YOZURI - [HP] NEEDLEFISH FINISH / [HP] NEEDLEFISH AURORA FINISH SOFT BAIT

Yozuri [HP] Needlefish Finish / [HP] Needlefish Aurora Finish Soft Bait

The Yo-Zuri HP Needlefish is a slim, tapered soft bait cut to the profile of a needlefish or halfbeak — the long, thin baitfish that sit high in the water column and get picked off by anything hunting near the surface. It comes in two finishes: the standard Needlefish Finish and the Needlefish Aurora Finish, which carries Yo-Zuri's aurora reflective treatment for extra flash. Three body lengths cover light-game work through to slightly larger predators, and the soft body flexes on the drop so the tail keeps moving even when the lure is barely being retrieved. Supplied as genuine Yo-Zuri stock in colours 039J (RB/G76L) and 028J (Y-391).

Key Features

• Slim needlefish / halfbeak profile for pressured fish and clear water
• Two finish options — Needlefish Finish and Needlefish Aurora Finish
• Three sizes: #1.5 (45 mm), #2.0 (60 mm) and #2.5 (75 mm)
• Soft body that folds on the strike for good hook exposure on light gear
• Long, thin tail section that works on a slow retrieve and on the fall
• Rigs on jig heads, light worm hooks, or as a trailer behind a jig or blade

How To Fish It

• Slow straight retrieve on a jig head — Cast past the fish, count the lure down, then wind slowly so the thin tail waves rather than thrashes. Ideal over sand flats and along jetty pilings.
• Lift and fall — Lift the rod tip to about 10 o'clock, then drop it and let the bait glide down on a semi-slack line. Most bites come on the drop, so watch for a tick.
• Twitch and pause near the surface — On a light head, twitch twice and pause. The long profile darts then hangs, which suits fish feeding on garfish under jetty lights at night.
• Trailer — Thread the #1.5 body onto a small assist rig or behind a blade to add a slow-falling soft tail without changing casting weight much.

Target Species By Region

• Southeast Asia — Queenfish (talang), small trevally, barramundi (siakap) around jetty lights, and hampala barb (sebarau) in clear reservoir water.
• North America — Speckled trout, ladyfish and small snook inshore; crappie, white bass and smallmouth on the smallest size.
• Japan & East Asia — Aji and mebaru on light ajing and mebaring tackle, plus small seabass and kasago around harbour walls.
• Australia, Middle East & Europe — Bream, whiting and flathead in estuaries; queenfish on Gulf flats; perch, zander and pollack in Europe.

Specifications

Available colours: 039J (RB/G76L) on the Needlefish Finish models, 028J (Y-391) on the Needlefish Aurora Finish models.

Recommended Pairing

• #1.5 (45 mm): 1–3 g jig head, 2–6 lb line, ultralight or light-game spinning rod
• #2.0 (60 mm): 3–7 g jig head, 6–12 lb braid with a fluorocarbon leader
• #2.5 (75 mm): 7–14 g jig head or a 1/0 light worm hook, 10–20 lb braid on a light inshore rod
• Fluorocarbon leader in clear water; add a short bite trace where mackerel or barracuda are around