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Learn More »A Tackle Shop Guide to the Yo-Zuri Hydro Monster Shot
A common frustration for rock and boat anglers is seeing fish "busting up" just out of casting range. You can hurl a 60g metal spinning lure a mile, but it just sinks on the retrieve and has little action. A floating stickbait has great action, but in a stiff headwind, you can't get it out there. The Yo-Zuri Hydro Monster Shot is the lure we recommend for that exact scenario. It's a heavy, compact, sinking stickbait that casts like a bullet but has a "shimmy" and "wobble" that a simple metal lure just can't match.
A Note From Our Local Experts
"With so many people asking us to stock these lures, we took the plunge and added them to our range. Heavy casting style hardbodies have been increasingly popular in recent years, and down our way on the South Coast NSW, we’re seeing the Hydro Monster Shot produce on small tuna, Australian Salmon, Kingfish, and Bonito. The thing that impresses me most is its compact profile for its weight; it just casts brilliantly.
Out of all the colours we sell, it is the HDS (Double Silver) colour that I'm personally recommending to our buyers. It's covered in a highly reflective silver holographic finish with an etched scale-like pattern that throws a lot of flash. That colour aside, we are seeing consistent sales also across the HAJ (Bronze), HGM (Green Mackerel), and HIW (Sardine) colours, as they are a close match to the natural baitfish we get here in the Illawarra."
- Ben Czulowski, Owner, Fishing Tackle Shop (Ocean Storm) | 20+ years industry experience
Decoding the Features: What Matters
This isn't just a heavy piece of plastic; it's a purpose-built casting lure for saltwater fishing from any Australian rock platform or for off the boat. Here’s what the components are for:
Pro-Tips: How to Fish the Yo-Zuri Monster Shot Fishing Lure
- Multiple Retrieve Styles: This lure is versatile. You can "cast and burn" (wind it fast) just under the surface for tailor and tuna. You can also use a "twitch, twitch, pause" retrieve, which makes it dart and swim. A lot of strikes will come on that pause as it flutters down.
- Upgrading Hooks (Optional): The trebles on this are good quality out of the packet. However, for casting at big kingfish or tuna, we see a lot of anglers swap the rear treble for a single, in-line hook. This can improve the hook-up and holding power on large fish.
- Match Your Rod: To get the casting distance this lure is capable of, you need to match your rod. For land-based rock fishing, a 9ft-11ft "shore casting" rod is what we'd recommend. For boat casting, a shorter, stiffer 7ft-8ft rod is a better fit and will still launch this lure effectively.
Technical Specifications: Models Available
We stock the two most popular sizes for heavy saltwater casting from the boat or rocks. Here's a simple guide to what we use them for.
| Model | Length | Weight | Recommended Shore Rod | Recommended Reel Size | Common TargetsS |
| Monster Shot | 110mm | 50g | 9-10ft rod (rated to ~80g) | 5000 - 6000 | Tailor, Salmon, Mackerel, Bonito |
| Monster Shot | 125mm | 60g | 9-11ft rod (rated to ~100g+) | 6000 - 8000 | Kingfish, Tuna, Big Mackerel, Trevally |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real benefit of the 60g over the 50g?
That 10g of extra weight does two things. First, it will give you more casting distance, especially if you're casting into a headwind. Second, it sinks faster. The 60g is the one we'd recommend if you're fishing deeper water or in a fast-running current where you need the lure to get "down" quickly to where the fish are holding.
Is this lure worth the price over a simple metal spinning lure?
That's the main question we get. A classic metal lure or "slice" is just a weight for casting; its action is often limited to a simple retrieve. The Monster Shot is a *swimming lure* that casts *like* a metal slice. You're paying for the complex internal balancing, the "shimmy on the drop" action, and the wire-through construction. It's a different class of lure for when you need that extra action to get a bite.
Can I use this for vertical jigging from the boat?
We wouldn't recommend it as a *vertical jig* (for a fast "rip and drop"). It's designed as a *casting* lure. However, it's very effective when you're boat-casting at schools of fish, as you can let it sink and 'flutter' down through the water column, which is when many strikes occur.
Why does it just spin in the air (helicopter) when I cast?
This is usually a sign that your leader is too thick or your connection is too bulky. A big, heavy snap swivel can "kick" the lure off-balance in the air. Try connecting it with a heavy-duty split ring and a loop knot, or a high-quality, streamlined snap. It's designed to fly straight, so a small tweak to your terminal tackle usually fixes this.
You mention upgrading hooks. What are the pros and cons of swapping to a single?
That's a common question. The trebles out of the packet are good, sharp, and fine for tailor and bonito. The main reason anglers swap to an inline single hook is for targeting big, tough fish like kingfish. A single hook often has a wider gape and can get a more secure hold on a big, hard-fighting fish. The other benefit is that a single hook is much better for catch-and-release, as it does less damage and is easier to remove.
The finish looks great, but will it last? Is the paint going to chip off?
That's the constant battle with hardbody lures. The finish on these is very tough, but let's be honest, if you're casting this from the rocks and it smacks the cliff, or a big tailor slashes at it, it *will* get scratched. That's just part of hard-tackle fishing. The plain chrome models (like HPSC) are very durable, but even the painted ones will keep catching fish long after the paint is chewed up. The lure's *action* is what gets the bite; the flash just gets their attention.
Is the "wire-through" a single piece of wire?
Yes. On the Yo-Zuri Monster Shot, it's a single, solid piece of wire that connects the front tow point to the hook hangers. This is what makes it so tough. On some other lures, "wire-through" can mean a welded system, but this one is a solid piece, which is what you want for targeting powerful fish.
A long-casting, tough lure for targeting saltwater pelagics. Choose your Yo-Zuri Hydro Monster Shot Lure size/colour and add one to your rock-hopping or boat kit.
