Saltwater predator fish tend to eat certain baitfish that are available at the time they are there so it kind of changes the game when lures are used because you’ll need the knowledge to attract the species of fish you desire to catch. Saltwater Lures are all different and unique for each fish, location, and time you fish them. What are the best lures you should use for Saltwater fishing?
Use a Saltwater Lure that is close to the appearance & presentation of baitfish that are available in the location that the predator fish are used to eating, drawn to them using their senses of vibration, scent, or attracted by colors, movement, & visual curiosity.
There is something about the use of Lures in Salt or Freshwater that completes an Angler’s knowledge of the sport of Fishing Natural baits have their place but hit and chase of the artificial lure provides the ultimate satisfaction of hunting down predator fish.
Best Saltwater Fishing Lures
When inshore fishing gets going you want to be on top of the game with the best lures to nail the species like Redfish, Snook, and Flounder as they become available. You want to be throwing what the fish have been eating like shrimp all winter long.
Bay fish eat what’s available in the winter and baitfish aren’t available until the water temperatures start to pick up.
Mostly working off scent inshore fish will hit on artificial lures that contain scent during late Spring when they start to make a transition to baitfish but before the baitfish become available to them. Soft Silicone Prawn Shrimp come in sets of 5 or 6 and will catch Bay fish early in the season.
These great imitation-type lures like the Jammas 5Pcs Red Fish Bait Soft Silicone Prawn Shrimp Fishing Lure With Hook create life-like swimming actions in water. Smooth and rapid diving action is available through Amazon.
Paddle tails Soft Lures
- Lifelike design: Natural fish-shaped crankbait outlines bright colors and is lifelike, effectively attracting hungry fish in freshwater and seawater and triggering their attacks.
- Portable and soft plastic: small and soft, easy to carry. They are soft and tough, durable, and easy to use. If you are new to bass fishing, this is your ticket. Regardless of conditions, time, or location.
- Used in Salt and Freshwater
- Paddle Tails artificial baits are great and used in late summer or early fall in any color water and are very realistic prop fished bottom or top and fast and slow retrieve with a weedless option.
- Excellent saltwater lures for performance, presentation, and movement in the water: shaking, shaking, undulating, undulating when falling into the water, and standing upright when falling into the water. Jump, if you drag it along the bottom, it will slide like a baitfish. Imagine how many fish you will catch when fishing with these baits. They will produce fish. Especially Paddle Tails Lures in the 3-4 inch range.
Best Fishing Saltwater Lures For Pier Fishing
Fish swimming near saltwater piers like Spanish Maceral and Bluefish have an attraction to shiny objects. One shiny Lure, in particular, is the Gotcha Plug. These saltwater fishing lures work great for pier fishing because they can cast far and cover a lot of water. It is pretty simple to use, give the lure a cast and twitch it all the way back.
If you want to join in the fun, give a Gotcha Lure a try next time you are at the pier. Plugs like these don’t create many actions by themselves but the angler when retrieving it can get it to jerk from the left to the right movement which will attract fish.
This great Saltwater Lure has a long body and shiny finish that larger predator fish will come running. It has some good casting weight so you’ll be able to reach far-out places and when you retrieve the Lure acts like a wounded baitfish that will bring in Blue or Mackeral.
Known mostly as a technique for fishing deep water off a Head Boat miles out in the ocean or a freshwater lake, pier position on top of the surface the technique of Jigging allows you to catch Big fish with less gear and when done right can bring big success offshore or even some pulling movements that can be used onshore for beach and surf fishing. What are some Jigging Fishing Techniques? Read my article on MyWaterEarth&Sky called Jigging Fishing Techniques
Best Saltwater Lures for Ocean Night Fishing
Most saltwater ocean fish are active at night as long as they’re hungry but they have to see or hear what bait or artificial bait they are interested in. Sea Bass Blues, Snook Tarpon, or Redfish. In fact, those fish will be in the same spots and areas in saltwater at night.
If you do find fish in a certain area but they won’t feed it could be that they are gorged and already had their fill. Those feeding patterns won’t change so figure it out and show up at dinnertime night or day. Navigate docks or lights that are on the water during your day fishing and chances are when you come back at dark the fish will be active in those spots.
Lights that are on at regular times in evening hours won’t spook fish because they are used to them shining on the surface of the water. Baitfish will become active then predator fish will come in to feed on baitfish. If you’re using a headlamp that is what may spook fish because it’s unnatural to them and random. Keep your headlamp in your kayak or boat or turn your back to the water to set up your fishing line. Lure selection at night is different than in the daytime. Fish at night depend more on:
- Scent
- Vibration
- Sound
As opposed to relying on the sense of sight. So if you are fishing at night one of these controls should be at play in your Saltwater Lure selection and the same for Freshwater Lure selection. The paddle Tails that we talked about earlier will work at night only sized bigger with a longer tail for increasing sound and vibration. This bigger disturbance will help predator fish notice it more in the water.
Color is not as critical as it would be in the daytime. Try something about 5 inches to maximize the effect. This Super Spook Topwater bait has a killer presence at night in Salt or Freshwater. Predators often strike looking up at top baitfish leaving them no place to run to and facing the surface gives the added advantage of moonlight as a backdrop for the hunter. On that same point, the color gold needs less moonlight to create a flash on or in water.
- White Bucktail– White bucktails have been around and used for saltwater fishing for a long time, and they still work great up to date.
- Super Spook Top Water-Super Spook Saltwater Fishing Lure 7/8 Ounce 5 Inch Rattle Bone X925614 Top Fishing Lure.
- Ben Parker 8″ Magnum Flutter Spoon Gold Shattered Glass Fishing Lure –
Top Saltwater Lures for Surf Fishing
Much like the experience of catching a Largemouth Bass with a rubber worm, you can get the same rush from using artificial baits on Saltwater right off the surf. Takes to the air shaking the lure trying to disengage it from its mouth. It’s a great thrill of fishing with a Saltwater artificial lure.
Baitfish travel along the edge of the coastal waters where predators wait between breakers in holes swimming sideways along troughs in front or behind breakers and waiting for dinners.
My best experiences are using artificial lures for saltwater fish to retrieve them and having a Striper or Blue chase them down right off the beach. I’m from Jersey so I’m a little biased Surf fishing is the most exciting type of fishing, especially with artificial baits, soft plastics, and a topwater lure. Some of the best lures for Surf Fishing are:
- Diamond Jigs– a great saltwater fishing lure heavy 1-4 0z. enough to hold water that day and the colored plastic tail is also a daily choice so stop in the nearest local tackle shop before hitting the beach that day and ask what’s the best color jig and how much weight to use. This jig is awesome to cast and can cover a great distance if you know how to cast it.
- Spoons– Gold is always a good choice in saltwater metal spoons that are a staple for any saltwater fisherman. Large metallic spoons are meant to resemble most baitfish, making them a great lure to attract a variety of fish in the ocean.
- Heddon Zara Spook Topwater Plug- are heavy enough and can attract predators to the surface resemble most baitfish and come in assorted colors making them a favorite and the best successful saltwater lure at Jersey shore beaches.
For many years fishermen along the coast of both sides of the ocean and the Gulf have known that the best days and times to fish are at high or low tides along with Moon Phases, and other information that can be taken from high-tech instruments and weather stations that are located miles out on the ocean or from Lunar Calendars bought at the tackle store. What is the best Moon Phase for Fishing? Read my article on MyWaterEarth&Sky called Best Moon Phases For Saltwater Fishing
JimGalloway Author/Editor
