Seawitch 101

By: Heather Maxwell

(Originally published Sportfishing Report, August 2005)

What’s in a seawitch? Well, there’s hair and a head and dental floss and fingernail polish and occasionally a pink rubber skirt. Figuratively speaking, there’s a whole hell of a lot more than that.

Fishing the waters off Oregon Inlet, the seawitch can make or break your day. In the immortal words of Slammin’ Sammy - no matter where you g, there you are, but if your seawitches stink, then your fish box will stay empty. There is hope for those that have a tackle station filled with junk - Old Faithful naked ballyhoo. But if you want to fill that box this spring, rip this page out and take it to your local tackle shop. Or, better yet, Billy at Whalebone in Nags Head.

Oregon Inlet Yellowfin Seawitch Staples:
1/2 ounce heads, blue, and plenty of them
3/4 ounce heads blue, for windy days
1/2 ounce heads, some orange some green
White hair, straight not crinkly
Blue Hair, same
Extra hair assorted colors (chartreuse, pink, black, purple, and red)
Waxed dental floss
Clear nail polish (super glue or zap-a-gap)

Rumor has it that one of the old-timers, and I use that phrase with the utmost respect, would request his seawitches in percentages of color. And I mean 12% of this and 88% of that. For our purposes we will keep it simple and go with the Seawitch rule offered by deckhand, Jeff Reibel, of Phideaux fame 90% of this, 10% of that. Keep the hair light, just imagine this thing as it’s pulled through the water, you don’t want a sopping mop. Evening-up the hair is important as well says Reibel. “What we’re going for here is an illusion of color, not to cover the entire ballyhoo”, says Reibel. “Color is a high priority, but for spring fishing there are a few must-haves and then feel free to get creative. “Blue & white, white & blue, purple & black, and black & blue”. Reibel adds, “Blue & white is the number one, but the bruiser colors will work well too at times. A little chartreuse and pink are also good to keep around.”

Now I have seen my husband out on the deck at night. Boiling pot at the ready and a couple boxes of purple RIT dye; he’ll spark up the grill and color his own hair. “Special blue!” is what he calls it and its mainly special in July at The Point. Give the boiling pot a try if you dare, but as hungry as our yellowfin are in April, May and June, standard store-bought colors should work just fine.

Getting down to business, the actual tying of a seawitch is pretty simple. Reibel doubles up his floss and lays the hair out on top, adds a head and uses an overhand knot to pull it all together. Even-up the hair around the head, a couple half hitches each way and then cover the waxed thread with glue or polish. Next, trim the hair. “I’ve seen them cut very short near the head and I have also seen the hair left a little long. I’d say that the shorter the better.”

On the Phideaux (and on most boats, I think) Capt. Jamie Reibel calls the shots. “The colors we use in the spread are up to the Captain”, says brother Jeff. “We usually start with the same spread each morning and then change out the colors depending on what the fish are being caught on.” Reibel spends a lot of time in the early spring making up seawitches and has plenty at the ready during the fishing day. “With six seawitches (among other things) in the spread, I keep twenty or thirty in a tackle box and ten or more ready in the bait box.” Reibel adds "With three or four of each color already rigged you’ll be ready when the action gets fast paced".

Now, there are some colors that work, some that don’t. There are special seawitches you’ll only find on one boat in the fleet and that captain will swear by them. Some of the boys will paint eyes on their heads; some will combine a green head with white hair or an orange head with black hair given the right conditions.

One thing I know for sure, when it comes to the Oregon Inlet yellowfin bite, blue & white skirt, 1/2 oz. head, medium ballyhoo = fill the box!