This is a specialist rig for spooky predators on inshore rough ground or in clearwater estuaries, anywhere fish have time to inspect a bait before taking it.
Best targets
- Bass: rocky points, river mouths, kelp edges. A live prawn or soft crab on the end with the tide doing the work.
- Ballan wrasse: hardback crab or peeler over inshore rough.
- Pollack: jigged or sink-and-draw off rock marks with a sandeel or worm.
- Mullet: bread or harbour ragworm on a small hook, scaled-down version.
Where it shines
Clearwater inshore marks, especially over kelp, rocky reefs or harbour walls. The long, flowing presentation is unbeatable for fish that approach a bait with caution. Particularly good at slack water and on neap tides when the bait can move slowly and naturally.
Where to avoid it
Beach surf at distance (it'll tangle on the cast). Strong tide flow with a heavy lead (the snood gets dragged flat against the seabed, defeating the point). Anywhere you need to keep the bait pinned to one spot, this rig wants the tide to work the bait for you.
Casting it
Lob, don't punch. A standard overhead cast at half power keeps the long snood from tangling in flight. If you can swing the bait below the rod tip and pendulum it out, even better. This is not a distance rig.