The wishbone is purpose-built for distance casting on clean ground. The narrow profile of the rig in flight makes it the rig of choice when you need to hit the far bar or reach fish over a hundred yards out.
Best targets
- Cod and codling: surf beaches in autumn and winter, casting beyond the breakers.
- Whiting: same scenario, smaller hooks.
- Dabs and dogfish: when fishing at range over sandbanks.
- Plaice and small flatfish: drop down to size 4 hooks with two short worm baits.
Where it shines
Storm beaches and surf marks where bites come at distance. The clip-down profile loads the rod cleanly and the wishbone shape stops the bottom hook tangling around the lead on impact, a common failure of the standard flapper at long range.
Where to avoid it
Rough or weedy ground (no rotten bottom, both hooks risk snagging). Tight inshore work where you don't need the distance, a flapper is easier to bait up.
Bait tips
Twin worm cocktails (lugworm and ragworm together) shine on this rig. For cod, a strip of mackerel on each hook with a length of squid wrapped underneath gives a heavy scent trail at range.