Every Hawaiian-style trolling lure has a proven rigging formula behind it — skirt size, hook rig, leader strength, and spread position all change depending on the lure's overall length. Get this wrong and you lose fish. Get it right and your lure swims true, holds up to a strike, and lands where it's supposed to in the spread.
Here's the rigging breakdown we use on every lure that goes out our door at Luremonger.
5" & 6" Lures
- Skirt: BOM 202
- Hook: Japanese Double Fang Hook
- Leader: 200#
- Position: All Positions
Small-profile lures like this are versatile enough to run anywhere in the spread — short corner, long rigger, or shotgun — and are a great choice when mahi mahi or smaller pelagics are mixed in with marlin and tuna.
7" Lures
- Skirt: BOM 352
- Hook: Tandem Trailer or Japanese Double Fang Hook
- Leader: 300#
- Position: All Positions
The 7" is one of the most popular all-around sizes in Hawaiian trolling because it works in every position and covers marlin, ahi, and mahi mahi equally well.
9" & 10" Lures
- Skirt: BOM 502
- Hook: Tandem Trailer or 9/0–10/0 Stiff Rig
- Leader: 300#
- Position: All Positions
The 9" is the workhorse size of most Hawaii spreads. It's big enough to draw strikes from serious tuna and marlin, but still versatile enough to run in any position.
12" Lures
- Skirt: BOM 602
- Hook: Single 9/0 or 10/0 Stiff Rig, or Tandem Trailer
- Leader: 400# X-Hard+
- Position: Long Rigger or Short Corner
Once you get to 12", you're rigging for serious big-game intent. This size is built to draw and hold up to grander-class marlin.
14" Lures
- Skirt: BOM 702 or Vinyl
- Hook: Single 10/0 or 11/0 Stiff Rig
- Leader: 400# X-Hard+
- Position: Short Corner
16" Lures
- Skirt: Vinyl (Moyes: BOM 802)
- Hook: Single 10/0 or 11/0 Stiff Rig
- Leader: 400# X-Hard+
- Position: Short Corner
18" Lures
- Skirt: XX-Large Vinyl
- Hook: Single 10/0 or 11/0 Stiff Rig
- Leader: 400# X-Hard+
- Position: Short Corner
Lures in the 14"–18" range are reserved for the short corner — the position closest to the boat where the biggest, most aggressive lures do their work raising truly giant fish.
A Few Rigging Notes
Some makers rig outside the standard formula for specific shapes. Bomboy's "Baby Bomb" and small Locknut shapes, for example, run on the 7" tier despite being closer to 9" in overall length — always check the specific product listing for maker-specific notes.
Every hook we recommend can be found in our Hooks & Hook Rigs collection, pre-built and ready to fish. If you're putting together a full spread from scratch, browse our lures by size to find the right shape for the position you're rigging:
