The Darter, in its many forms, is a staple of the surf that no true surfcaster should leave out of their bag.
In this series I will be spotlighting four plugs that should be a part of every surfcaster’s arsenal. Year in, and year out these lures are responsible for many great catches in the surf. They are proven fish slayers in the hands of anglers that know how to bring out the magic that these plugs possess. By mastering this quartet of killers, your surf score is sure to increase. And they’ll get bigger, too. I promise. The four I plan to highlight are the Darter, Bottle Plug, Needlefish and the Metal Lip Swimmer.
So let’s get started with the Darter. This is a lure like no other, in that the action it produces is unique. It swims side to side and then randomly shoots or “darts” to one side and back and repeats this dance throughout the retrieve. This action is brought about by its clever engineering, which incorporates an angle on the top of the plug, which is the main dive plane, and strategically placed cuts on the lip.
If you have never fished a Darter before, you are missing out on one of the most effective lures ever made. Those that use them regularly know the productivity of this surf fishing slayer. This plug floats at rest, and then with a quick pull or sweep with the rod, the darter will dive, (facilitated by the top slope) and begin its deadly dance on the retrieve.
The darter is a plug that excels in moving water because current will accentuate its built-in action. It’s right at home in inlets, tidal estuaries, rivers, along rocky shores and open sandy beaches with wind-driven sweeps. They can also be effective in the ocean surf areas with little current; just give it action by lowering the rod parallel to the water and imparting long pulls, allowing the plug to float back up in between. One can also use the receding wave to impart life to the plug while working it right to the beach lip.
In areas of fast-moving water, cast up-current at an angle and get in contact with the plug and work it back up from down current. There are times that the fish will hit as it hangs in the flow and others when it’s working against the tide. These plugs also work great around bridges working the shadow lines.
Contrary to what many casters believe, the darter also works well in daylight. You can hold it in a tide rip, or fish it fast and erratic in the open surf to draw a reaction strike. The only downside to this plug is that it doesn’t handle a big storm surf well, but with how well it fishes in so many other situations, I can live with that!
Darters are available in many different shapes, sizes and colors made from wood or plastic. The most popular is the Super Strike Zig Zag Darter that weighs 2-3/8 ounces and measures 6-5/8 inches in length. These classic assassins of the surf are virtually bulletproof thanks to their plastic construction and extremely durable paint. Other plastic models are made by Tactical Anglers called the Sub Darter, North Bar’s Montauk Darter – which runs extra deep – and Yo-Zuri’s Mag Darter. The Mag Darter is not designed like a traditional darter as in that it swims more like a minnow plug, but I can assure you it is a deadly plug. Some wood versions of the darter to name a few are the Gibbs, Sporting Wood, Wally’s Lures, and if you can get your hands on one, Beachmaster makes a short stubby darter that is a killer.
Darters with a wide profile can handle more current and get down deeper while the slim models are better suited for areas of slower water movement. To make a Darter “dig” more, meaning it dive into the current more aggressively, try bumping the front treble hook up one size. You can also modify the rear hook by replacing it with a single bucktail dressed siwash hook. Most models of the darter will dive to around 2 to 3 feet.
No matter where you fish and no matter if you’re a seasoned sharpie or a total newbie, the darter is a workhorse of the surf and something no hardcore surfcaster should leave the house without.
