Favorite Lures for Inshore Mahi and School Bluefin

[Gerry Zagorski]

With our inshore bluefin and Mahi season getting underway, what are your favorites to put in your spread and if you could only choose one, what would it be??

For me, other then spreader bars and a squid daisy chain, it would have to be a blue and chartruse Islander jet head with a ballyhoo.

[bunker dunker]

cedar plugs in tight.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Seems like a lot of people swear by Cedar Plugs. I've not had any luck running them although I will continue to run at least one in the spread on the flat lines close in just to try and renew my faith in them. Any tricks you have running them Bunker? Most seem to run them in the prop wash.

[Capt. Lou]

Cedars / jap feathers cedars always ran better for me with 15' # 8-9 wire . Both of these on most occasions run best flat lined or low rigger position .
Also few yers back when glory hole was hot small spreaders worked well with jets .
Now some of these school is R bigger might jump up tp larger set ups . I'd u feel more comfortable with mono leads then I would select the larger cedars natural good as any color .
Cuddle fish R deadly with chin weights inside , I used to run several on daisy with #9 wire peg em' with RC sinkers so u don't damage wire !
All this can be run with mono , run clear water in wake or face of waves ! If action around tighten spread to create more commotion . Always deploy a CR waaaaaaay back on CR , liked 3oz GM bullet or jet .
It's always good to find out what is currently hot & start there

[Gerry Zagorski]

Just rigged up one of these to give a shot

[Gerry Zagorski]

I'm also hearing good things about Joe Shutes... Like Sea Witches (another favorite) but with Mylar instead of hair.

[xperks22]

How do you guys rig the cedar plugs ? im clueless......do you just tie them onto your main line with a swivel ? any weights needed ?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by xperks22

How do you guys rig the cedar plugs ? im clueless......do you just tie them onto your main line with a swivel ? any weights needed ?

Cedar plugs usually come pre rigged and have lead weighed noses. Just attach the rig directly to your snap swivel.

Most people run them in close on flat line clips right in the prop wash.

If you don't have flat line clips you can use a rubber band wrapped around your line and the reel handle. When you hook up the rubber brand will break.

[xperks22]

Thanks Gerry they are pre rigged so i should be good to go. Plan on trying to get out to those grounds sometime soon. Hopefully i have a good report to post.

[Pauls1976]

I will always mix up a cedar plug, smaller spreaders and some meat in my spread but I have a set of daisy chains which seem to out fish them all. Three squids followed by a slightly longer jet head. Been killer for me the past few years on the middle grounds. Made them in green, pink & purple. The pink one even got a white Marlin this year for us. I usually do a lot of switching lures/colors throughout the day until I notice something (whether lure style, bait or color) works better.

Only so many more prayers I can say for some inshore clean water though!