Join pro bass angler Chris Zaldain as he takes us on a high-octane offshore bass fishing adventure using big swimbaits. Zaldain expertly demonstrates how to use your electronics to find and catch big offshore bass using plus-sized paddle tail swimbaits. It’s an often overlooked technique but incredibly effective for catching big bass on pressured fisheries.
FISHING TACKLE USED (retail links)
- SWIMBAIT – Bass Mafia Daingerous Unrigged Swimbait, color – Blackback Shad, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- FISH FINDER – Humminbird SOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- 360 SONAR – Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LIVE SONAR – Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- MAPPING – Humminbird LakeMaster With VX Technology, Midsouth States V1, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ultrex 112lb-36V Trolling Motor, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ROD – 13 Fishing Defy Black Casting Rod 7’5″ Heavy, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- REEL – 13 Fishing Concept A3 Casting Reel, 6.3:1, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LINE – Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon, 20-pound, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- BASS BOAT – Skeeter FXR20, Check out at Skeeter Boats
FISH FINDER TECHNOLOGY
Throughout the video, Zaldain uses advanced electronics to locate and track schools of fish, revealing dynamic underwater activity in real time. First, he relies on his LakeMaster cartography to position his boat near deep-water saddles. Next, he cross-cues Humminbird’s MEGA 360 and MEGA Live to locate the roaming schools to make accurate casts to the fish.
WHY USE BIG BAITS
He dives deep into the nuances of using big swimbaits, revealing secrets that make the difference between a successful catch and a missed opportunity. As Zaldain attests, these deeper structure fish see an onslaught of crankbaits and jigs but rarely big ultra-realistic paddle tail swimbait. Many guys think of downsizing for more bites, but the trend is toward upsizing to generate more and bigger bites. Check out how Zaldain employs big flutter spoons on similar offshore spots.
ANATOMY OF A GOOD CAST
Zaldain acquires the school on MEGA Live, then makes a cast beyond the fish, letting the big paddle tail sink to the bottom. He then works the bait uphill through and just above the feeding bass, deftly exploiting subtle drop-offs and the structure of the underwater terrain. He prefers to Spot-Lock a cast length downwind of the fish for the best casting accuracy. His experience and skill shine as he demonstrates how big swimbaits can effectively mimic giant gizzard shad, a preferred prey of the offshore bass.
Whether you’re a beginner angler or an experienced enthusiast, this video is a must-watch to level up your offshore bass fishing skills. Explore the world of big swimbaits with Chris Zaldain and experience the adrenaline rush of reeling in a giant bass.
