BIGame lures

TOPWATER · 01

Popper and pencil popper

A floating surface lure. It spits, splashes and zig-zags like a fleeing baitfish.

WORK ITLong cast, rod tip down, sharp twitches while you wind the slack. Pause after each splash: most hits come on the pause. WHENDawn and dusk, calm water or a light chop, fish busting on top, clear water. IN THE UAEQueenfish on the Palm and Corniche breakwaters, trevally over the reef, longtail tuna under diving birds. CATCHESQueenfish, Giant trevally, Longtail tuna, Yellowfin tuna, Mahi-mahi, Barracuda

11 to 18 cm 20 to 60 g (tuna and GT up to 120 g) Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencil, Hydro Popper

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HARD BAIT · 02

Diving minnow / crankbait

A hard bait with a lip. The lip makes it dive and wobble; a bigger lip dives deeper.

WORK ITSteady retrieve, bump it into rock and reef edges, then pause. From a boat, troll it at 4 to 7 knots. WHENBreakwaters, reef edges, colour changes and trolling lanes. IN THE UAEKingfish and barracuda on the troll, queenfish along rock walls, cobia under markers. CATCHESKingfish, Barracuda, Queenfish, Giant trevally, Cobia

9 to 18 cm 15 to 60 g, dives 1 to 6 m Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow, Hydro Minnow LC

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SWIMBAIT · 03

Glide bait / jointed swimbait

A jointed, life-size baitfish that glides wide from side to side.

WORK ITSlow, even turns with pauses so it glides and flashes. If a fish follows, speed up; never stop. WHENBig-fish days, clear water, around reefs, channel edges and bait schools. IN THE UAEGT, big barracuda and kingfish on reef edges; hammour will hit it close to the bottom. CATCHESGiant trevally, Barracuda, Kingfish, Hammour (grouper)

12 to 20 cm 30 to 100 g Yo-Zuri 3DB Jointed Minnow (similar jointed action)

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JIG · 04

Skirted bottom jig

A weighted head, silicone skirt and weed guard, built to crawl over the bottom.

WORK ITDrop to the bottom, hop and drag it over rock and reef, and strike on any extra weight. WHENSlow days, after a cold front, fish holding tight to the bottom. IN THE UAEHammour and snapper on inshore reefs and rock piles; cobia and pompano near structure. CATCHESHammour (grouper), Cobia, Pompano

10 to 15 cm with trailer 20 to 60 g Pair with a soft craw or paddle-tail trailer

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JIG · 05

Bladed swim jig

A jig with a metal blade on the nose. It vibrates hard on a steady retrieve.

WORK ITCast and wind steadily; rip it free if it touches weed. Loves stirred-up water. WHENGreen or murky water, wind-blown shores, mangrove edges. IN THE UAEQueenfish, barracuda and small trevally in murky mangrove creeks such as Kalba and Abu Dhabi's Eastern Mangroves. CATCHESQueenfish, Barracuda, Giant trevally, Pompano

10 to 14 cm 10 to 20 g Mostly a freshwater lure; test it in murky creeks

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WIRE BAIT · 06

Spinnerbait

A wire arm with spinning blades over a skirted hook: flash and thump.

WORK ITSlow-roll it along the bottom or burn it just under the surface. WHENShallow, murky water and low light. IN THE UAESmall predators in harbours and creeks. In open sea, metals and minnows usually do better. CATCHESQueenfish, Barracuda, Pompano

10 to 13 cm 10 to 20 g A freshwater classic; niche in UAE salt water

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METAL · 07

Casting metal jig

A slim bar of metal that casts a long way and sinks fast.

WORK ITCast to the boil, count it down, then burn it back. Tuna want speed. WHENBirds working, fish busting, wind in your face. IN THE UAELongtail tuna under birds off Dubai and Abu Dhabi, kingfish and queenfish on the drop. CATCHESLongtail tuna, Yellowfin tuna, Kingfish, Queenfish, Mahi-mahi

7 to 12 cm 20 to 80 g Slim casting metal, many brands

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[Product photo: Leaf-shaped slow-pitch jig, many brands]Add from the brand's media kit or a UAE stockist, with permission.Browse Yo-Zuri

METAL · 08

Slow-pitch jig

A flat, leaf-shaped jig that flutters and glides on the fall.

WORK ITShort lifts with a soft parabolic rod; let it fall on a controlled line. Most bites come on the fall. WHENDeep reefs and wrecks, slow tides, fish on the sounder but not chasing. IN THE UAEHammour, snapper and amberjack on the offshore banks and the east-coast drop. CATCHESHammour (grouper), Cobia, Kingfish

8 to 14 cm 60 to 350 g, by depth Leaf-shaped slow-pitch jig, many brands

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[Product photo: Bullet or cup-head skirt, rigged single hook]Add from the brand's media kit or a UAE stockist, with permission.Browse Yo-Zuri

TROLLING · 09

Skirted trolling lure

A hard head with a long skirt that smokes and pops in the prop wash.

WORK ITTroll 7 to 9 knots in a spread of two to four rods; watch the weed lines and floating debris. WHENOpen water, colour changes and flotsam. IN THE UAEMahi-mahi and yellowfin off Fujairah and Khor Fakkan; kingfish on the Gulf banks. CATCHESMahi-mahi, Yellowfin tuna, Kingfish

18 to 25 cm 60 to 150 g Bullet or cup-head skirt, rigged single hook

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SUB-SURFACE · 10

Darter and long minnow

A sub-surface lure that darts in a wide S just under the top.

WORK ITSlow, steady retrieve across the current; let the tide swing it. WHENCurrent, dawn and dusk, calm to moderate water. IN THE UAEQueenfish and barracuda in moving water off breakwaters and channel mouths. CATCHESQueenfish, Barracuda, Giant trevally

12 to 17 cm 18 to 57 g Yo-Zuri Mag Darter (5/8, 1 and 2 oz)

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