Capt. Mike breaks down the specific techniques used to fish a chug popper for Bonito and Albies in Nantucket Sound. He also discusses imitator vs. attractor colors.

A compact, high-floating topwater popper built for microbait and high-pressure feeds. Its clean, minimal splash pop and precise control make it deadly for false albacore, bonito, and other selective feeders when small forage is the key. Matches silversides, bay anchovies, and juvenile squid, excelling in slick water, along estuary mouths, and in open-water blind-cast situations.

Chug Popper Retrieve

Rod Tip: Point at 10 o’clock, drop to 8 as line tightens, lowering further near the end of the retrieve to maintain clean motion.

Angler Input: One clean downward chug per cycle

Reel Speed: Minimal—tighten line, pause 2–5 seconds

Effect: Mimics stunned baitfish recovering—deadly for trailing fish

Continuous Chug Retrieve

Rod Tip: High (10–11 o’clock), lowering progressively as the lure approaches to keep the chug cadence clean.

Angler Input: Quick, rhythmic downward pops with no slack

Reel Speed: Fast—matches rod cadence

Effect: Creates panic splash trail for feeding frenzies

Popper Twitch Retrieve

Rod Tip: Neutral (9 o’clock), gradually dropping lower as the lure nears the end of the retrieve to keep action consistent.

Angler Input: Soft wrist flicks for short, irregular twitches

Reel Speed: Very slow

Effect: Confused bait look—perfect for slicked-out water and pressured fish