I A FISHING LURE TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a fishing lure. In particular, the invention is directed to a soft bodied fishing lure having slots along its sides to improve the ability of the lure to collapse when bitten by a predator and thereby expose a hook. BACKGROUND ART [0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an admission or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. [0003] In order to attract a predator fish, a fishing lure needs to simulate the appearance and action of a real bait fish. Soft bodied lures, commonly known simply as 'soft lures', have become popular as they imitate the disorientated and erratic movement of a wounded or pursued bait fish when pulled through the water and/or subjected to currents. [0004] A typical soft fishing lure comprises a flexible fish-shaped body through which a hook extends. The point of the hook is typically flush with an outer surface of the lure, such as the dorsal surface, or is slightly recessed below the surface. The hook is typically a wide gap fish hook which is substantially hidden in an internal chamber or cavity of the lure. [0005] The flexible nature of the soft lure allows the body of the lure to collapse when attacked by a predator fish, to thereby expose the point of the hook so that it pierces and snags the predator fish. [0006] Examples of such soft lures can be found in US patents nos. 6041540, 6266916, 7185457 and US patent application no. 20100115822. [0007] Although the known lures have generally proved effective, they are not always successful in hooking a fish. The likelihood that a predator fish will be securely hooked by the lure depends on the extent to which the point of the hook is exposed. Although known soft lures are collapsible to some degree, the solid bulk of the lure limits the extent to which it can collapse, and thereby limits the effectiveness of the lure. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0008] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a fishing lure which overcomes or ameliorates the disadvantage of the prior art or at least provides the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. [0009] In one broad form, the present invention provides a fishing lure having an elongate body of flexible material in the form of a bait, typically a fish, a prawn, squid or the like. The body has a dorsal (or top) side and opposite lateral sides, and a cavity located between the opposite lateral sides. The cavity is advantageously open to the underside of the body. The body may be painted to resemble the colouring of the bait it is intended to mimic. [0010] The body is preferably made of a soft, flexible plastics material having a rubber texture, and is typically made by thermo moulding. Suitable materials include polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), although any suitable material and manufacturing process may be used. [0011] In practice, the lure has a hook passing through the body so that the body is held on the hook. The hook has an eyelet at one end thereof which is located outside a leading end of the lure for attachment to a fishing line. The hook also has a pointed end portion orientated generally longitudinally relative to the body and located at the dorsal side of the body, either outside the body or in a longitudinal recess in the dorsal side of the body. [0012] The lure of this invention is characterised in that the body has at least one slot extending longitudinally in each lateral side thereof to facilitate collapsing of the body when clamped by the jaws of a predator fish. Preferably two slots are provided in each lateral side, but any suitable number of slots may be used, depending on the size of the lure. Optionally, one or more additional slots may be provided along the dorsal side of the body. [0013] The slots are preferably in the form of relatively thin slits extending through each lateral side of the lure, so that they do not detract from the bait-like appearance of the lure, yet enable the lure to collapse when clamped by the jaws of a predator fish. This exposes the pointed end portion of the hook to a greater degree and increases the likelihood of the predator fish being hooked. [0014] Alternatively, the slots may be grooves or longitudinal depressions in the body or other elongate weakened portions. [0015] The slots may be straight of curved, and may or may not be parallel. They extend longitudinally in each lateral side, but do not have to be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. It is sufficient if they extend generally along a longitudinal section of the body.
[0016] The slots should preferably extend a substantial distance along the length of the body, say at least 20% of the length of the body, and preferably be located at the thicker part of the body. [0017] One or more slots may also be provided along the dorsal surface. [0018] A weight may be advantageously attached to the hook between the eyelet and the pointed end portion, to facilitate casting and to prevent the hook getting caught on snags, rocks or weeds. [0019] In another broad form, the invention provides a soft fishing lure comprising a body of flexible plastic material in the form of a bait, and a hook passing through the body so that the body is attached to the hook, the hook having a pointed end portion adjacent an outer surface of the body in use, either alongside the body, slightly recessed therein, or spaced therefrom, characterised in that the body has weakened portions extending longitudinally therealong to facilitate collapsing of the body [0020] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0021] An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a fishing lure according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a top view of the lure of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an underside view of the lure of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective longitudinal sectional view of the lure of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the lure of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the lure of Figure 1 in its normal shape, and Figure 7 is a schematic side view of the lure of Figure 1 when compressed.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION [0022] As shown in the drawings, the lure 10 of the preferred embodiment comprises a body 11 in the shape of a bait fish having a head 12, a central portion 13 and a tail portion 14. The tail portion 14 comprises a relatively large flat tail orientated transversely to the longitudinal axis of the body 11, and joined to the body 11 by a relatively narrow connecting portion. This permits the tail portion 14 to wobble relative to the central part 13 of the body 11. [0023] Although not shown in the drawings, the body 11 may be painted to resemble the colouring of the bait fish which it is intended to mimic. [0024] The central portion 13 of the body 11 has a chamber or cavity 15. The cavity extends longitudinally in the central portion 13 of the body 11 (corresponding roughly to the gut and internal organs of a real bait fish). The cavity 15 is preferably open to the lower side of the body 11 (in the orientation shown in Fig. 1). [0025] A channel or bore 16 is formed in the head portion 12 of the body 11, to receive a hook 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The hook 20 has an eyelet 21 at one end thereof, and a pointed end portion 22 at its opposite end. The body 11 is held onto the hook 20 by threading the hook through the body 11. The pointed end 22 of the hook 20 is threaded through the bore 16 and the cavity 15, and then into a slotted opening 17 in the dorsal (or top) side of the body 11. In the rest position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hook extends through the head portion 12 and the cavity 15, and the pointed end portion is located along the dorsal surface of the body 11, or slightly recessed below that surface in the slot 17. However, the pointed end portion 22 may be spaced from the body 11. The eyelet 21 is located in front of the head portion 12 at the leading end of the body 11, for connection to a fishing line. [0026] A weight 23 may be suitably attached to the hook 20. The weight assists in maintaining the lure in a realistic upright position, and also assists in casting. The weight also shaped and positioned to help avoid the pointed end portion hooking onto snags, rocks and weeds. [0027] The lure 10 is a soft lure, and the body 11 typically comprises a flexible plastics material with a rubber-like texture. Materials for such soft lures are known in the art, and need not be described in detail in this specification. [0028] In use, as the lure 10 is pulled through the water or subjected to a current, the flat transverse tail portion 14 will cause the body 11 to 'wobble' and simulate the swimming action of a bait fish, or a struggling bait fish. [0029] The lure 10 is provided with a pair of slots 18 in each lateral side thereof, adjacent the cavity 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the slots 18 are relatively thin slits which extend through the lateral sides of the body 11 from the outside of the lure to the internal cavity 15. However, the slots 18 may alternatively be in the form of grooves or weakened areas extending longitudinally along the body 11. [0030] One or more additional slots (not shown) may be provided along the dorsal side of the body 11. [0031] The slots 18 should extend a substantial distance along the body, and typically more than about twenty per cent of the length of the body. [0032] The provision of the slots 18 allows the soft body lure 11 to compress far more easily along the transverse axes of the lure. The slots also allow the body 11 to compress more easily in the longitudinal direction as well. [0033] Upon the bite of a predator fish, the central part 13 of the lure 10 compresses more easily in the transverse directions than known lures of similar size and shape which do not have such slots. The compression or collapsing of the lure body 11 exposes the hook portion 22 to a greater degree, providing for a better hook-up. The compression or collapsing of the body 11 facilitated by the slots of the present invention also allows the lure to more easily enter the mouth of the predator fish. (Some fish will suck a lure into their mouths before clamping their jaws on the lure, while other species of fish will bite first) As the lure 10 can more easily collapse in the longitudinal direction as well, it is able to enter the fish's mouth more easily than a soft lure of similar size and shape without such slots, since the tail portion 14 of the lure can fold towards the head 12 (or the head of the lure can fold towards the tail). [0034] The compression or collapsing of the body of the lure thereby exposes the hook portion 22 to a greater extent, increasing the likelihood of hooking the predator fish. [0035] In the present specification and claims, the word 'comprising' and its derivatives including 'comprises' and 'comprise' include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. [0036] Reference throughout this specification to 'one embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or 'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. [0037] The invention has been described with reference to an embodiment thereof. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described, but only by the appended claims. Modifications or variations may be made to the illustrated embodiment within the scope of the invention. [0038] For example, the body 11 may be in the form of a prawn, squid or other suitable bait. The pointed end 22 of the hook 20 may be located at the bottom or lateral side of the body, either alongside the body, recessed therein, or spaced therefrom.