Maria designers and testers worked with EJ Todd pro-staff in a variety of conditions and locations to develop a range of hardbodies perfectly suited for Australian waters. The Maria Jerkbait (available in deep and shallow diving depths) is one of these hardbodies and as with the full range, comes standard with Owner ST-36 hooks so it can be fished at a tournament level straight out of the box. Other hardbodies in this range include the Maria Pencil, the Maria Crank, the Maria Shad and the Maria Vibe.
Jerkbait 50mm: Available in Shallow (MJ-1 S50SP) and Deep (MJ-1 D50SP) diving depths, the 50mm Jerkbait is tuned to suspend or slow float in saltwater. The shallow version dives 0.5m, weighs 2.7g and has a slow floating buoyancy in saltwater or a suspending buoyancy in freshwater. It is fitted with a weight moving system and has an excellent dog walking action with a twitching retrieve. The deep version dives 1.5m, weighs 3.3g and like the shallow model has a slow floating buoyancy in saltwater or a suspending buoyancy in freshwater. Its 45 degree nose down suspending posture and 1.5m diving depth keeps the lure in the zone and ready to swim with every line twitch. It's equipped with fish attracting internal low sound rattles that will call shy fish and its tight head shakes and rolling action are deadly with a crank and pause retrieve. The deep Jerkbait produces an unbelievable natural action just like natural bait fish.
Jerkbait 70mm: Available in Shallow (MJ-1 S70F) and Deep (MJ-1 D70F) diving depths. The shallow version dives 0.5m to 0.7m, weighs 3.8g and has a floating buoyancy. It's fitted with a weight moving system and has an easy twitching action. The deep version dives 1.5m to 2.0m, weighs 5.6g and like the shallow model has a floating buoyancy. This buoyancy allows it to be backed up over snags and with its strong swimming action it is an ideal trolling lure.
Jerkbait 90mm: Available in Shallow (MJ-1 S90F) and Deep (MJ-1 D90F) diving depths. The shallow version dives 0.5m to 0.9m, weighs 5.5g and has a floating buoyancy. It's fitted with a weight moving system and has an easy twitching action. The deep version dives 2.0m to 2.5m, weighs 11g and like the shallow model has a floating buoyancy. This buoyancy allows it to be backed up over snags and with its strong swimming action it is an ideal trolling lure.
Jerkbait 110mm: Available in Shallow (MJ-1 S110F) and Deep (MJ-1 D110F) diving depths. The shallow version dives 0.5m to 1.0m, weighs 12g and has a floating buoyancy. It's fitted with a weight moving system giving it excellent castability and has a strong swimming action even with heavy leader. The deep version dives 3.0m to 3.5m, weighs 15g and like the shallow model has a floating buoyancy. This buoyancy allows it to be backed up over snags while it dives quickly back to its diving depth of 3.0m to 3.5m. It is an ideal trolling lure.
Jerkbait 130mm: Available in Shallow (MJ-1 S130F) and Deep (MJ-1 D130F) diving depths. The shallow version dives 0.5m to 1.0m, weighs 18g and has a floating buoyancy. It's fitted with wire through construction for added strength and a weight moving system giving it excellent castability. It has a strong swimming action even with heavy leader. The deep version dives 3.5m to 4.0m, weighs 22g and like the shallow model has a floating buoyancy. This buoyancy allows it to be backed up over snags while it dives quickly back to its diving depth of 3.0m to 3.5m. It is an ideal trolling lure.
Colours: 18 colours (not all colours avail in all models)
Sizes: 50mm, 70mm, 90mm, 110mm, 130mm
Diving Depths: Shallow, Deep
Buoyancies: Floating (except the 50mm models)
Made in Japan
By Pro-Staffer Jamie Robley
Aussie anglers who keenly pursue fish like bream, bass or trout have certainly embraced small Japanese designed and made lures in recent years. With good reason too, as lures from Japan are generally built to very high standards. Maria lures are certainly no exception and there is a good variety of small bream, bass or trout lures to choose from in the range. One model that has done some amazing things for me over the past 12 months is the 50mm Maria Jerkbait. Made in both shallow and deeper diving versions the jerkbait is a slim profile lure, resembling the shape of a small baitfish.
There are 15 colours available in the jerkbait range, but a few have become my favourites. If I had only one choice I would tie on the BSG colour, which is a translucent lure with bronze markings and a distinct black eye. In the water this colour looks very much like a prawn and seems to be irresistible to bream. If the water is a bit on the muddy side, I'll choose the brighter yellow and orange CBOM colour.
The shallow jerkbaits work best on bream in water around a metre deep or slightly more, but in any water over two metres deep I'll use the deeper model. Nine times out of ten the retrieve that has scored the most fish is to quickly crank the reel's handle a few times to make the lure dive down, then stop and pause for up to ten seconds. If a fish hasn't hit by then, crank it back down and pause again. A few subtle twitches with the rod tip along the way really bring these lures to life.
I've also caught plenty of bream with a simple straight retrieve and by slowly trolling them over the shallows adjacent to weedbeds or rock walls. If other fish like flathead, tailor or trevally are in the vicinity they'll quickly pounce on the jerkbait as well.
These lures are fitted with strong owner trebles and split rings, so there's no need to upgrade the hardware before using them. They are quite robust lures with the bib moulded into the body and after using them extensively I haven't had any problems with cracks or water leakage. Another good point is that these Maria lures don't have an extravagant retail price compared with many other Japanese lures. At around $15 they are more comparable to Aussie or Chinese made lures.