Top Five Winter Lures

By Nabeel Issa

If you are a Brisbane/Gold Coast local, the cold weather probably has you thinking about what to chase in the coming months. As I start to prepare the tackle for the winter, here’s a list of my 5 must haves for the region. 

Bait Junkie 5" Jerkshad

Basically a staple in anyone’s kit, a 5" Jerkshad is a killer on snapper and just about everything else. There’s a good chance I will have one of these rigged on a ½ ounce Jig head permanent for the next few months! Its also a great option for jew/mulloway at this time of year. My PB jew came on this lure as the weather started to cool down a few years ago too. My favourite colours would be Baby Bass and White Pearl

Bait Junkie 4" Grub

Another top performer for me in the snapper department, especially when fishing in Moreton Bay. The 4" Bait Junkie Grub is a versatile size and can be fished in shallow water as well as in the deep stuff offshore. Motor oil is my colour of choice here.

Bait Junkie 2.5" Grub

If you fish the Moreton Bay islands over the shallow reef, a small grub is a proven performer. I like to rig the 2.5" Bait Junkie Grub on a 1/8 and 1/6 jig heads depending on the depth and current and light leaders around 8-10lb. You will encounter a big variety of species such as snapper, grassy sweetlip, bream, flathead, cod plus whatever else roams the reef. Its small size means it’s a great option when the fishing is tough. I tend to keep a variety of colours of these and alternate between naturals and bright colours to see what works on the day.

Daiwa Kohga (60gm)

Something a bit different to have in your kit, I like the 60gram Kohga for targeting schools of Jew. The quick sink rate means you can get it down fast, without having too big of a profile that it still falls in that “snack size” category.  They also work well as a “set and forget” rig which means you can leave it sitting in the rod holder and the natural movement from the lure will attract fish.

Emeraldas Nude 25 Squid Jig

Lastly, make sure you have a squid jig handy! The squid will be out in force as this water clears and its always a good idea to keep a rod rigged ready to go. I like the Emeraldas Nude 25 in any of colours.