I have been playing around with the SP's for about a year now and have had a few favourites which have changed with experience. I started off with the Nuky Chickens, but dont seem to use these as much now. I now favour slug go 6" and the 3" Atomic jerk shads. I realise there are different lures for different situations. But would like to know your opinions on what you think is the best all round SP lure available in NZ..

trophy snapper
6"  bluebak slug-go
Fin-S fish 5" arkansas shiner

We are still getting good results with the old Nuclear Chicken

these would have to be my favourite for snapper:

Lunkercity 6" Slug-Go - Arkansas Shiner / Alfwife



Lunkercity 5" Fin-S - Arkansas Shiner / Moss Shad



When fishing side by side with 'Nuke Chook' fishos they seem to need to change their tails due to damage at least 3x more often than I do and certainly don't seem to catch anymore or larger fish....

Have also just been given a bunch of Squidgy Flick Baits in different sizes to try out.....they certainly look the bees knees and again are constructed from a much more durable product than whatever it is that "Nuke Chooks" are made from....


also on average there are many more baits in the packs of Lunkercity, Squidgy, Atomics and the like for often cheaper counter prices than the 'Chooks" and their siblings?...the math doesn't work in the favour of GULP in my opinion....(no offence intended to the sponsors of this forum, just stating my opinions and obseravtions)....but Berkley Power Baits are an altogther more robust product and have had good fishing with them.


The Atomic Baits I have used in the past have been really good on the 'fish per unit' scale of things as have the Storm Wildeye 5" Split Tail Minnows and 4" Finesse Minnows.

5" Chartruse Jerk Shad
5" Saphire Shine Jerk Shad
5" Nuclear Chicken Jerk Shad

Seem to work best for me...


Does anyone here have much luck using the Pogy's? I have fished them a few times but they haven't generated anywhere near the interest as what I have when using the jerk shad shape.

Hi!!! i am new to the forum..really enjoy the reports and am addicted to sp fishing...Have been fishing artificial baits for a while and find that sometimes i rekon its not just what colour you use but the technique.I have often been outfished by someone using the same bait and improved my catch rate with adjusting my technique .Like lure fishing ..some guys seem to have favourites and confidence in certain colours.I think its patern (size ,shape) and action of bait..altough have yet to catch on chartruse anything in Nz(could be my confidence in the colour here)but in central america they say if it aint chartruse it aint no use!!!and when i have fished there i have found this to be true!!

Hi ya Mahiman.......I haven't found the need to as yet but in saying that if we are drifting in anything over 40ms and/or we have a bit of speed on requiring the use of lead over 2oz I opt for a weightier jighead.....but I'm sure a tooth-pick lodged down the side on the sinker hole would work just as well....may just give it a go next time.  

The most consistent in last 2 weeks have been - Gulp Sardine Brown, Atomic 3' jerk shad. Have hooked some really good fish on nuc chickens but lost them. Agree that tail nibbling is a problem with chickens.

5" strike king jerk shads, in my opinion the softest and most durable SP's you can get, and they work well to.

sorry I thought SQB was talking about the Squidgy shads...

you can buy the Lunkercity lures in NZ dollars from tacklesharpe.co.nz