Saltwater Fishing Lures: A Beginner’s Guide

Are you ready to take on our amazing saltwater fishing spots? Having the appropriate lures in your tackle box can be the difference between coming home empty-handed or with dinner.

But stepping into a tackle store as a rookie can be intimidating. Shelves stacked with brightly colored lures, every one of them claiming to be the “ultimate fish magnet,” can leave you wondering and lighter in your wallet. Here’s the scoop: you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg or carry around a tackle box that weighs more than your catch. A handful of good lures for saltwater and some basic know-how are enough to fish like a pro.

What Are the Best Lures for Saltwater Fishing? 

Spoons: Your Unwavering Workhorses

If you’re going to invest in just one saltwater lure, make it spoons. These simple, curved pieces of metal have been fooling fish for decades and work astonishingly well in saltwaters. The time-tested silver spoon imitation of baitfish cannot be beat, and gold spoons are lethal on cloudy days or in slightly murky water.

For saltwater fishing, bring a variety of sizes – from 2-inch models for small fish to 4-inch spoons for big predators like salmon and striped bass. Cast them out, allow them to drop a bit, then retrieve with a steady wobbling motion. The best feature about spoons is how simple they are to work – even an inexperienced angler can work them efficiently right off the bat.

Jigs: Bottom Bouncers with Versatility

Jigs are probably the most versatile saltwater fishing lures you can carry in your tackle box. These skirted or soft plastic-bodied weighted hooks will mimic everything from injured baitfish to bottom dwellers. White, chartreuse, and pink jigs are also effective in lakes and rivers.

The jig fishing secret is presentation. Have your jig hit bottom and raise and drop the tip of your rod and reel slowly. This “hop and drop” is frustrating to fish as it looks like injured bait trying to escape. Start with 1/4 to 1/2 oz jigs for most situations and add weight for deeper water or strong currents.

Soft Plastics: The Great Imitators

Soft plastic lures are a game changer for fishing because they feel real to the fish’s mouth when biting. Grubs, shrimp imitations, and paddle-tail swimbaits are all excellent choices for saltwater fishing. The softness provides a better hold by the fish, giving you more time to set the hook.

Try soft plastic rigged on jig heads for versatility or rigged on Carolina rigs when you want to fish near the bottom. Natural colors like white, clear, and brown work well in clear water, while brighter colors like chartreuse and hot pink can work well in low light or murky conditions.

Spinners: Flash and Vibration

Spinners create flash and vibration that will elicit strikes from aggressive fish. The spinning blade creates a commotion that fish can feel using their lateral line system, hence becoming effective even in murky water or when fish are not hungry.

For saltwater use, choose spinners with corrosion-free components. Silver and gold blades are classic options, but consider painted blades in pastel shades, too. Retrieve spinners steadily to keep the spinning blade, varying speed until you figure out what the fish prefer.

Reading the Waters

Saltwater fishing presents unique challenges and opportunities. Cold water tends to keep fish deeper and less active, so you will have to work lures more slowly than in warm water. Tidal movement is key – fish will feed most vigorously at tide changes when baitfish are being driven around.

Look for structure like rocky points, drop-offs, and weed beds. Fish ambush their prey there, and that’s where your lures must be working. Don’t be afraid to allow your lures to get close to structure – the fish are hiding there.

Essential Techniques for Success

• Color choice is the make-or-break feature of your day. Begin with subtle colors in clear water and shiny, flashy colors in dirty water or cloudy conditions. When in doubt, silver and white cannot be beat in saltwater.
• Experiment with a retrieval speed and rhythm change until you find what works. Some days fish like a fast, erratic retrieve that mimics fleeing baitfish. Others like a slow, steady presentation. Don’t be stuck in one pattern all day.
• Move your lures up and down through the water column. Fish can become suspended at different depths based on conditions, so experiment with different retrieval depths until you start getting bites.

Putting Together Your Starter Kit

You don’t need dozens of baits to start. A starter kit of saltwater fishing lures can be a couple of spoons in assorted sizes and colors, a few jigs tipped with soft plastic trailers, a couple of spinners, and an assortment of soft plastics. Focus on tried-and-true patterns in natural colors, and add specialty baits as you develop experience and know what works in your local waters.

Keep in mind that the greatest lures are those that you have confidence in and are skilled at using. Practice a few simple techniques with your fishing rod, and you’ll catch more fish than the fellow with a tackle box full of costly equipment he does not comprehend.