Introducing the Skitterbait

The Skitterbait, a mix between a popper and a stickbait these 9cm lures have proven to be a top performer in the seaway and broadwater in the last couple of months despite some tough fishing winter conditions and in what is probably the worst time of the year for fishing surface lures. With the summer surface season approaching these lures will pull some top fish before the end of the year.




Whats inside

The Skitterbait is made of high impact plastic and is equipped with GT Bio #6 Hooks and #1 Owner split rings.  It contains a magnetic retention system for the ball bearings to keep them in perfect place on a retrieve.  When you cast it the momentum pushes the ball bearings past the magnet and right to the back of the tail.  Due to this casts with the Skitterbait tend to go alot further than you might expect, very few plastic lures cast this well.  Cast carefully or these might end up on the rocks.

The magnetic weight retention system keeps the lure perfectly weighted at all times, you can see it holding the treble in place.

Working the Skitterbait

These lures can be worked in four ways, a flat out retrieve will have this lure skipping across the surface, a blooping retrieve with the rod tip down will have the lure spitting out water with the occasional dive under the water, a slow twitching retrieve with the rod tip up will have the lure spitting out water and popping side to side(my favourite retrieve) and the standard walk the dog retrieve with the rod tip down.

Where the Rapala Skitter Pop 9 is big, loud and brash and is at its best in the roughest of water conditions and more vigorous retrieves, the Skitterbait is a finesse lure and should be worked as such.  Pay attention to what its doing, if it dives under wait til it pops up to the top again and continue.  Work it slowly with pauses for effect.  Use this lure on light to medium gear, any heavier than about 15lb and you will lose some action.  Any 7ft rod rated medium light t0 light is ideal for working it. I reccomend fairly heavy leader, no light than 20lb but preferably 30lb.  You can tie it on with a loop knot or use snap clip to attach it.

This video shows the slow twitching retrieve in close to the north wall.

Where to use it

The skitterbait can be used anywhere from the calmest sand flat to the roughest conditions out on the ends of the walls.    As a small thin lure it struggles a bit in very rough water at the end of the wall, but with a few extra pauses it will pop back up on the surface so you can continue the retrieve.  The edge of the white water zone around the north wall tip and on the north wall flats are both excellent places to use it.  The skitterbait is at its best when the sun is up and most fish have shut down, it will pull fish when all others are failing to get a strike.

What eats it

So far I have caught Giant Trevally, Tarpon, Bigeye Trevally, Dart, Bream and endless amounts of Tailor. It is only a matter of time before a Kingfish eats one, I'm pretty sure all the pelagic species would have a go as well.  I'm still using the orginal prototype and it has landed well over 50 fish since the start of July, its lost a bit of paint but the fish are still hitting it.

If you have one of these and are having trouble with them, call me over if you see me out on the water and I'll give you a demo on how I work them.  There will also be a video showing all the techniques coming out soon.

Skitterbaits can only be purchased through me on the water or in the SeawayFishing Shop

This 65cm GT took a skitterbait off the top in the middle of the day.

This 64cm Tailor took a skitterbait off the surface

This 60cm Tarpon took the skitterbait after it was cast into a bustup.

Even the much maligned Dart will have a go at these.