For starters, there is no wrong way! This lure will pretty much take over once it hits the water. That said, here’s a favorite ways to fish one:

Slow Roll – Best for Sight-Casting Cruising Fish: Ideal for bluefin feeding on butterfish. A steady, moderate retrieve keeps the bait in the strike zone longer. Allows anglers to "lead" the fish for a more natural approach. Occasional pauses let the bait flutter, triggering reaction strikes.

Fast Retrieve – Best for Actively Feeding Fish: High-speed retrieve mimics fleeing baitfish. Best for aggressive, breaking fish in a feeding frenzy. Triggers reaction strikes from competitive tuna.

Drop & Jig – Best for Deepwater Jigging: Drop the bait to the strike zone and use a crank-and-drop retrieve. Paddle tail flutters naturally on the fall, mimicking a wounded baitfish.

Kerplunk Cast – Hybrid Cast-and-Jig: Cast into an expired feed and let the jig sink for 30 seconds. Crank for 30 seconds, then let it fall again for another 30 seconds. Ideal for tuna milling around after a feed slows down.

Internal Weighting + Head Design: Weight placement to cast long distances and head shape to stay in the strike zone longer.

Optimized Casting Weight: Punches through wind and reaches distant fish with ease.

Balanced Paddle Tail Action: Produces a steady vibration at all speeds for maximum effectiveness.

Durable Soft Plastic Construction: Built with a tough yet flexible material to withstand repeated strikes. Count on multiple tuna per bait.

Heavy-Duty VMC Barbarian Jig Hook: The strongest and stickiest hook in the business, with a sickle bend design that cradles the fish in the V-notch for secure hooksets. Proven on tuna over 200lbs.

The Hogy Protail Paddle Classic is made from premium virgin soft plastic, the highest quality available. This durable yet flexible material withstands multiple tuna strikes without compromising its natural action. Many anglers report catching double-digit tuna on a single bait before needing a replacement.

The flattened chin, angled slightly upward, helps push the bait toward the surface on a retrieve. This design allows even heavier models (5oz and 6oz) to remain a subsurface lure at medium retrieve speeds when casting.

Inside the head, the weighted core is positioned to keep the nose slightly elevated, ensuring a natural swimming motion. This articulated nose angle helps the lure rise quickly when the angler begins retrieving, keeping it in the strike zone longer while maintaining a lifelike baitfish presentation.

Loop Knot (Captain Mike’s Preferred Method): Use a Non-Slip Loop Knot for better lure movement. This allows the lure to swim freely, creating the most natural action. Best for casting applications, especially when tuna are feeding on sand eels.

Split Ring + Swivel Connection: Attach a split ring to the lure eye and connect it to a ball-bearing swivel. Helps reduce
line twist, especially with heavier leaders (80lb+). Best for heavy jigging applications where mobility is less important.