Jet and bullet-style lures work well for a wide variety of game fish, and for several reasons. Because they tend to track in a straight line, they are easy for a marauding billfish or tuna to find (and eat) in the spread. Tuna and wahoo also love jets and bullets because they tend to swim along below the surface.
A favorite tactic of the top marlin captains is to run a jet or bullet lure on either the long rigger or shotgun position: any blues that fade off a teaser or big, aggressive lure closer to the boat are likely to crash a smaller jet or bullet in a going-away bite as they leave the spread. Add any of these to your arsenal and your hook-up ratio will soar.
Aloha’s Deep Six Bullet lure was originally designed for hefty tuna but anglers have reported that the 9-inch attractor is a slayer for marlin. Aloha’s owner, Erik Rusnak, says it’s the most popular bullet lure in the lure-maker’s line. The pointed nose and sharp transition mimics a fleeing flying fish or squid and the distinct rag-doll action is the secret to the lure’s success. It can be used on 30- to 130-pound tackle and is best fished from the short or long rigger positions.
The ProJet from Black Bart is perfect for targeting any offshore species, using anywhere from 50- to 130-pound tackle, and is a reliable performer in all weather conditions. The stealth-like swimming action and aggressive pop and splash pushes the 14-inch lure to the top of its class. Use it in any location on the spread and rig it with a 10/0 or 11/0 hook.
Steve Coggin’s Mauna Kea Tado Bullet is derived from a molded Mauna Lea Tado — except that each of these popular bullet lures are a unique hand-crafted shape. Coggin said the lure is best fished from…