The Samaki Pacemaker lure is one of those trolling lures that has quietly built a very strong reputation with Australian anglers chasing mackerel, tuna, wahoo, dolphin fish and other fast-moving pelagics.
I have used plenty of deep diving hard bodies over the years, and some lures look good in the packet but need tuning, swim badly, or blow out once you start trolling a bit quicker. The Samaki Pacemaker is different.
It swims straight out of the box, has a sharp tight action, gets down into the strike zone, and has proven itself on the Gold Coast and offshore grounds over the last few seasons.
This is not the cheapest hard body lure on the wall, but it is also not crazy expensive compared to some premium trolling lures. For what it does, I reckon it is a very safe lure to have in your trolling spread.
Why the Samaki Pacemaker Lure Works So Well
The first thing you notice about the Samaki Pacemaker lure is the design. It has those little fins and a strong diving bib that help it dig down and hold its action while trolling.
A good trolling lure needs to do a few things well.
It needs to swim straight.
It needs to stay in the water.
It needs to handle a bit of speed.
It needs to have enough action to get noticed by fish like Spanish mackerel, tuna and wahoo.
The Pacemaker ticks those boxes. It has a sharp shimmy through the water that seems to really fire up pelagics. Spanish mackerel especially seem to love that tight swimming action.
Over the last few seasons, these lures have been very popular on the Gold Coast for mackerel fishing. In plenty of situations, they have been right up there with, and sometimes out-fishing, other well-known trolling lures.
A Great Lure for Simple Trolling Sessions
One of the best things about the Samaki Pacemaker lure is that it suits a basic trolling session.
You do not need to overcomplicate it.
If you are heading offshore and just want to put two or three lures out behind the boat, this is the sort of lure I would happily include in the spread.
It is a good option when you are not sure exactly what will be around. You might be targeting Spanish mackerel, but you could also run into cobia, tuna, dolphin fish or wahoo.
That is what makes this lure valuable. It is not only a mackerel lure. It is a good all-round pelagic lure.
I have had strikes on them when trolling for mackerel, and I have also seen them get attention from other offshore species. In one recent session, we had a hit on one and later hooked a cobia. There were no teeth marks on the lure, so there is a fair chance the first missed strike was another cobia as well.
That is fishing. You do not always know exactly what hit the lure, but when a lure keeps getting attention, you pay attention to it.
Best Species to Target With the Samaki Pacemaker
The Samaki Pacemaker lure is a strong choice for a lot of Australian pelagic species.
It works well for:
Spanish mackerel.
School mackerel.
Wahoo.
Yellowfin tuna.
Dolphin fish.
Cobia.
Kingfish.
Other offshore predators.
The lure has enough presence in the water to attract aggressive fish, but it still looks natural enough to get eaten when fish are feeding on bait such as slimy mackerel, pilchards and small tuna.
For more product details, colours and specs, you can check the official Samaki Pacemaker Minnow range on the Samaki website.
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See the Available PDF GuidesHow Fast Can You Troll a Samaki Pacemaker Lure?
A lot of deep divers do not like speed. Push them too hard and they can blow out, roll over, or stop swimming properly.
That is where the Samaki Pacemaker lure is impressive.
You can troll these lures at a normal mackerel speed, but they can also handle a bit more pace when needed. I have run them around eight knots and they still swim well, but you do need the right outfit to do that.
At that speed, a deep diver creates a lot of drag in the water. You need a solid rod, a reel with a good drag, and a setup that can handle the pressure.
If your gear is too light, the lure itself will pull too hard and make trolling uncomfortable. But with a decent outfit, the Pacemaker handles speed very well.
Line and Leader Setup for the Samaki Pacemaker
For my normal trolling setup, I like running around 15 kilo mono with a leader around 60 pounds.
That is a good general setup for mackerel and mixed pelagics. It gives you enough strength without making the whole setup too heavy.
A three metre leader is a good starting point. You can run fluorocarbon if you want, but for this style of trolling, normal mono leader is usually fine.
The Samaki Pacemaker lure does not need a massive snap or heavy hardware in front of it. I prefer using a small but strong snap so I can change lures easily without killing the action.
The key is not to overdo the terminal tackle. Big bulky swivels, oversized clips and heavy wire can affect how a lure swims.
Should You Use Wire With the Samaki Pacemaker?
This is where a lot of anglers get confused.
If I am chasing Spanish mackerel, I usually like to run mono leader straight to the lure. I know mackerel have teeth, but mono often gets more bites because it lets the lure swim naturally and looks cleaner in the water.
If I am specifically chasing wahoo, that changes.
Wahoo can hit from all sorts of angles and can easily bite through mono. For wahoo, I would run a short bite trace of wire in front of the lure.
The trick is to keep the wire short and neat. You do not need a giant length of heavy wire dragging in front of the lure.
For dolphin fish and tuna, I would leave the wire off. For Spanish mackerel, I usually leave it off as well unless bite-offs are becoming a real problem.
Best Colours for the Samaki Pacemaker Lure
The colour range in these lures is one of the reasons they are so popular.
Purple has been a very good colour over the last couple of seasons, especially for mackerel. It might look a bit strange to some people, but fish do not care what looks strange to us. They care about flash, contrast, movement and opportunity.
Other colours worth looking at are baitfish patterns like slimy mackerel, pilchard and yellowfin-style colours.
When choosing colours, think about the bait in your area.
If fish are feeding on slimies, run a slimy-style colour.
If they are feeding on pilchards, run a pilchard pattern.
If the water is dirty or the light is low, brighter colours can help the lure stand out.
The Samaki Pacemaker lure comes in enough colours that you can build a small spread without needing a huge box of lures.
When to Use This Lure Offshore
I would use this lure when trolling reef edges, bait schools, current lines, pressure points, wider grounds and areas where pelagics are likely to be hunting.
It is especially useful when you want to cover water.
You can put a couple of Pacemakers out and troll while looking for birds, bait, surface activity, current breaks or marks on the sounder.
This makes it a good lure for those mornings when you are not exactly sure where the fish are. Instead of sitting in one place doing nothing, you can keep moving and let the lures search for you.
The Samaki Pacemaker lure is also a good option when you only have a short window. If you only have a couple of hours in the morning, trolling a good spread of reliable lures gives you a real chance.
Common Mistakes When Trolling Deep Diving Lures
One mistake is using gear that is too light. Deep divers pull hard, and if your rod and reel are not up to it, trolling becomes a pain.
Another mistake is trolling too many lures too close together. If you are new to trolling, start with two lures and get them swimming properly before adding more.
Another common mistake is adding too much hardware in front of the lure. Heavy snaps, swivels and wire can all change the action.
The last mistake is not checking the lure. Even a good lure can pick up weed, a bit of plastic, or get fouled by its own hooks. If the rod tip stops pulsing properly, check the lure.
Final Thoughts on the Samaki Pacemaker Lure
The Samaki Pacemaker lure is a reliable deep diving trolling lure that deserves a place in an Aussie offshore tackle box.
It swims well straight out of the packet, handles speed better than many deep divers, and has proven itself on mackerel, tuna, wahoo, dolphin fish, cobia and other pelagics.
If you are heading offshore and want a lure that gives you confidence, this is a safe bet.
Run it on a solid trolling outfit, keep the leader simple, choose colours that match the bait, and do not overcomplicate the setup.
Sometimes fishing gear gets overhyped, but this lure has earned its place. It is simple, strong, effective and catches fish.
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