By John Skinner (on-the-water testing and observations)
John Skinner has spent countless hours dialing in the most effective methods for targeting striped bass in the rips off Eastern Long Island. For years, bucktails ruled his tackle bag, consistently producing fish on three-way rigs in 40 to 90 feet of fast-moving water. But after noticing a push of adult bunker and an influx of smaller stripers in the mix, Skinner turned to a larger, more realistic profile: the Tsunami Swim Shad. What started as a test quickly turned into a clear advantage—and a permanent addition to his striper arsenal.
On a recent trip, Skinner began with a few drifts using his tried-and-true bucktail setup to confirm the bite. He was using a standard three-way rig: an 8-ounce cannonball sinker, about five feet of 80-pound fluorocarbon leader, and a bucktail. After a couple of quick schoolies, he knew the fish were there—and that it was time to experiment. He switched over to a 7-inch Tsunami Swim Shad, weighing 3 ounces, and from the first drift, it was clear something different was happening.
What stood out right away was the size class. While bucktails continued to produce smaller fish, the Swim Shads started turning up heavier bass. These weren’t trophy fish, but they were clearly a step above the cookie-cutter schoolies he’d been pulling on hair jigs. The soft-bodied Swim Shad mimicked bunker more closely, especially with its large paddle tail that kicks on even moderate current, and its realistic finish held up after multiple fish. Even in the swirling tide lines and uneven bottom that define the Northeast rips, the shad’s action remained consistent.
Durability was another major positive. Skinner caught over 30 bass between two trips on a single Swim Shad, without having to swap lures. These shads come two or three to a pack and don’t require trailers, unlike bucktails that need a trailer to enhance their profile and motion. Considering the current price of bucktails and jig strips, the Swim Shad turned out to be the more cost-effective option. Skinner also noted that the soft rubber nose of the Swim Shad made it less prone to snagging compared to the hard, compact head of a bucktail—a real benefit when fishing structure-heavy areas.
Hookup ratios were another win for the 7-inch version. The sharpened hook was small but strong, and Skinner noted he had no trouble keeping fish pinned. “If I got the hit, I got the fish,” he said. The paddle tail’s vibration helped keep the lure just above the bottom without dragging, and the lure was easy to control even while drifting in 3–4 mph current. Skinner’s technique involved frequent short cranks to track bottom changes, which helped avoid snags and keep the lure in the strike zone. He wasn’t jigging the rod—just holding it steady and letting the action of the shad do the work.
Over the course of both trips, he landed around 28 fish. The smallest three came on bucktails. The rest—including every better-quality fish—came on Swim Shads, with the 7-inch version standing out for its blend of hookup reliability, size profile, and ease of use. As for the hooks, Skinner pushed back on concerns voiced by a few commenters about strength. “This swim shad’s going to end up catching between the two trips, oh boy, about 35 bass. Really good hooks... very sharp, very strong. No concerns at all,” he said.
Another underrated strength of the Tsunami Swim Shad was its ability to match local baitfish. During one drift, Skinner watched a striper spit up a half-digested bunker—and it was almost identical in size and shape to the shad he was using. Whether in full sunlight or under cloud cover, the lifelike patterns and tail motion created a convincing silhouette that enticed fish throughout the tide.
That’s not to say everything was perfect. At one point, Skinner had to retire a well-worn Swim Shad after a toothy bluefish latched on. While not a deal-breaker, he noted that if blues are thick, soft plastics won’t hold up long. But in striper-only situations, they’re incredibly durable.
When comparing bucktails to Swim Shads across the board—hookup ratios, price, profile, ease of use, and durability—Swim Shads came out ahead, especially the 7-inch size. They offered the same if not better performance, required fewer components, and produced bigger fish more often. The 9-inch model still has a place, particularly when matching large bunker or trying to turn a picky bite. But for day-in, day-out performance in deep rips, the 7-inch Tsunami Swim Shad has proven itself.
If you’re fishing fast-moving water, irregular bottom, or working bunker schools in the Northeast, Skinner’s field testing makes a strong case: ditch the hair jig and tie on a Swim Shad. You’ll save time, money, and maybe even upgrade your average catch size.