, at least with my lure.

[PurEvl]

It does hurt to see when you get broke off though. Ouch! Bye-Bye lure.

[papio]

hey guys, which had better hookups single or trebles hooks?

[ksong]

Originally Posted by MrBill

On a drifting boat, I like holding the tip of the rod close to the water. Cranking very fast non stop with left to right swinging of the rod tip. (model with lip) I've found that all species will attack the lure. Bad thing is the toothy critters. Cuda's and hoo's will also attack these lures.

It's the best inshore trolling plug I've ever used. Inshore trolling with the shibuki should always have a wire leader. Kingfish will hit this lure way before a rapala, russell lure or lip-ed mirrorlure. This year I had at least a dozen kingfish and Jackfish hit it while trolling.

It's a expensive lure, but it produces. Well worth the price. Don't leave port without a few in your tackle box.

Here is another tiny lure from Tacklehous. This lure is designed when tuna feeding very small baits. You can cast them or troll them. They claim this lure is effective as soon as it touches water and you can troll as fast as 10 knot. Anyway, Japanese guys very good at advertisement.

[A.whitman]

what about yozuri crystal minnow magnum? can they withstand the power of a big tuna?

[ksong]

Originally Posted by PurEvl

Mrbill,

That is a good point I forgot to mention, working it with rod tip down is more effective than pointed up. We had complaints from deckhands to point rod tip up so lines had less chance of tangling but we managed =)

I don't think I made a good impression to mates as I had to say something to mates on three different occasions. It is a due when you fish on a party boat for the first time.
1. When he asked me to hold my rod high for popping. Laster on I saw guys around me popping like I did. Depending on what poppers you use, the postion of rod tips is determined.
2. When I was asked to run to the left not to tangle with other guy who also was fighting tuna even tuna made a run to the right.
3. When he tried to hold my braided line with bare hands to lift tuna which was still green. I know he knew what he was doing. But I've been so many accidents occured to experienced fishermen because of braided lines.