Nomad Design Dartwing Floating 165mm — Spanish Mackerel
165mm surface stickbait. Long casts, hard walk-the-dog action, BKK terminals. The Spanish Mackerel colourway for namesake species work.
Editorial
The Dartwing Floating 165 is the long-cast surface stickbait in Nomad's lineup — narrower body profile than the Riptide, tuned for distance and hard walk-the-dog action.
165 millimetres, 40 grams, BKK inline single hooks at both points. The Dartwing's name describes its profile: dart-shaped, narrow-shouldered, designed to cut through wind and travel further than a fatter-bodied lure of the same weight. The Spanish Mackerel colourway is one of eight active colours in the current lineup — silver-flanked, blue-backed, sized to mimic juvenile Spanish mackerel.
Designed and tested in Australia by the Nomad Sportfishing Team out of Queensland.
Why It Matters
A surface stickbait that casts a long way changes the geometry of the day. Schooling fish move; the lure that lands among them rather than near them gets bitten. The Dartwing's narrow profile sacrifices some surface-displacement compared to wider bodies but adds casting distance — the right tradeoff when fish are at range or wind is up. The 165 size handles Spanish mackerel-class fish on PE 3–4.
Best For
- Spanish mackerel and Spotty mackerel surface schools
- Spotted mackerel on the run
- Longtail tuna in chop
- Schoolies (yellowfin) on the surface at distance
- Windy-day casting where distance matters more than splash
Technical Snapshot
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 165mm |
| Weight | 40g |
| Depth / Water Column | Surface |
| Action | Floating Surface Skipping — erratic side-to-side dart on straight retrieve; walk-the-dog on twitches |
| Hooks Fitted | BKK Diablo 5X Singles (inline); 3/0 doubles on belly + 4/0 inline single on tail (per Fishing Station spec sheet) |
| Body construction | Gorilla Through Wire, HD ABS, inline super-strong singles |
| Colour availability — 165mm Floating | Black Pink Mackerel, Coral Trout, Fireball Red Head, Fusilier, Holo Ghost Shad, Sardine, Silver Green Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel |
| SKU (Black Pink Mackerel, for reference) | NOM-0009-1 / UPC 9351482001117 (TackleDirect) |
| Target species per retailer | GT, queenfish, tuna, mackerel, wahoo, mahi mahi, tailor, coral trout, salmon |
Collector / Field Notes
Eight active colourways in the 165 Floating lineup as of current research. The Dartwing family includes 70, 90, 125, 130, 165, and 220 millimetre sizes — the 165 sits in the middle, paired most often with PE 3–4 spinning gear. Two related Dartwing variants exist: the Long Cast Sinking (a different action profile) and a Topwater designation in some sizes. Construction matches the broader Nomad spec — HD-ABS body, Matrix Metal Plate, Gorilla Through Wire, Triple Shield finish.
FAQ
How is the Dartwing different from the Riptide?
The Dartwing has a narrower, dart-shaped body designed for casting distance. The Riptide is wider and produces more surface displacement. Different tools for different conditions — Dartwing for distance and wind, Riptide for closer-range and finicky fish.
What does the Spanish Mackerel colourway target?
Silver-flanked, blue-backed pattern sized to mimic juvenile Spanish mackerel — both the prey species and the target species for many anglers. Effective on Spanish mackerel, Spotty, longtail, and yellowfin.
What's the action profile?
Hard walk-the-dog on a continuous twitch. The narrow body produces sharper directional changes than the wider Riptide — a more aggressive surface action. Slow on the pause; the lure floats but doesn't rest level.
What weight and hooks does it carry?
40 grams total weight. BKK inline singles factory-fitted at both points (size 3/0 typically — verify current spec).
What other Dartwing sizes are available?
70mm, 90mm, 125mm, 130mm (Long Cast Sinking variant), 165mm, and 220mm. Smaller sizes target inshore species; larger sizes target heavier offshore work.
Sources
Frequently Asked
- How is the Dartwing different from the Riptide?
- The Dartwing has a narrower, dart-shaped body designed for casting distance. The Riptide is wider and produces more surface displacement. Different tools for different conditions — Dartwing for distance and wind, Riptide for closer-range and finicky fish.
- What does the Spanish Mackerel colourway target?
- Silver-flanked, blue-backed pattern sized to mimic juvenile Spanish mackerel — both the prey species and the target species for many anglers. Effective on Spanish mackerel, Spotty, longtail, and yellowfin.
- What's the action profile?
- Hard walk-the-dog on a continuous twitch. The narrow body produces sharper directional changes than the wider Riptide — a more aggressive surface action. Slow on the pause; the lure floats but doesn't rest level.
- What weight and hooks does it carry?
- 40 grams total weight. BKK inline singles factory-fitted at both points (size 3/0 typically — verify current spec).
- What other Dartwing sizes are available?
- 70mm, 90mm, 125mm, 130mm (Long Cast Sinking variant), 165mm, and 220mm. Smaller sizes target inshore species; larger sizes target heavier offshore work.
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