On the again finish of the dreaded “canine days of summer season”, and earlier than the autumn run gates open, comes (arguably) essentially the most thrilling time of yr for inshore anglers. It’s the season between seasons, a couple of weeks which can be referred to by watermen of the Northeast as albie season. When hardtails like false albacore, bonito and Spanish mackerel arrive within the Northeast someday round mid- to late-August, fishermen rush sort out retailers en masse, clearing cabinets of any shimmering, long-casting jigs that these inshore speedsters would possibly understand as a fleeing baitfish. Some are lengthy and slender, others are brief and stout, however all of them are designed to intently resemble the profiles, colours and swimming motion of ample and weak fall run forage.
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Fats Cow Fishing Fats Minnow
For a heavier-bodied epoxy-style jig, the Fats Cow Fishing Fats Minnow, is a long-casting presentation with a pot-bellied profile that kicks nicely on a medium to quick retrieve. The 2 albie-appropriate sizes, 3/4 and 1 ounce, have the identical size and profile at 2.5 inches. The heavier 1-ounce Fats Minnow is an efficient selection for shore-bound anglers who want the additional casting distance, and shall be working the jig throughout and in opposition to the present. The three/4-ounce would be the better option on the boat or kayak, the place anglers can decelerate the retrieve and nonetheless maintain the lure just below the floor.
RonZ Lures RonZpoxy Minnow
One of many latest additions to the albie lure scene is the RonZ Z Poxy Minnow. Made with a shatterproof, soft-to-the-touch epoxy, this casting jig includes a flat backside that makes it simple to fish close to or on the floor, even at medium retrieve speeds. A dorsal fin and a scale-patterned lead core add to the lure’s realism, whereas it’s 4 staple colours, pink, chartruese, silverside, and sand eel/bay anchovy, give anglers an possibility for many situations and baitfish. The Z Poxy is offered in two sizes, 2.5inch, .65 ounce and three inch, 1 ounce and comes fitted with treble hooks.
Hogy Lures Epoxy Jig
After the traditional albie lure, the Maria Jig, ceased manufacturing round 2008, the primary lure to recreate that model was the Hogy Lures Epoxy Jig. The lure is a straight match of the outdated Marias, with its symmetrical design and fin and gill particulars. It has a foiled lead core with a “double-thick” layer of epoxy that stands as much as albies, however is susceptible to chipping or cracking if it bounces off rocks or the boat. Whereas the lure is offered in seven sizes from 1/4- to 4 ounces, the three/8, 5/8, and seven/8-ounce sizes are the best for false albacore. The jig is available in a variety of colours, however don’t sleep on the orange “Shrimp” sample as an anchovy match.
JoeBaggs Resin Jig
It’s the lead-core development of this clear resin-coated, through-wired jig that makes it a long-casting, sturdy possibility for albie fishermen. Like others of its form, the JoeBaggs Resin Jig cuts by means of wind, permitting for correct casts in shoddy situations, when the possibility to get your lure by means of a feed could be much more difficult. The three/4-ounce jig is offered in two totally different lengths, permitting anglers to custom-match the forage on the menu that day.
JoeBaggs Peanut Resin
When albies are keyed-in on peanut bunker, discovering a jig that resembles their deep profile is of utmost significance. Their rounded profiles are intently mimicked by the JoeBaggs’ Peanut Resin Jigs, which swim with a good wobble. Whereas the jig is available in sizes as much as the bluefin-tuna-tempting 6 ounces, the three/4- and 1-ounce sizes are the perfect decisions for the albie addict. It could be tempting to go together with the silver as a detailed anchovy match, don’t be afraid to modify to an attention grabbing bone, chartreuse, or rainbow to assist the jig stand out from the peanut crowd, whereas nonetheless matching the profile.
Fish Snax Lures Laborious Snax
Out there in 3 sizes and colours to slot in among the many fall run forage, Fish Snax Laborious Snax are the flip facet of the coin to their in style delicate plastics, Albie Snax. These jigs characteristic a bulbous black eye to boost their pure attraction, and have been not too long ago armed with an inline single hook to switch the thin-wire treble that initially got here on the lure and was susceptible to bending. With a flat-bottom design, they swim nicely when skipped throughout the floor and at a reasonable retrieve velocity.
Fish Snax Lures Laborious Snax Peanut
Weighing only one/2 ounce with a small profile, the Fish Snax Laborious Snax Peanut matches tiny baitfish with barely deeper profiles. The lure comes rigged with an inline single hook, and is offered in three colours, olive, electrical rooster, and our favourite, bone with a glow stripe.
Monomoy Sort out Laborious Shell Peanut Jig
Because the peanut bunker develop all through the season, so ought to your jig measurement. Monomoy Sort out’s Laborious Shell Peanut Jig consists of steel with a reflective foil wrap that’s protected by a beneficiant coat of epoxy resin for translucency. This jig is barely longer and broader than different peanut bunker imitators, which makes it an ideal selection for mid- to late-albie season when peanuts have a little bit extra meat on their bones.
Sport On Lures Exo Jig
Out there in 3 sizes and weights, the symmetrical, through-wired Sport On Exo Jigs forged nicely and get an albies consideration with their wider profile and kicking motion. The lure’s reflective, holographic core is protected by a shatterproof polymer shell. They’re obtainable in 7 colours, with silver being a prime producer among the many OTW workers.
Shimano Present Sniper Jig
The phrase “it casts like a bullet” is usually used to explain steel lures and jigs within the surf-fishing scene, particularly these jigs that cater towards false albacore fishermen. The profile of Shimano’s Present Sniper jig holds true to the outdated saying. Formed like a bullet, these aerodynamic, light-reflective steel jigs are available in a wide range of weights, lengths and colours to match the hatch whether or not albies are consuming squid, spearing or anchovies.
Lethal Dick
After Maria Jigs stopped producing and earlier than the epoxy jig growth, anglers relied on Lethal Dicks to get their albie repair. This slender steel is adorned with holographic stickers for added flash and a swivel to cut back line twist. In case you’re feeling nostaligic, or can’t attain the albies with epoxies, the #1L and #34L in inexperienced won’t ever exit of fashion.
Daiwa Zakana Jig
The 20- and 30-gram steel Daiwa Zakana Jig is through-wired and swims with a delicate side-to-side motion on a fast retrieve. It is available in greater than a dozen colours and options an extra-large eye, a characteristic that sharp-sighted predators like false albacore key in on. Essentially the most notable characteristic of the Zakana jig is the horizontal line tie, which contributes to the jig’s reasonable swimming motion by protecting it stage and balanced irrespective of how regular or fast of a retrieve velocity is important.
Daddy Mac Albie & Bonito Jig
One other early arrival to fill the void after the Maria jig was discontinued, the Daddy Mac Albie/Bonito Jig is a metal-bodied jig that has an attractive kicking motion (because of its center-weighted design) and a silverside and anchovy-matching profile.
Associated Content material
Blind Casting for Albies
Tips on how to Catch Extra False Albacore
Tender-Plastic Lures for Finicky False Albacore
