Top Mulligan Retrieves To Effectively Fish Mangrove Lines

This video will show you how to effectively fish mangroves with the Mulligan Paddletail!

We’ll also highlight some rigging tips that I use to trigger more strikes.

And I’ll help you skyrocket your success with additional casting tricks!

Take a closer look below!!

How To Effectively Fish Mangrove Lines With The Mulligan [VIDEO]

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Equipment List From Video

• Rod: Slot Machine Custom Rod
• Reel: Daiwa BG MQ 2500
• Line: 10lb J-Braid 8 Grand
• Leader: 20 lb Ande Monofilament
• Scent: Dr. Juice Saltwater Slam Exclusive Scent
• Lure: Slam Shady Mulligan
• Hook: Hoss Helix Hook 3/0 with 1/8th oz weight

Rigging Tips

First and most importantly, you MUST use a weedless hook when fishing close to mangroves.

Mangrove branches, leaves, and limbs love to snag hooks when given the opportunity.

My favorite way to rig the 4-inch Mulligan is on a 3/0 Hoss Helix Hook to maintain a weedless presentation.

You aren’t compromising the hookup ratio with these hooks and you won’t get snagged in the trees.

Rig these lures up as you normally would on a weedless hook with a centering pin, however, the only difference here is don’t let the hook rest on top of the plastic.

Instead, slightly dig the hook point into the plastic – this is called skin hooking.

Then, the presentation is completely weedless and there is nothing the mangroves can grab a hold of.

If you try to do this with a treble hook or exposed jighead, it will turn into a complete nightmare.

Casting Tricks

The easiest and one of the more effective approaches is to cast directly at points.

The key is to cast as close to the trees as possible without getting snagged.

Cast the lure out and let it sink to the bottom.

As the lure falls, the tail will wiggle and fish often strike on the drop.

One of the biggest mistakes I always see is anglers making that perfect cast right into the mangroves to then immediately start cranking the reel and pulling the lure out.

That is not enough time for the fish to seek out what made that splash and then strike.

Another mistake I see is casting overhand.

It is better to cast overhand when targeting points, however, not for mangrove shorelines.

For casting at mangroves, we need to make use of a sidearm cast so the lure slides underneath the overhanging trees.

If you can get your lures underneath the mangroves, it will skyrocket your catch rate.

The fish are quite comfortable and less spooky there making them more willing to eat.

Especially if the sun is out, they’ll be down there in the shade seeking cooler water as well.

The Mulligan rigged on a Hoss Helix Hook skips incredibly well.

When it comes to the sidearm cast, you want to bring the rod off to one side and stay parallel with the water.

Let it rip and try to skip the lure underneath the trees.

As I mentioned earlier, once it lands in the water, let it fall to the bottom.

You’d be surprised how many fish I’ve caught without reeling and by just letting the lure fall to the bottom.

If you are more comfortable with an overhand cast, yes it will work, but the issue is there is way more of a margin for error.

Not only that, but overhand casts tend to create a larger splash which will easily spook fish.

If you consistently skip your lures underneath a stretch of mangroves, it is very rare you won’t hook into something.

Where To Aim Your Casts

When looking at a bunch of mangroves on a shoreline overhanging into the water, where should you cast?

Look for any little pockets or openings where you can send your lure through and deeper into the mangroves.

It will take some practice and you’re going to get hung up here and there.

If you do get stuck in a branch, don’t try and pull the lure out immediately.

Although this is the instinctual thing to do, it won’t end well.

All this does is set the hook deeper in the tree.

Instead of pulling back hard on the lure, slightly twitch the rod several times to pry the lure free.

This does two things.

First, it doesn’t dig your lure deeper into the branch.

And, the lure drops right into the strike zone.

I’ve caught plenty of fish after casting into the branches and then loosening the lure to have it fall right into a fish’s mouth.

Please go ahead and let me know if you have any questions in the comments section!!

What’s the biggest fish you’ve pulled out from beneath mangroves?

I’d love to hear from you!!

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