The tube design is a great marlin lure for several reasons. They are aggressive swimmers, giving the appearance of a fleeing mackerel or tuna as they splash and smoke across the surface of the ocean. Tubes tend to run straight with a terrific bubble trail, making them easy for a marlin to locate amid the waves. This style of lure excels in calm to moderate seas but aren’t a great choice in rough conditions. It’s no coincidence that all five designers have strong ties to Hawaii, a fishery that’s well-known for its calm seas and big blue marlin. Here are five of the best tube lures on the market today.
To read more from out best-lures series, check out the following: Best Teaser Lures for Marlin; Best Jet and Bullet Lures for Marlin; and Best Plunger Lures for Marlin.
Erik Rusnak’s Aloha Lures are a standout from Hawaii. At over 16 inches long, the Smash Bait is among the largest of the tube lures and has an aggressive head bevel for terrific action. Rusnak recommends fishing the Smash Bait from the short or long corner on heavy tackle.
The Kona Classic Tube is one of Capt. Bart Miller's personal favorites, and the lure has accounted for world-record catches and tournament wins in marlin fisheries all over the world. Miller suggests running it from the short or long rigger positions in calm to moderate seas with a single 10/0 hook and heavy tackle.
Handmade by expert lure maker Steve Coggin, the Copa Tube creates plenty of action on the surface and is an outstanding lure for blue marlin. It’s best from the long corner or long rigger positions.
Eric "Koya" Koyangi hand-crafts his lures in the style of the masters like Henry Chee, Joe Yee and others. The Malolo Tube features mylar "wings" that mimic flying fish, an old-school touch that still raises plenty of marlin anywhere in the world. Fish this one from the riggers on heavy tackle and hold on.
This shape accounted for the first 1,000-pound marlin ever caught on standup tackle. The Marlin Magic Large Tube is an aggressive swimmer, and the mirrored head insert give it plenty of flash. At approximately 14 inches in length, it performs well with a large single hook in the 11/0 to 12/0 range.
