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SOFT PLASTICS
Soft Eel
A long, wiggling soft-plastic eel; famous for striped bass up north, but here it works best at night for snook, tarpon and barracuda.
DepthMid-depth
ActionSlow snake-like swim
WhereJetties, river mouths, channels, bridges at night
LevelIntermediate
How to fish it
- 1
Rig it on a jig head or a pre-rigged eel hook so the body hangs straight and the tail swims freely.
- 2
Cast across or slightly up-current along a jetty, channel edge or bridge shadow line.
- 3
Let it sink, then reel very slowly, just fast enough to make the tail swim; let the current do most of the work.
- 4
When you feel the hit, keep reeling until the weight is solid, then set hard and get the fish away from the rocks.
BigJoe Tips
- Slower than you think; an eel should crawl, not race.
- Dark colors make the best silhouette at night, even in clear water.
- Many striper-style rigged eels are made for cold northern water; a simple jig-head rig is all you need here.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using light leader around rocks and pilings where snook and tarpon will cut you off.
- Fishing it fast in bright midday sun, when it rarely produces here.
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