Apia Mayol 70SL

The Mayol 70SL is a compact deep-diving minnow with a weight-transfer system that stabilises its casting attitude, producing a tight-pitch wobble with a rapid-dive, rapid-rise dynamic that reaches 2.5m even off a short cast. This gives the bait a believable, repeatable character in the water rather than a gimmick action, which tends to hold up better once fish have seen a few casts go past.

It suits seabass working shallow-to-mid depth structure such as boat-fishing cover, elevated jetties and breakwaters, wherever a quick-diving minnow is needed to get down fast around obstructions. These are common enough conditions that it is worth keeping one tied on rather than treating it as a rare specialist choice for unusual days.

A steady retrieve lets the weight-transfer system do its job, driving the lure quickly to depth and holding a tight wobble; pausing near structure lets it rise back before the next pull. Most bites come down to getting the pace and pause right for the conditions on the day, so it is worth experimenting rather than settling on one fixed cadence.

A 7-7.5ft seabass spinning rod with a reasonably fast tip, a 2500-3000 reel, 8-12lb braid and a 12-16lb fluorocarbon leader suit the casting distance and diving depth this lure is built for. Matching tackle in this range keeps the outfit comfortable to fish all session while still giving enough authority to control a fish once it is hooked.