Discover the power of Rib-Through-Groove! I truly believe this is the most weedless, snagless, swimbait system with the best hooksets… IN THE WORLD!
This is without a doubt, the most exciting development in new Surf Fishing lures in 2023.
Quick story…
When I was maybe 8 years old, my grandpa “Pop Pop” said to me… “someday you’re gonna invent something.”
I’ve always held on to that. I’ve had a million ideas over the years, and some have succeeded greatly. But this one I am most excited about. This one subtle design change to something so generic, and yet it makes such a big difference.
During my first two years of learning about Halibut surf fishing, I quickly learned that Texas Rig Swimbaits are the most weedless way to fish, and often the only way to get presentable baits in front of fish, when the water is dirty.
The problem I faced with the Texas Rig Swimbait was that I was missing a lot of hooksets due to burying the hook tip in plastic. At this time, I was really just searching for the best solution.
So I learned this lesson, day after day... DO NOT BURY THE HOOKTIP UNDER PLASTIC when Halibut fishing. You will probably lose the hookset! One day soon after this, I was at Eric’s Tackle in Ventura, CA crying about all the hooksets I had lost since I started burying the hook tip in my Swimbaits, and Eric said “Anytime you go with a weedless system you’re gonna lose hooksets.” I just couldn’t accept that and I knew I had to find a way to design the most weedless swimbait that also gets the best hooksets. I also needed it to be more snagless.
I experimented with every kind of weighted swimbait hook to find which hook got the best hookset. I discovered that an Xtra Long Shank hook made by VMC was outperforming the others by a large margin. And, by burying the hook tip in just a couple of ribs on my ribbed swimbaits, I could keep the hook tip weedless, protected by the rib which was positioned directly in front of the hook tip.
This was it! I could finally chuck my baits into the thickest structure, even when water was dirty, and I was coming up with a solid hookset 9 out of 10 times. After that, I started catching Halibut like crazy!
But the VMC version of this hook was too light, and as a result, I was using larger bullet weights and was snagging and losing several rigs per fishing session. To prevent snagging, I knew I needed this hook with more weight on the shank of the hook.
So after a lot of experimenting, we got the design dialed in and produced the Battlestar XLS Weighted Swimbait Hook. Armed with the same VMC 5/0 hook, the Battlestar XLS features a bit more lead on the hook shank. Available in 1/4oz, 3/8oz, and 1/2oz, this places the weight further back on the bait and balances it to swim horizontally rather than nose-dive vertically. Immediately, we solved the snagging issue. I haven’t lost more than a few of these hooks since they were released. It’s really amazing!
These days I fish miles of the rockiest snaggiest beaches, often without losing a single rig. Give it a go and see for yourself. Just keep your rod tip up, and keep it moving slowly, dragging along the bottom.
My final frustration was with the Swimbait itself. I had been using a Keitech 4.8” FAT Swing Impact, and I always wondered why they did not include ribs through the groove, so we could bury the hook tip in a couple of ribs right there in the groove. I also found that the tails were too thin and often got torn off right where the hook penetrated the tail.
In October 2023, the Battlestar Tackle 5" Rib Bait was finally released! We put them on our website and started shipping them out to all the tackle shops along the California Coast. The day after these baits arrived, I went out and caught a 27” Halibut. This is the first fish ever caught on a Battlestar 5” Rib Bait.
Success! It’s kind of surreal. I did this. It took a couple of years, but I’ve succeeded. The most snagless, most weedless swimbait, with the best hooksets. I think back on what my grandpa said and I feel that I have fulfilled his premonition. I hope he can see this.
Now available, at a tackle shop near you! Ask for the Battlestar 5” Rib Bait.
Introducing the most weedless swimbait with the best hooksets, made specifically for surf fishing in the California surf zone; Battlestar 5" Rib Bait.
Battlestar 5” Rib Baits feature the original invention Rib-Through-Groove ® design. Rig this bait Texas Rig style using the 5/0 Battlestar XLS Weighted Swimbait Hook. Bury the hook tip under one or two of the ribs inside the groove. Your hook tip will stay secured in the groove and protected from loose weeds and debris by the rib located directly in front of it.
This Rib-Through-Groove® design is replicated on the bottom of the bait as well, so you can easily twist the bait on the spring bait keeper 180 degrees, then re-insert the hook to use the second groove.
These Rib Baits are a true 5" (127mm) length.
We slimmed the body down a little to save hook gap for fish lips.
We also added a bulge where the hook penetrates the tail, to add some integrity so the tail won't get broken off as easily, as with other ribbed swimbaits.
The texture of this plastic is... perfect. Soft enough to allow maximum action and hooksets, while firm enough so the ribs can endure until they are bit by a fish.
Battlestar 5" Rib Bait is designed specifically for use with our 5/0 Battlestar XLS Weighted Swimbait Hook.
BATTLESTAR XTRA LONG SHANK (XLS) WEIGHTED SWIMBAIT HOOK
These babies are extraordinarily snagless, because the Xtra Long Shank allows us to position more weight further back on the hook. This balance results in a horizontal swimming orientation. Keep your rod tip up, and keep the bait moving slowly dragging on bottom, or swimming just over the bottom. Use the lightest weight possible, depending on current. Be ready to set the hook when a big Halibut thumps it!
Sold in packs of Three.
Available in 1/4oz, 3/8oz, and 1/2oz.
Designed for Texas Rig Surf Fishing with Battlestar 5" Rib Baits.
DESIGNED FOR PERFORMANCE
IMPROVED HOOKSETS & INCREASED LANDING RATIO
HALIBUT, WHITE SEA BASS, CALICO BASS, ROCK FISH
HYDRODYNAMIC FOR MAXIMUM WEEDLESS
AERODYNAMIC FOR IMPROVED CASTING
FEATURING VMC 5/0 HEAVY-DUTY HOOK
SALT WATER CORROSION RESISTANT
MAXIMUM SNAGLESS DESIGN
SPRING BAIT HOLDER
BLACK NICKEL COATING
XTRA LONG SHANK
SLOW SINK DESIGN
Thank you so much for reading this; the story of how I designed the most snagless hook, and the most weedless swimbait with the best hooksets. It was an expression of absolute determination, curiosity, and a real labor of love. Now please tie one of these on, get out there and catch some sea monsters! Please post your catches and be sure to tag @BattlestarTackle and #vincegoesfishing. THANK YOU!
-Vincent Alexander
Battlestar Tackle
California Surf Fishing (CSF)
VINCE GOES FISHING
