b'SOFTBAITING Hooked up when in the shallows requires your drag high and even a helping hand on the spool to stop those runs and fish reaching kelp or rocks.You want to drift slowly and cast allcolour options and sizes to try out asbe challenging if using a lighter jig head around the boat until you get strikes andevery day is different on the water andweight such as 1/4oz.My preferred figure where the fish are.The longer yousometimes your favourite colour mightweights are 1/2oz and 3/8oz as they can do this before having to start thenot work.Sizes are probably moregive a better cast and dont get caught motor to shift back to start the drift againimportant with shallower water fishing;up in the rocks if you keep moving them the better. you dont need to use large 7 softbaitsat a steady pace when working the A big game changer for this type ofto give a bigger profile and 5 or 4 aresoftbait back.fishing is having an electric trolling motorbetter as they have more hang time when like a Minn Kota, we use it to minimisedropping and wont get as caught up inGO UP WITH LEADERnoise of the outboard and it has proventhe foul being smaller. Fishing in the shallows rocks and kelp are a deadly tool in the shallows.Once I findIn winter I have done well with coloursyour biggest enemy once you hook up, fish, I deploy the Minn Kota and spot lockNuked Pilly, Motor Oil, Bruised Banana,you need to consider what leader to use us in place so we can stay in the areaRed Bone and of course Atomic Sunrisebefore you start casting, I typically fish casting.We will catch a few fish fromwhich tends to lead the fish count thesewith 25lb fluorocarbon and sometimes this spot and when fish interest dropsdays for our softbaiting.The PaddlerZgo up to 30lb.I have been dusted by away, I simply turn off the motor to let usstyle softbaits with their great tail actionsome big fish that got me into the rough drift along the coast again until we findhave also been a good option in thestuff and I couldnt get them out or they more fish. shallows over winter in the past. simply busted off, so you want tougher Matching the lure to your Light Bulbline to take the abuse.SOFTBAITS jig head is also important and I onlyDont think that 15lb or even 20lb I only use Z-Man softbaits these days,fish 1/2oz or less.You still want to beleader will cut it when softbaiting in as they are just so durable and catchable to achieve long casts away fromunder 5m and there are sharp rocks and all species.We will always take severalthe boat and often in the wind it canreef covered with shellfish all around you, 46FISHING IN GODZONE JUL/AUG 2023'