Been seeing awsome results on McArthy paddle tails 7 - 10", all colours seem to work. If the drift is slow ,then slow lift,quater wind, slow lift continue three to 5m of the bottom then back down, sometimes abit more of a twitch a bit faster a bit slower, what ever works on the day, Berkly Gulps are better suited for leaveing in the rod holder

i normally give three or 4 twitches along then let it sink back down, like you'd imagine a struggling  injured baitfish to do

jig head weight as light as depth and drift allow (was using 1 oz in 40 meters the other day

snapbacks , mcarthys , wave worms

i use 20 lb braid and 20lb fluro leader on plastics rod

geez graham that is being a little bit too sporting for the back of the bank and big dhuies.

Up here grayzee you will get smoked with that. I would use at least a 40lb leader up here or Coral trout, cods and sods etc will bury you deep and ping.

Neels

How much does a low range jig rod and reel cost bought some plstics the other day but can't really get the feel using the heavier gear

Gulp has been working well up this way, all colours seem to work but the blues and grey work better with a number 5 hook, have even used on pat rig when drifting fast and done well, only problem is that wrasse like to bite the tails out of them

biggerfish, you can get a suitable spin jigging outfit for about $400 with braid and options go up from there. Lighter outfits with a softer tip will depart a better action on your SP & smaller jigs etc

Russ, for demersals our favourites are the McArthy SP range. Snapbacks are great for shallow water fish and toothy fish also but deeper water the McArthys are awesome. We've had great success with the range and I know Ryan has some great captures under his belt including recenly with dhufish & red emperor etc he rates em highly.

Jig heads, we use the TT 1oz - 1 1/2 oz in the 7/0 size for the bigger SP ie 7inch and good for 35-50m. The 1 1/2 oz to 2oz for deeper water or faster drift. Colours, pink, chartruese, orange etc are some of our prefered colours.

Method, cast back behind the boat so by the time the SP sinks to the bottom its beneath your boat and start working it. Small lift & twitch with your rod tip which aggrevates the fish and periodically freespooling back to the bottom. Gently gently is better with SP and your enticing the fish to bite so dont take it out of the strike zone too quickly.

Ryan rescent capture last week - working hard as per normal lol;

Montebellow Islands 8.3kg Red Emperor on McArthy 7inch Bullhead Softplastic in 45m - 30lb spin outfit (photo by Steve Hart)

Some guys just have all the luck.

Been using Gulp and Slam mostly. Like both but do get annoyed when the gulp dries up, so when you use them make certain (not sure) that the bag is sealed, or better still use one of the buckets and stick them in the Juice.

I have endlessly tried the Gulp Peeler crabs for Bluebone with little joy, they just seem to nibble off the dangly bits and then you turf them, so I have a few spare buckets. I have no certain colour preference, but I myself (me probably not the fish) like the red/green combo. Reminds me of Xmas! LOL. I dont think the fish mind. It is more the contrast and action.

For demersals the Paddletail types, poggies etc seem a little better than Minnows IMO, and dont require as much action. Just a couple of light flicks up in quick time, then let it drop back. It is often on the drop that "wham" happens, especially with Coral trout. Size doesn't seem to matter as large fish will eat small baits if they think it is alive, but I dont use small ones up here, mostly 5inch and up, and I have even tried a huge Bozo curley tail grub that I am sure will be eaten by something big, just not yet. I get impatient with it as it doesn't seem to get the fish as excited as Slam and gulp.

I am also a fan of Snapbacks, but only in white. Awesome for Jacks, other Latjanus and Lethrinids (NW Emperors), and have thrown them at Tuna with some joy. Avoid the razor gang, because they kill all SPs including Snapbacks.

As for the jighead the lighter the bettter, but I have tried lately to use a ton of wt, get the SP down, then retrieve fast with some pauses for about 6m, then let it sink again with some wobbles and this has also worked. TT heads the champs for sure IMO.

As mentioned a paternoster rig, with a Snapper jig like a Octa, Bay Rubbers and especially Taikabura's on the bottom, and then a tough 5/0 on a dropper with a placky rig in some current just seem awesome. I dont fish with the jigs alone anymore.

Hope this helps but the best is to learn how to rig them. Get Starlo's and Bushies DVD on Plackies, see how they rig them, apply that to all plastics. Check the SP in the water next to the boat, land etc to see that it is straight and swim well (crucial). If not start again, as there is no short cut to rigging it right. If wrong your wasting time IMO.

Hope this helps.

Cheers and give it a bash. Better than bait hands, but still like the smell of Mulie and squid, because wont give up bait at all.

Neels

Great information guys, I am too are looking at giving soft plastics a go but was a little bit confused with what too use and what jig heads went with what.Keen now to get and give them a go.

hey bigger fish , did exceptionally well on jigs sbt , dhueys bb harlyquin (converted) , quite well on plastics  but nothing on bait aside from rubbish fish

and simon , i've managed a 7.5 kilo dhuey on that outfit but agree that i'd get smoked on anything too much bigger. trying to keep the boat on top of it while fighting it at the same time was quite amusing.

ive been doin a lot of fishing last few weeks with the 5" and 7" nuclear chicken shads they catch everything even on a patternoster rig down deep

thanks to all for the info. will have to get some soon and give it a go. might have to give oceanside a visit