Black Bart lures?
#1
Admirals Club 

Thread Starter

Honest question here.... do high end lures like Black Bart and others really our perform other trolling lures that cost much less like Fathom lures? Seeing used/preowned lures going for $50-$100 seems crazy
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01-10-2021, 02:33 PM
Admirals Club 


Hitler thought so:
#2
Senior Member

Not in my opinion, but I don't marlin.
Lots to worry about before I'd start worrying if the reason I'm not catching fish is bc I'm using Fathom instead of BB.
Lots to worry about before I'd start worrying if the reason I'm not catching fish is bc I'm using Fathom instead of BB.
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#4

the 2 mill sport fisher may not help, but it sure gets you there in style and comfort-i don't own one or desire too-black bart lures are pretty and I know people who swear by them-we are using some fairly expensive wahoo lures (nomads and imperiums) and we have had good success with them over some cheaper lures
Last edited by marlinlane; 01-10-2021 at 04:17 PM.
#5
Admirals Club 


The BB 1656 is a well proven marlin lure , has caught a lot of fish all over the world . The Fathom Pepal Grande in alive dolphin colors is another great lure , we have caught a lot of blues with both . As for price , they both roughly cost the same new . If you want a great inexpensive marlin lure get a Zuker mean joe green .
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#8
Admirals Club 


You can have $500 lures but if your not finding the fish, then nothing will hit it. I guess if your good at finding the fish and your not catching then switch it up.
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#9
Member

There's guys around the world setting records with 20$ wide ranges. The 1656 has a story about how it got its name. The common denominator is that they are where the fish are.
That being said, there are some QC issues with cheaper stuff as opposed to the high end lure makers. They (the high end guys) can't afford to put out a bad product that ruins their reputation. Some are made out of their homes. The less expensive guys seem to put out a decent product but mainly act on volume. If they have a lure that doesn't track straight or run right who cares, the price isn't enough to lose sleep over.
I've got BB, couple moldcrafts, some pakulas, and a whole mess of other lures. More than I'll ever use in a lifetime. Now I've gotten into ballyhoo and circle hook fishing. Go figure....
If you're starting out, I highly recommend getting a 1656 mini angle. By far the most hit lure I have. Everything hits it. Marlin, dorado, sailfish, and wahoo I've caught on the same lure. It's always in the spread. Something to do with superstition I guess.
That being said, there are some QC issues with cheaper stuff as opposed to the high end lure makers. They (the high end guys) can't afford to put out a bad product that ruins their reputation. Some are made out of their homes. The less expensive guys seem to put out a decent product but mainly act on volume. If they have a lure that doesn't track straight or run right who cares, the price isn't enough to lose sleep over.
I've got BB, couple moldcrafts, some pakulas, and a whole mess of other lures. More than I'll ever use in a lifetime. Now I've gotten into ballyhoo and circle hook fishing. Go figure....
If you're starting out, I highly recommend getting a 1656 mini angle. By far the most hit lure I have. Everything hits it. Marlin, dorado, sailfish, and wahoo I've caught on the same lure. It's always in the spread. Something to do with superstition I guess.
#10
Admirals Club 


I have many black Bart lures and have caught fish on all of them I think. Mini 1656 angle running next to a mahi candy has produced very well for me. I’ve never had any issues with one of their lures and recommend them.

All this was black barts and we released a respectable lue marlin that day.

All this was black barts and we released a respectable lue marlin that day.
#11

If you are chasing marlin i would run a set of 4 or 5 proven fish catchers in your waters, and then experiment with the cheaper lures. Your going to be burning a lot of fuel chasing fish and don't want to be doubting your lures as well as everything else that goes on.
Over 30 years I have settled on a lure set that works for my area and boat. Each lure has a designated spot as my starting spread. None are cheap, although I sure did run some cheap ones to try. They have all caught a lot of fish so I know those head designs work in the positions I run them. Some I have in more than one skirt color because the natural bait can change during the season. Early season mackerel skirts become flying fish skirts later etc. Sometimes here a lot of short bites means they are feeding on squid so you want squid colors on your favourite head as well. You fon't need a 100 ecpensive lures, but a good set of well proven lures you learn to trust is a huge step forward for most people. Bart lures are pretty highly regarded world wide, but you really want to know what is most productive in your atea for your target fish. $50 or $200 is irrelevant if it catches more fish.
Over 30 years I have settled on a lure set that works for my area and boat. Each lure has a designated spot as my starting spread. None are cheap, although I sure did run some cheap ones to try. They have all caught a lot of fish so I know those head designs work in the positions I run them. Some I have in more than one skirt color because the natural bait can change during the season. Early season mackerel skirts become flying fish skirts later etc. Sometimes here a lot of short bites means they are feeding on squid so you want squid colors on your favourite head as well. You fon't need a 100 ecpensive lures, but a good set of well proven lures you learn to trust is a huge step forward for most people. Bart lures are pretty highly regarded world wide, but you really want to know what is most productive in your atea for your target fish. $50 or $200 is irrelevant if it catches more fish.
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#12

Good topic :
I think what you are paying for with Bart's or Pakula's is consistency and quality control. A 1656 i buy today, is the exact same 1656 i buy tomorrow with little to no variance. It's been proven time and time again that all kinds of baits and lures can, and will catch fish .
Just like anyone else - i have specific lures that just seem to get bites more than anything else that i have
#1 for me is a Pakula Paua Beer Gut
#2 for me is a Black Bart Pro Jet
Lures attract fisherman as much as they do fish - but i do firmly believe that confidence in what you have in the water is step 1 to catching fish.
I think what you are paying for with Bart's or Pakula's is consistency and quality control. A 1656 i buy today, is the exact same 1656 i buy tomorrow with little to no variance. It's been proven time and time again that all kinds of baits and lures can, and will catch fish .
Just like anyone else - i have specific lures that just seem to get bites more than anything else that i have
#1 for me is a Pakula Paua Beer Gut
#2 for me is a Black Bart Pro Jet
Lures attract fisherman as much as they do fish - but i do firmly believe that confidence in what you have in the water is step 1 to catching fish.
#13
Senior Member

I know one thing, and it's that my Bart Costa Rican Plunger in blue mackerel over pink gets more bites than any other lure in my spread. So now it's self perpetuating that it's almost always in the water, and therefore catches more fish. But it's rare that a different lure gets eaten when it's out there.
#14
Senior Member

I admit I'm a Black Bart fan. I suspect I probably own 25 or 30 of those lures in many variations.
My favorites are hands down the Pro Jets. I like the way they run and they catch fish! Don't be afraid to go big with these lures. I also like the Crooked Island Candy.
Others have mentioned quality control but a couple of things that stand out about BB lures. First is the way they are rigged. Jack Tulis has a video on Youtube where he discusses some of the rigging techniques BB uses. I'd suggest watching that video. Its very informative.
Regarding some of the cheap lures. I've wasted my share of money on them. Lots of lures look good in the tackle store but how do they look in the water? Unless they are tuned properly they will spin or run at a slight angle and just don't look right. Have someone stand in bow of the boat and let the lure run just off the stern so that you can watch how its running in the water. Sometimes you can manipulate the rigging to get a lure to run properly but in some cases, I've just had to throw a $20 lure away because it wouldn't track properly.
My favorites are hands down the Pro Jets. I like the way they run and they catch fish! Don't be afraid to go big with these lures. I also like the Crooked Island Candy.
Others have mentioned quality control but a couple of things that stand out about BB lures. First is the way they are rigged. Jack Tulis has a video on Youtube where he discusses some of the rigging techniques BB uses. I'd suggest watching that video. Its very informative.
Regarding some of the cheap lures. I've wasted my share of money on them. Lots of lures look good in the tackle store but how do they look in the water? Unless they are tuned properly they will spin or run at a slight angle and just don't look right. Have someone stand in bow of the boat and let the lure run just off the stern so that you can watch how its running in the water. Sometimes you can manipulate the rigging to get a lure to run properly but in some cases, I've just had to throw a $20 lure away because it wouldn't track properly.
#15
Senior Member

We have had a ton of action on the Zak Attack thunder strucks, as hookless chase baits on the back of a squid chain, and on my left short rigger. We 100% marlin fish 62 viking.
Also have our dock neighbor using them in Los Suenos, outperforms the other side of the boat all day, he has 10 of them now.
Also have our dock neighbor using them in Los Suenos, outperforms the other side of the boat all day, he has 10 of them now.
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#18
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Join Date: May 2002
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I use Barts small Bullies, catch everything from Mahi to Sails to Blackfins, trolled bally's Sunday off Jupiter, Loran Tower for 2 hours, not a hit, put a Bully on and 5 minutes, Mr. Sail comes calling. Jack and Gary are great at Black Barts on Blue Heron.

#19

I have a good selection of Bart's too, My lunch teaser needed a re-skirt just about every time it was in the water...just go into the store on Blue Heron and you will not be disappointed with their customer service.
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#20
Admirals Club 


Bart has a legendary status for a reason. They have had success all over the world. Use the best materials and have awesome quality control steps. With that said, definitely good lures out that can match the quality and design. I do like fathom but they are similar in price and the fathom rigging is backyard in my opinion compared to barts. Bart also has their own hooks that are tried and true. When your spending thousands of dollars a year on fuel to chase fish, some want the best of the best when they are lure fishing.