Choose Black Bart lures by head shape and the water you plan to fish. Cupped chuggers suit calm to light chop, slant faces need clean water for their dive, and bullet-style heads handle rougher water. If a lure tumbles or blows out, check its position and your trolling speed before replacing it.
A chugger in the prop wash can look dead even when nothing is wrong with the lure. A slant face too close to the boat can struggle in disturbed water. Start by moving the lure into clean water, then watch it at your intended trolling speed.
Why do cupped, slant and flat heads act differently in the same sea?
Head shape controls how a lure catches water and dives. That action determines where it belongs in the spread, but the final test is how it runs behind your boat.
Cupped chuggers work best in calm water and light chop
A cupped chugger pushes water and throws a noisy, bubbling wake. It works best in calm to light chop, where it can repeat that action without getting knocked off course.
Heavy seas can break that rhythm. Keep cupped heads out of the prop wash, too. Turbulent water can make a chugger tumble or sit dead instead of working.
Slant faces leave a bubble trail before diving
A slant face leaves a bubble trail and dives. It suits the long corner or long rigger, provided you set it far enough back to clear the boat's disturbed water. Watch for a repeatable dive rather than assuming a particular line position will work on every boat.
Bullet-style heads handle rougher water
Bullet-style heads generally track more steadily through chop than cupped chuggers. Put them in positions that take the most wave motion, including outside lines when the water is moving hard. They still need a tracking check at your chosen speed.
Where does each head go in a five-rod spread?
Let the captain or mate set the final spread. Five rods do not require five different head shapes, and a fixed placement diagram cannot account for your boat's wake. Choose each position by the clean water available and the lure's behavior there.
| Head shape | Where it goes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cupped chugger | Clean water in calm to light chop, outside the prop wash | Needs room to produce a steady bubbling wake |
| Slant face | Long corner or long rigger, clear of disturbed water | Needs clean water for its bubble trail and dive |
| Bullet-style head | Positions exposed to more wave motion, including outside lines | Generally tracks more steadily through chop |
How fast can you run each head before it skates or pops?
There is no single trolling speed that suits every Black Bart head and sea condition. Each lure has a working range. Push beyond it and the head can skate or break out of the water.
Watch each lure at the speed you actually plan to fish. If one will not run clean while the others do, adjust its position or change the head rather than forcing the whole spread to accommodate it. For slow-trolling situations where the boat cannot hold a low enough speed, our guide to trolling bags covers sizing and rigging. A trolling bag is not a substitute for matching an offshore lure to its working speed.
What should you check at the dock before the run?
Inspect the rigging at the dock, then check lure action once the boat is safely underway. A stationary dock check cannot tell you how a head will run at trolling speed. Make the running check before you put out the full spread.
- Check the leader and hook points before leaving.
- Once underway, put each lure where you can safely watch its action.
- Watch for rolling or blowouts at your intended speed.
- Adjust its position until the head runs consistently.
- Recheck after you change the head weight or the rig.
How much weight should a head carry in choppy seas?
A little extra head weight can help a lure stay in the water through chop. Too much can suppress a chugger's action. Make small changes and watch the result at trolling speed after each one.
Do not use weight to compensate for a poor position in the wake. Move the lure into cleaner water first. If it still blows out, consider a heavier head or a different shape.
How light should the leader be to keep the action?
Use the lightest practical leader that still suits the target fish and conditions. A heavy, stiff leader can dampen a cupped head's action, even when the head itself is running correctly.
Leader length also affects how freely the lure works. Keep it practical for handling fish, and do not sacrifice abrasion resistance or safe boat-side handling just to gain more movement. If a chugger looks lifeless, check the leader before changing the head.
Is a single hook or stiff double better for wahoo?
A stiff double hook is generally a useful choice for wahoo on skirted heads. The trade-off is less freedom of movement in exchange for a more rigid hook arrangement. It is not a guarantee against pulled hooks.
| Rig | What it does well | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Single hook | Leaves the skirt and head freer to move | Does not provide the same rigid, two-hook arrangement |
| Stiff double hook | Keeps the hooks in a controlled position behind the head | Can reduce lure action |
Where wahoo teeth are a concern, use an appropriate cable or heavy wire bite section. Check the complete rig in the water after assembling it. A hook arrangement that looks right on the bench can change how the lure tracks.
How do head size and skirt color match the bait?
Start with the size of the forage you can see. Smaller heads and skirts are a sensible choice when fish are feeding on small bait. Larger offerings make more sense around larger forage, but a bigger head is not automatically better for a bigger fish.
Skirt color is another adjustment, not a cure for poor action. Get the lure running correctly before changing colors. For choosing colors and depth by water clarity, see our guide to saltwater lures by clarity and depth.
What should be aboard before you run a Black Bart spread?
Pack enough variety to change a head or rig when conditions change. For an offshore run from Maryland, use current charts and local knowledge for navigation and fishing grounds. New anglers should leave spread placement and boat handling to the captain or mate.
- Cupped heads for calmer water and steadier-tracking heads for chop.
- Leaders matched to the target fish without unnecessary stiffness.
- Appropriate hook rigs and bite protection if wahoo are a target.
- Spare heads and hooks so a damaged lure does not dictate the spread.
- The tools needed to inspect and replace rigging before it goes back in the water.
We offer saltwater tackle online at Alltackle.com and are based at 2062 Somerville Rd in Annapolis, Maryland. Browse our saltwater lures for the head styles your spread needs, or place an order by phone at 1-888-810-7283.
Frequently asked questions
Are Black Bart lures worth the money?
They are worth considering when the head style fits your target fish, trolling speed and usual sea conditions. An expensive lure in the wrong position can still run poorly. Choose for the job it needs to do, then check its action behind your boat.
Which Black Bart head should I run on the outside lines?
A bullet-style head is a practical starting point when outside lines encounter more chop and wave motion. These heads generally track more steadily in rough water than cupped chuggers. Confirm the placement by watching the lure at fishing speed.
Should I use a single hook or a stiff double hook on a Black Bart skirt?
A stiff double is generally a useful choice for wahoo, while a single hook leaves the lure freer to move. The double rig trades some action for a controlled hook position. Use suitable cable or heavy wire bite protection when toothy fish are likely.
What are black lures good for?
A black or dark skirt creates a strong silhouette under some light conditions. Color alone does not determine which fish will strike. Match the lure's size to the bait and make sure it runs correctly before experimenting with skirt color.
Why does my lure tumble or blow out of the wake?
Check for prop wash, excessive speed or a head shape that does not suit the chop. A heavy, stiff leader can also suppress the action. Move the lure into clean water and check it at trolling speed, changing one thing at a time.