The Needlefish is best when predators are keyed on skinny forage such as sand eels, squid, or American eels. In southern New England it shines during sand eel hatches along shoal crests and rip lines, while offshore it produces on tuna when slim bait is pushed along contour breaks. Its long-casting design makes it especially effective when fish are feeding just beyond normal casting range.

Choose the Needlefish when the bite is focused on slender forage or when extreme casting distance is required. The OG Swimmer excels around boulder fields and shallow ambush zones with its fat-bodied roll, while the Needlefish covers open surf, rips, and offshore edges where distance and subtle action outproduce bulk.

Yes. The Needlefish comes rigged with the Hook One system, using a single belly treble and a rear bucktail flag for balance. Anglers targeting toothy fish like bluefish often swap to inline single hooks for easier unhooking, or remove the belly treble entirely and fish with a single rear hook for faster release.

Absolutely. The Needlefish is deadly on tuna, but if targeting fish over 60 lbs, remove the belly treble and upgrade to an offshore-grade hook. Many anglers also swap the rear bucktail for a heavy-duty inline single hook tuned for tuna.

The 7" model weighs 3 oz and requires a surf rod with backbone to handle its casting weight. A 9' medium-heavy surf rod paired with a 6000-size spinning reel spooled with 30–40 lb braid provides the power and distance needed to reach outer bars, rips, and breaking fish.

The 5" model weighs 2.25 oz and pairs best with a 7' medium-heavy surf or inshore rod. A 5000-size spinning reel spooled with 20–30 lb braid balances the setup, offering accuracy and distance when fishing in tighter surf zones, estuary mouths, and along shoal crests.

Capt. Mike fishes the 7" Needlefish on the 7' Hybrid Inshore/Offshore Spinning Rod matched with a 6000-size reel. This setup delivers both casting distance and control when working rips, seams, or casting to breaking tuna offshore.

The 5" Needlefish is well-suited to a 7' medium-heavy spinning rod, such as the 7' MH Charter Grade Inshore Rod, paired with a 5000-size reel. This combination provides the balance and control needed to fish smaller bait scenarios inshore while still allowing long casts to reach edge-feeding fish.

The 7" model is ideal when sand eels, squid, or American eels are the dominant forage. At 3 oz, it excels in the surf when you need maximum casting distance to reach outer bars, rip lines, or offshore tuna feeds keyed on skinny bait.

5" Needlefish 2oz

• Forage Match: Juvenile pogies, herring, silversides, small squid
• Best Scenario: Inshore structure like boulder fields, estuary mouths, and shoal edges when predators are on smaller bait. Rear-weighted body launches long casts even when distance is critical.

7" Needlefish 3oz

• Forage Match: Sand eels, American eels, full-size squid
• Best Scenario: Surfcasting outer bars and rips, or offshore when tuna and stripers are keyed on long, skinny forage. Heavy weight and slim profile cut wind and reach distant feeds.

The 5" model is a great match for juvenile pogies, herring, or other smaller baitfish. Its stubbier body gives presence inshore around boulder fields and estuary edges, and despite its compact size, it is rear-weighted to launch long casts when distance is critical.

Size Equations: Matching Needlefish to Forage

5" Needlefish 2oz

• Forage Match: Juvenile pogies, herring, silversides, small squid
• Best Scenario: Inshore structure like boulder fields, estuary mouths, and shoal edges when predators are on smaller bait. Rear-weighted body launches long casts even when distance is critical.
  

7" Needlefish 3oz

• Forage Match: Sand eels, American eels, full-size squid
• Best Scenario: Surfcasting outer bars and rips, or offshore when tuna and stripers are keyed on long, skinny forage. Heavy weight and slim profile cut wind and reach distant feeds.
  

Calm to Moderate Seas → Predators tracking skinny forage near the surface → Needlefish swims clean in a straight line with subtle wobble that holds true in steady water.

Low Light or Night Fishing → Stripers feeding on sand eels in the surf → Long profile silhouettes clearly against the sky, making it effective in dark conditions.

Strong Current or Rip Lines → Forage pushed across shoal crests and seams → Needlefish holds track in moving water, allowing a natural drift-swing presentation.

Sand Eels, Squid, or American Eels Present → Gamefish tuned to long, skinny bait → Slim profile and subtle action match the hatch precisely.

Breaking Fish Out of Casting Range → Bluefish or tuna pushing bait offshore → Rear-weighted design delivers extreme casting distance to reach the feed.

Swirls and Shadows but No Surface Breaks → Reluctant bass holding subsurface → Cast-and-crank retrieve produces the subtle wobble needed to draw commitment.

Surfcasting Along Open Beaches → Stripers feeding tight to troughs or outer bars → Long-casting needle reaches distant lanes and tracks steadily along the seam.

Shoal Crests and Rip Lines → Predators ambushing bait riding the tide → Needlefish works naturally through the rip with cast-and-crank or swing-style retrieves.

Rocky Points and Boulder Fields → Bass holding off drop-offs or ledges → Plug maintains depth control without snagging, covering the strike zone efficiently.

Offshore Contour Breaks → Tuna staging along edge lines → Needlefish cast from the boat and worked with reel-pause cadence mimics skinny forage swept by current.

Cast-and-Crank Retrieve: Steady medium-speed retrieve produces the classic needle wobble, ideal for covering water across seams, shoals, and reef faces.

Twitch-and-Pause Retrieve: Short twitches with deliberate pauses imitate injured baitfish, triggering strikes from following fish in clear or calm water.

Surface Drift Retrieve: Cast cross-current, allow the plug to drift naturally, then tighten line slowly for a hybrid dead-drift swing through the seam.

Reel-Reel-Reel-Pause Retrieve: Offshore cadence for tuna and stripers, three cranks followed by a pause lets the plug rise slightly, triggering reaction strikes.

Fish-the-Swing Retrieve: Cast uptide and let the current carry the plug across drop-offs or eddies, then tighten up for a controlled swing that imitates a stunned sand eel or squid.