Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Pro-Lure-Fishing-Tips » How to Fish the ZMan HerculeZ Range
How to Fish the ZMan HerculeZ Range
By Cameron Cronin
Ever since the introduction of the ZMan HerculeZ Swimbait in the 4” and 5” sizes, a couple of years back, the way I approach my lure selection has completely changed. Previously accustomed to pre-rigged lures having questionable durability and hooks that are not up to the task of landing our Australian species, I had never found the need to throw these lures. That changed when the HerculeZ arrived on scene.
Fast forward to the present day and the HerculeZ is now by far the most used lure in my tackle box, accounting for the lion’s share of my mulloway and large flathead captures in recent times, as well as plenty of big bass and estuary perch. The reasons for this success are numerous, but they mostly come down to a combination of durability and convenience. Not much needs to be said about the durability of ZMan’s 10X Tough material, and when you combine that with an integrated weight system, you have a bait that is almost impervious to damage from most species.
On the convenience side of things, each size is perfectly weighted for a wide range of fishing scenarios. They have enough weight to cast like a bullet and can be sunk down to fish that are hanging deep, while also sinking slow enough to be slow rolled through the upper water column when predators are feeding near the surface. I also love the clamshell design packaging, which reseals well and is the perfect size to slip into your pocket for those fast-paced, land-based sessions. Don’t get me wrong, I will never leave home without a solid selection of standard ZMan plastics and jigheads to suit, but for those quick sessions, where I want to do a bit of everything, I find myself reaching for the HerculeZ more often than not.
So, when ZMan decided to release the 6” size, in more recent times, it was safe to say that I was pretty excited to test them out. Sure enough, after a few months of heavy use, I’m happy to say that this size has followed in the footsteps of the existing two sizes and become a staple in my regular lure rotation. Now that there are several options to choose from, a common question that many anglers have is ‘which HerculeZ size is the best for their needs’.
In this article I hope to answer this question by going through my favourite scenarios for using each size, so that you can get the most out of the entire range. It’s also worth noting that by the time you are reading this article there will also be a new 3” HerculeZ available, which I can’t wait to test on my local bass and flathead, among other things.
ZMan 4” HerculeZ
Starting with the small yet mighty 4” size, this pint size lure certainly packs a punch. After over a year of using this lure, one design feature that makes me keep coming back is the hook. I can quite honestly say that I have never seen such a small lure, especially a pre-rig, with such a brutally tough hook. In many fishing situations, it is common to have large fish fixated on eating relatively small bait. Down in my part of the world, this can often be mulloway feeding on prawns or whitebait.
Changing to a lure roughly the same size or shape as the prey usually means an instant bite, however when fish are around structure, pulling hard on small or light gauge hooks can often lead to pulled hooks or terminal failure. The 4” HerculeZ negates these issues with its extra heavy duty Mustad black nickel, chemically sharpened hook, and I feel extremely confident pushing my tackle to the limit when hooked up with this lure, knowing that it won’t let me down.
Anyone who has read my articles previously will probably know that mulloway are my favourite target species, however I do enjoy catching flathead, estuary perch and bass when the right opportunities present themselves. Fishing the smaller 4” HerculeZ certainly increases the number of these smaller species encountered, and I have actually found this lure to be a standout for big bass and estuary perch in my local systems.
Fitted with a 3/8oz internal weight, this lure falls noticeably slower than the rest of the range and is great for fishing shallow waters or targeting fish feeding on or near the surface. It is worth noting that the entire HerculeZ range is centre weighted and sink flat. This will cause a slower rate of fall, when compared to a standard jighead that will nosedive and offer less resistance and a faster sink. With this in mind, you can take full advantage of the extra casting distance offered by a heavier weight, while still achieving a slow, natural rate of fall that can trigger bites in many situations.
ZMan 5” HerculeZ
Without a doubt the jack of all trades of the range, the 5” HerculeZ is the size that I tie on when I need one lure to do everything. Noticeably larger than the 4” model, the 5” steps things up with a 5/8oz internal weight and a super durable 7/0 Mustad UltraPoint hook. I’ll usually make the jump up to the 5” size when there is an abundance of small finger mullet or herring around, which this lure mimics perfectly.
The 5” model also offers that little bit more casting weight, which is great for reaching fish a bit further away, or when contending with stronger currents. Whereas I usually use the 4” size in shallower waters, the 5” size is also suited to deeper water applications, and I have caught some nice fish sinking this lure down in 10-20 metres of water. With this being said, I also do a heap of land-based fishing with this lure for flathead and mulloway, and in these cases I rarely have the lure more than a few metres under the surface. This is where the heavier weight comes in, allowing this lure to track dead straight on a slow rolling retrieve, even in heavy current or swell.
This is probably my favourite way to fish this lure and I have caught some great mulloway and flathead on the 5” size using this technique. Simply cast it out, let the lure sink for a few seconds to the target depth, and then slowly wind it back to the bank or boat. In short, if you are an angler that likes to fish multiple spots in one session, that include a wide variety of depths, the 5” HerculeZ can adapt to just about any situation you throw at it, making it the perfect all-rounder in the range.
ZMan 6” HerculeZ
The 6” HerculeZ has stepped things up a notch from the already bulletproof 5” size. Sporting the same 8/0 Mustad hook strength that you will find on the popular TT HeadlockZ HD jigheads, this thing is designed to take some serious punishment and can certainly do things that most pre-rigs could only dream of. I’ve already seen pics of the 6” landing huge tarpon and yellowfin tuna on heavy tackle over in the states, which should put Aussie anglers targeting XL mulloway, barramundi, and Murray cod at ease.
With a 1oz internal weight, I have found this heavier weight to be favourable in many situations. It goes without saying that this lure casts a mile, which is handy for anglers fishing the surf or shore based in many instances. This lure is also the best in the range if you are looking to fish in heavy current, swell or wind, with enough weight to get down to the target area when the conditions are working against you. Once again, that additional weight also helps to maintain a deadly slow rolling action when fishing for a wide range of species, however it does also give you the option of getting the lure down to fish sitting a bit deeper, especially when the wind, waves or tide are working against you.
When compared to the rest of the range, I pick this lure when the bait is slightly larger, or the water is discoloured. In the second situation I have found the slightly larger sized lure is easier for predators to track down, compared to the smaller sizes. This lure is also an excellent option when you suspect larger than average fish may be in the target area. I have always believed that the largest fish of all species tend to prefer hunting larger prey to sustain their body mass, so it only makes sense to present these fish with a larger meal if you are looking to elicit a feeding response. Also sporting the largest and strongest hook in the range, the 6” HerculeZ lends itself perfectly to the heavier tackle commonly used to land these larger fish and won’t flinch under big hooksets and tight drags.
So, there you have it, a quick summary of the HerculeZ range and how and when I like to fish them. Between the existing sizes and the new 3” model, the range has rapidly expanded to suit an impressive number of species and techniques and has already accounted for some great captures Australia wide. If you are looking to elevate your soft plastics arsenal to the next level, do yourself a favour and check out the range, available in all good tackle stores right now. If you’re anything like me, once you pick a few up I can guarantee that they won’t be easy to put down!
Cheers, Cam