One of my main goals this season is throw bucktails wherever and whenever possible. A lot of the spots I fish in the east bay are just too shallow, but most of the other spots have great bucktail possibilties, especially at high tide.

I got about 100 free bucktails from 1 to 5oz early this season in exchange for a few plugs, not a bad deal. So I'm fully loaded and ready to go.


I will also be keeping track of what colors worked, why and where.

So far white/red has been the hot ticket until Tuesday where they wouldnt touch it. Switched to a yellow then to a pink and numerous hook ups on both, back to the white and nothing.

the close up was taken with my new fuji waterproof camera, had to reszie it to fit but still cool.

Here is the close up.

nice...i dont fish bucktails enough...

A charter skipper I used to mate for showed me a great shallow water bucktail method. Its similar to the float or egg method used to carry out small teasers or droppers you see the schoolie fishermen using:

Simply take a small atom popper or the like and remove the hooks from it, tie 2-3 feet of 30-50# mono to the tail loop, then tie your bucktail on the end. The popper helps your casting distance and keeps the jig just off the bottom. The popper body also serves as a "gaff" to control the fish once you get it close, just grab the popper body when you can reach it. I used to use this method on the shallow flats off chatham and south cape beach with very good success. You can either pop the thing or retrieve it slowly.

A charter skipper I used to mate for showed me a great shallow water bucktail method. Its similar to the float or egg method used to carry out small teasers or droppers you see the schoolie fishermen using:

Simply take a small atom popper or the like and remove the hooks from it, tie 2-3 feet of 30-50# mono to the tail loop, then tie your bucktail on the end. The popper helps your casting distance and keeps the jig just off the bottom. The popper body also serves as a "gaff" to control the fish once you get it close, just grab the popper body when you can reach it. I used to use this method on the shallow flats off chatham and south cape beach with very good success. You can either pop the thing or retrieve it slowly.

WOW thanks for posting. I know where I'm going to give it a try.

^ I should add you don't need to use heavy jigs, either. Put something on that settles down but doesn't pull the popper under water. 1/4 to 3/4 oz works best with a small popper.

Also, its not strictly a schoolie rig...:fishin:

Saltwater version of the "float-n-fly" rig I use for freshwater smallies or crappie, works in the larger versions as well.

I caught my first bass this year and the only bass i have ever caught on a bucktail this morning. I have really never used them and decided that this year I was going to try them. Pretty sweet to catch my first bass of the year on one though.

One of my main goals this season is throw bucktails wherever and whenever possible. A lot of the spots I fish in the east bay are just too shallow, but most of the other spots have great bucktail possibilties, especially at high tide.

I got about 100 free bucktails from 1 to 5oz early this season in exchange for a few plugs, not a bad deal. So I'm fully loaded and ready to go.


I will also be keeping track of what colors worked, why and where.

So far white/red has been the hot ticket until Tuesday where they wouldnt touch it. Switched to a yellow then to a pink and numerous hook ups on both, back to the white and nothing.

the close up was taken with my new fuji waterproof camera, had to reszie it to fit but still cool.


What happened the jumbo plugs?

I throw bucktails once a year or 2. Threw one last night and got a 36" on it. I should use them more.

I throw bucktails once a year or 2. Threw one last night and got a 36" on it. I should use them more.

YES you should,,,

Nice going looks like 3 colors are working good

Nice ink to