Finding Fish Below the Surface

“Below the Surface” is a fitting name for a lure brand. Owner Rod Prins came up with the name as he feels it signifies everything he loves about being in the ocean. In a previous life, Rod was a scuba instructor and took great joy in introducing people to the world beneath the waves.

When the opportunity arose to test these new lures on a glassy-calm morning in the Hauraki Gulf, our team jumped at the chance. Rod and his father Gerard joined a few members of the New Zealand Fishing Media crew on the 745 Extreme centre console Online II to target inshore species amid the March anchovy run.

Rod also has a previous career developing fastenings (he’s a multi-talented guy), and this familiarity with working metal led him to develop the original concept lures in a Waipu shed, in 2017.

The lures weren’t exactly original. Rod’s grandfather, Charlie Webb, planted the seed in his mind many years ago. Charlie was a keen angler, but when fishing wasn’t an option Charlie and Rod  would spend their time collecting pieces of scrap copper and lead to melt into homemade lures and sinkers. The 2020 COVID lockdown then provided the extra time and motivation that was needed to perfect the lure design. The “Charlie Wobbler” lure now honours Charlie’s name and legacy, and is a nod to all he taught Rod about fishing.

While snapper hoover up the Charlie Wobblers, they work well for other species.

That rich history is what ultimately led to us steaming out at the Noises together at seven AM on a stunning mid-summer morning. Finding the fish wasn’t hard. The birds were the first indication, but once we got closer we could see the anchovies jumping out of the water to avoid the hungry kahawai.

We rigged the smallest lure in the range, the 30g “Mini Wobbler, with small kahawai and jack macks soon making their way to the boat to be released. After heading slightly deeper, we tried the 60g “Charlie Wobbler”, and then the 110g “King Charlie” which both proved more successful. A range of species were caught throughout the session; gurnard, kahawai, a few monster jack macks (which went straight in the bin to be repurposed as marlin skip baits), and the target species – snapper. Within a couple of hours, we had half-dozen pan-sized snapper on ice and decided to take a break to chat about the lure’s composition.

Designed to be worked with a slow-pitch style, the thin profile ensures a quick drop to the target depth, which is ideal when you want to get through the kahawai in workups to the snapper below. With each pitch of the rod, the lure darts off in wild ascending movements that mimic struggling prey. The lures can be rigged at either end, with either a single feathered Origin hook or the Charlie Skirt – a rubber squid-style skirt with twin assist hooks. When added, the skirts proved particularly deadly, with the extra movement and UV glow proving irresistible on the day. All Below the Surface lures have highly reflective paint, and the Charlie Skirts offer five additional colourways, providing anglers with plenty of options.

Below the Surface lures were inspired by creator Rod Prins’ grandfather Charlie’s efforts who tinkered with jig creation in his home workshop.

A few discussions amongst the team in the following days had my mind made up – Below the Surface lures will be added to my tackle box when targeting inshore species. The thin lures, with multiple colour, hook, and weight options provide opportunities in a variety of fishing scenarios.

New Zealand designed Below the Surface lures are available at a handful of independent outlets, or via their website. You can check out the full range, including their gift boxes at www.belowthesurface.net.nz.

- Josh Williams