On the Water:
It was 4 or 5 seasons back when the near coastal waters from the NH line to Cape Ann came under assault by huge swarms of football and school sized blue fin tuna, in numbers not observed in many years. And as a consequence, everyone who had a boat and fishing pole or could beg a ride on a buddy’s boat was out there chasing these incredible fish. And it became abundantly clear, quickly I might add, that these eager anglers found out how damn tough these miniature versions of their giant parents are. Most anglers were tossing all sort of popping plugs that they had in their tackle bags only to find out first hand how ordinary poppers can be reduced to a small piece of plastic, or how a wooden plug is assembled when all you have retrieved is a piece of mangled wire! These anglers were also surprised at how easily the standard size 2/0 treble hooks could be straightened.
After enduring one of those above mentioned experiences, a fellow charter captain introduced me to Ocean Lures. I quickly acqired several poppers in the availble patterns. I was particularly struck by the incredible life-like holographic mackerel finish on the new popper style plug and even more excited about the super strong component VMC bucktail finished siwash hook. The through plug SS wire was at least twice the diameter of the wire found on any plug I had ever seen and the split rings were extra strong as well. Needless to say, I was anxious to get on the water with the tuna “matched” Ocean Lures and find out first hand if these well made fishing tools would actually get tuna to strike and be strong enough to hold up.
A few days later I was out with one my partners, Capt. Allan Smith, tuna hunting some 4 miles northeast of Thatcher Island when we spotted a large pod of tuna busting on the surface. We quickly motored over to the area of commotion and found tuna feasting on a school of spike mackerel. I had already tied on an Ocean Lures “Surface Mackerel Popper” and Allan had one as well. We both made casts into the pod of boiling water and with just a few hard pops of the rod we both hooked up a tuna. Fortunately, each fish sped off in a different direction and the tough battle of retrieving line and fish was on. After the initial run, both fish headed down deep and as tuna often do, started to circle the boat in a closing spiral. It got to be a bit of a circus act with one fish circling clockwise and the other in the opposite direction. Allan and I circled the center console around from stem to stern, smiling at one another as we passed hoping to get our tuna to the top soon. For those of you who have the good fortune to have had a tuna at the end of your line, you know first hand how tough they are. All of your gear needs to be perfect; rod and reel, line, knots, terminal tackle and most of all, the plug and its components. Allan got his fish boat-side first and successfully, (with the use of a hook remover) released a 45 inch tuna. The single siwash hook is a great design for hooking a fish, but also allows you to release a prize with minimal effort and little damage to the fish. Shortly thereafter, my tuna was on top and ready to land. This tuna, however, was slated for sushi and we brought the fish aboard. Both fish were solidly hooked inside the jaw with the siwash well planted at the jaw hinge. The plugs displayed no wear whatsoever and were ready to fish another day. For the remainder of the season, both Allan and I hooked, fought and (mostly) released more than a dozen tuna without any mishap related to the plugs, a true testament to the quality.
Captain Allan Smith with a super school sized bluefin caught on the Mackerel popper
| The Ocean Lure Mackerel Popper |
| Construction-Quality | The plug is well made, durable, with excellent color and graphics. Will stand up to many hook ups.A through wire connects the hook to the split ring at the tail. | 5.0 |
| Performance | The popper is a fish catcher; stripers, bluefish and school tuna. The casting distance is exceptional and the popping characteristics provide the angler with a super surface attractor. | 4.9 |
| Features | The “through wire design” held up well with big fish, the true to life eyes and graphics added to the fish catching capability. | 5.0 |
| Functional Design | The body shape/ contour, quality graphics and hook choice come together and balance well. | 4.8 |
| Price | Premium price, but worth it! | 4.6 |
| Application | The Mackerel Popper is an outstanding surface popping hardbait for any gamefish species. | 5.0 |
| Score:1-5(5=highest) | Total Score | 4.90 |
| Plus | Minus |
| Outstanding design and features, saltwater ready | |
| Overall angling performance |
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| Excellent big fish hardbait
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Conclusion:
The Ocean Lure popper is built strong, performs well for a variety of game fish, and is a proven fish catcher! Get some and add them to your arsenal.
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