When you’re softbaiting around New Zealand—whether it’s in the shallows of the Hauraki Gulf, the deep channels of the Kaipara, or casting into reefy drop-offs off the Coromandel—fish behaviour can change by the day, the hour, or the tide.
While most anglers spend time choosing the right softbait shape and colour, one detail often gets overlooked: the jighead. More specifically, jighead colours and finish.
So… does it really matter?
Short answer: yes—sometimes. But not always in the way you’d think.
Let’s get this straight:
Plain lead jigheads catch fish. They always have, and they still do. For many anglers, they’re the go-to—and for good reason. They’re simple, effective, and don’t spook fish in most situations.
So what’s the point of painted or coloured jigheads?
It’s not about “better”—it’s about adapting your presentation to current conditions and fish behaviour.
It’s a fair question. After all, the jighead is usually a fraction of the size of the softbait, so why worry about its color or finish at all?
Here’s the deal:
The body of the softbait provides the bulk of the visual profile, motion, and colour contrast.
That’s what fish lock onto—especially when chasing down fast-moving prey.
In clear water, fish often follow and inspect a lure before committing. The jighead may be the last thing they see before deciding to strike (or not).
The flash or contrast at the “head” of the bait can mimic gills, eyes, or the shimmer of a struggling baitfish—subtle cues that help sell the illusion.
When using shorter or transparent softbaits, the jighead becomes more visually dominant, especially on the pause or drop.
Think of it like this:
The softbait gets their attention. The jighead helps seal the deal.
Of course, you can still catch plenty of fish with a plain lead head and a well-chosen softbait. But in pressured or clear-water situations, or when the bite is slow, that extra touch of realism or contrast from your jighead might be what makes the difference.
A common and valid question is whether jighead colour really matters, given that the softbait comprises the majority of the lure’s size, motion, and colour. If fish are primarily visual predators, wouldn’t the softbait alone be sufficient to trigger a strike?
Here’s how this holds up under closer scrutiny.
Many predatory fish found in New Zealand waters—such as snapper, kingfish, kahawai, and trevally—rely heavily on visual cues when hunting. Their eyes are adapted to detect contrast, flash, movement, and silhouettes in a range of light conditions and water clarities.
In reaction bites, where fish strike quickly (often out of aggression), the colour of the jighead may be less critical.
However, in clear water, or when fish are more cautious or feeding selectively, lure inspection becomes more deliberate. Fish often follow and assess a lure before committing.
In these cases, the jighead plays a more important visual role than its size might suggest.
Fish often strike at the head of a baitfish, where the eyes, gills, and vital organs are located. This behaviour has been widely documented in both lab and field studies of piscivorous species.
When a softbait is rigged on a jighead, the jighead represents the “head” of the prey—and is therefore the focal point during a strike. A jighead that provides:
Contrast (e.g. a brightly coloured or dark-painted head on a light bait)
Flash (e.g. a reflective or metallic finish mimicking fish scales)
Natural cues (e.g. subtle colours matching the baitfish’s head)
…can enhance the realism of the presentation, particularly when the fish has time to inspect it.
While the jighead is physically smaller than the softbait, its position and function make it visually significant—especially on the pause, drop, or during slow retrieves when the entire lure is more easily observed.
Additionally, under certain conditions (e.g. low light, deeper water, high turbidity), fish may perceive silhouettes and flashes more than detailed colour. In these cases, the combined profile and reflectivity of jighead and softbait become important for visibility.
The softbait provides the primary movement and general colour profile.
The jighead adds crucial detail at the point of strike, especially in clear water or subtle presentations.
While a plain jighead remains effective, particularly in aggressive feeding scenarios, coloured or finished jigheads may offer an advantage when conditions demand greater realism or contrast.
At the end of the day, colour and finish are tools to help you adapt to the conditions and the fish you are targeting. If the bite is fast and aggressive, plain lead jigheads will work just fine. But when fish are cautious or feeding selectively, a little extra contrast or flash at the head of your softbait can make a noticeable difference.
Not every detail matters all the time, but some do. Keeping a few coloured jigheads in your tackle box gives you options to match the conditions and give your presentation that extra edge. Plain lead jigheads will always have their place, but when the fish are picky, coloured heads can help turn lookers into biters.
Check out our range of coloured jigheads and be ready for when conditions demand that extra advantage.
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Last updated 10/11/2023
By participating in the competition you are agreeing to these competition terms and conditions. The competition is being run by Ninth Fishing.
The competition is open to entrants over 18 years of age, currently living in New Zealand. Ninth Fishing employees and associates are excluded from the draw.
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There is a limit of one entry per person and the competition is completely free to enter.
Entries close at 12pm, Thursday 30th November, 2023.
The winning prize will be 1x pack of Nebula Jig Heads in an available size and colour of the winners choice. Ninth Fishing will provide a list of available options to the contestant via email.
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