By Paul Melnyk
I once questioned the great and notorious surfrat, George Wade about what was his opinion as to his favorite lures for the surf.
He looked at me with a straight face, and said, "There are only three jigs worth casting on the beach. I don't care what time of year or what bait is running, these jigs will hook 'em every time. First, a Bucktail, next a Bucktail and last but not least, a Bucktail!"
There is no doubt about it, fish for fish, pound for pound, the lowly buck out performs them all... A bucktail in the suds will bring some staggering results. I have seen fellahs throw everything in their bags, trying to con those schooling fish to jump on there plug, just to have some guy roll into the surf with a Smiling Bill and hammer one bass after another on that little leadhead.
What could be the cause of such great success? I would say it is this jigs ability to mimic just about any bait in the ocean. That combination of wiggle and bounce, skipping along the bottom seems to be irresistible to all measure of predators in the surf. I have taken bass and blues, weaks and fluke, (even a lobster!) on this magic talisman. But by far the greatest success has been in fooling stripers. At certain times of year, usually during the Herring and Bunker run, a bucktail will outperform even an eel.
The bucktail is a great white-water performer.
The rougher the surf, the stronger the wind is in your face, the better
these buggers work. How a bass can track the little bullet in a white-out
of bubbles is a mystery, but again and again, cow bass are taken on the
little jig, even under the most challenging conditions. Careful choice of
size and weight is an important factor in order to succeed. Generally, a
good rule of thumb is to choose a bucktail that will bounce. along the bottom,
yet still sweep in the rip. A good size to start is at an 1 1/2oz., although
I have caught slobs with as little as 1/2 oz., and as large as 4 oz's. If
your not hanging the bottom every once and a while, you are using the wrong
action, or weight. You will loose rigs, so be armed with a good supply.
A pork rind or a silicone curlytail slipped over the business end seems
to make the jig irresistible.
There are several varieties of the bucktail jig on the market today. Some of the best are manufactured by Andres, and may be seen under the names, Jetty caster, Bullet head, Smiling bill, Swing hook, Polly head, etc.
You will find other manufacturers out there, such as Bass Pro. or The Surfcaster. Be careful though, some distributors sell an inferior product. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for! All have the potential to hook 'em. I prefer a Swing hook or a Polly head in 2 oz. size. I feel that the swing hook has a little more action when combined with a pork rind or curly tail. As far as color, take your choice. I've seen fish bang every color in the book, but my preference is towards white with a red curlytail, but I carry every color, just in case. Sometimes a change of contrast is all it takes to induce that monster hit!
To use a bucktail, the first step is to find an area where there is a strong flow of water. It is important to use a Buck in a tidal surge or rip. Look for a sand bar, or a point with a ledge that drops off. You should cast up tide around 30° from center to allow the jig to swing. It is this down tide action that will stimulate a strike. The slower the retrieve, the better. Every so often give the tip of your rod a jerk, about once every 3 turns of the crank. This is what causes that irresistible wiggle at the business end. When you get a strike, hang on! Bass can blast out of the water, and rip out line in a hurry, so be ready.