📌 What you’ll learn in this article
✅ Features and size lineup of the Amazon Spook
✅ How to use it for catfish (namazu) fishing
✅ What sets it apart from other pencil baits
✅ Where and how to buy one
🔎 Bottom line
A versatile pencil bait that handles many species with a single lure. Its biggest weapon is the dive action you won’t find on other pencils, which triggers fish that ignore a standard walk-the-dog.
If you can’t decide on a size, start with the 95mm Junior. From catfish and sea bass to snakehead and exotic monsters, one lure dramatically expands what you can target.
If you can’t decide on a size, start with the 95mm Junior. From catfish and sea bass to snakehead and exotic monsters, one lure dramatically expands what you can target.
🎣 What is the Bombada Agua Amazon Spook?
A heavy-duty pencil bait from Bombada Agua. It physically rebuilds the strengths of a 50-year-old classic pencil and equips it with high-strength oversized split rings, covering everything from exotic monster fish to familiar nearshore targets. I use it mainly for catfish fishing, and my most-used size is the Original (110mm / approx. 25g). Reference price: around 2,000–3,300 JPY (incl. tax). It varies by store, color, and season, so check the latest price at each shop when you buy.Link
🎬 In-depth video with Tel-san from Bombada Agua
In this video, Tel-san — the founder of Bombada Agua — personally breaks down the design philosophy and action of the Amazon Spook. Watch it before you buy and you’ll immediately see what makes this lure special.
📏 Size lineup
| Model | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 🟡 Puppy | 80mm | approx. 10g |
| 🟢 Junior | 95mm | approx. 15g |
| 🔵 Original | 110mm | approx. 25g |
| 🔴 Magnum | 140mm | approx. 50g |
💡 For catfish across Japan, I recommend the 95mm Junior. The size fits almost any area. A versatile size you can handle easily on ML–M tackle. If you’re unsure, start with the Junior.
⚡ The biggest selling point: varied dive action
The standout feature of this lure is an action range you can’t sum up in a single word. Most pencil baits are built around a surface-skating walk-the-dog. The Amazon Spook does that too, but adds an excellent dive action on top. That dive is what flips the switch in fish. Even when fish are inactive and ignoring walk-the-dog, mixing in dives has produced bites for me many times.
🔥 The dive action is what sets it apart from every other pencil. Once you have it, you can’t go back.
📝 My honest impression after real use
Before I threw it, I had the mental image that “a pencil = walk-the-dog only.” After using the Amazon Spook, that belief was completely rewritten.
With just a flick of the rod tip, you can switch between a surface-skating slide, a light-diving head shake, and a full-on long dive. It’s a one-of-a-kind lure that works like a popper or a minnow depending on how you work it. It feels like you’re operating the lure by hand. Reeling lures give you the feeling of “getting caught,” but with the Amazon Spook you get the feeling of “catching” — because you’re making it move to get the bite.
After I realized that, the Amazon Spook has never left my lure case. I keep 10+ as rotation/backup, and across all sizes I probably own around 20 (haha).
What surprised me even more was the species range. I was targeting catfish, yet I landed sea bass, snakehead, yellowfin porgy, and Korean bullhead on it. Having just one in your box dramatically expands the fields you can fish.
🐟 Fish I’ve caught on the Amazon Spook
Even beyond catfish, one lure can cover this many species.
🐟 Barramundi
🐟 Sea bass
🐟 Korean bullhead (Puppy 80mm)
🐟 Snakehead
🐟 Yellowfin porgy (kibire)
👍 Pros
A wide range of actions on tap. Walk-the-dog, dive, splash — you can match conditions with one lure, which cuts down on lure changes. On top of that, the oversized split rings and a sturdy body give it a high-strength build that shrugs off violent catfish strikes and monster-class fights.👎 Cons
If I had to pick one: few tackle shops carry it. You rarely run into it in stores, so if you want one for sure, buying online is the way to go.Link
✅ Summary
🎯 For anyone who wants to catch many species with one pencil bait
🎯 For anyone who wants to break through situations where walk-the-dog alone won’t get bites
🎯 For anyone who wants to cover everything from catfish to monster fish with one lure
From catfish and bass to sea bass, snakehead, and exotic monsters — one pencil covers a huge range of species. Its walk-the-dog plus dive action flips the switch on fish regardless of the target. Keep one in your lure box and you’ll have a dependable go-to wherever you fish.
Link
📖 Related articles
- 🔗 Gamakatsu Treble SP/RB Series Review — Hook pairing for the Amazon Spook
- 🔗 Bombada Agua Packrod Series Review — Travel rod from the same brand
- 🔗 Studio Ocean Mark Hook Remover HR165S Review — The fastest way to unhook a catfish
