GT-BIO

GT-BIO at Charlie's Fishing: the lead-free Roller Shad softbait for sea bass

GT-BIO is a lure brand from Portugal: its lures are developed and produced there by anglers, with a clear focus on responsible materials such as phthalate-free soft bodies, compounds free of endocrine disruptors and lead-free weights. Its best-known product is the Roller Shad, a modular softbait system in which head, body and hook are interchangeable. At Charlie's Fishing we stock the GT-BIO Roller Shad 85, the size GT-BIO made for light fishing from the bank or a boat. Below you find what it is for and how it is rigged.

GT-BIO Roller Shad 85: a rolling paddle tail on a lead-free head

The Roller Shad has an extra soft body formula that is flexible and tough at the same time, so it swims with a natural rolling action and strong vibrations while holding up well to bites. GT-BIO's colour technology gives very natural patterns: the belly lights up in the sun and shifts colour against the light. Each pack of the GT-BIO Roller Shad 85 holds 2 bodies, a weedless hook and an 8 g jig head, in the colours Ghost Shiner and Black Mullet. GT-BIO designed the 85 for a light, balanced presentation; we see it first of all as a sea bass lure for harbours, estuaries and the coast, and it also works for zander, perch and trout in fresh water. See all Seabass Softbaits and Paddle Tails.

GT-BIO Easy Rig System: ZAMAK jig head and Extra Wide Gap hook

The jig head is made of ZAMAK, a lead-free alloy of zinc with aluminium, magnesium and copper. The hook is an Extra Wide Gap hook that GT-BIO developed specially for the Roller Shad, with 4x strength for the biggest fish; the wide gape and very sharp point give an easy and safe hook-up. Rigging is quick thanks to the Easy Rig System: a one-piece hitch wire and a support pin fix the body firmly to the head, and that hitch wire together with the strong hook forms a direct, strong link between your line and the fish. Because head, body and hook are separate parts, you swap a torn body in seconds and keep fishing. Read our review in Review on the GT-BIO fishing lures series for sea bass fishing.

GT-BIO and bio-friendly fishing

GT-BIO applies several concepts to make the Roller Shad bio-friendly: a lead-free jig head, a phthalate-free body that is free of endocrine disruptors, an arsenic-free lure, packaging that is easy to recycle and sustainable production in the EU. On rocky coasts and mussel beds, where the odd head gets lost, a lead-free head is a sensible choice.

Which GT-BIO softbait for which situation

• Sea bass in harbours, estuaries and along the coast: Roller Shad 85 on its 8 g head with a steady retrieve.
• Shallow water with weed or rocks: fish the weedless set just above the bottom.
• Clear water and bright days: the natural Ghost Shiner.
• Coloured water and low light: the darker Black Mullet.
• Zander, perch and trout in fresh water: the same set at a slow pace with short lifts. See Seabass, Zander, Perch and Trout.

Why buy GT-BIO at Charlie's Fishing

We keep the GT-BIO Roller Shad in stock in the Netherlands, so it ships from our own stock with fast delivery across Europe, and we are happy to advise you on colour and rigging for your spot. Looking for a present for an angler? Have a look at the Charlie's Fishing Giftbox, a handpicked mix of lures and tackle.

Where does GT-BIO come from?

GT-BIO is a brand from Portugal. Its lures are developed and produced there, with lead-free weights and phthalate-free soft bodies.

What is in a pack of the GT-BIO Roller Shad 85?

Two Roller Shad 85 bodies, a weedless hook and an 8 g lead-free ZAMAK jig head, assembled with the Easy Rig System.

Is the GT-BIO Roller Shad only for sea bass?

No. GT-BIO made it for sea bass and other coastal predators, but the 85 size also catches zander, perch and trout in fresh water.