7 Essential Saltwater Fishing Lures That Catch Fish Anywhere

The 7 Essential Saltwater Fishing Lures

While we can’t guarantee that all of these fishing lures will catch every saltwater fish species in every location and circumstance, here’s what we can guarantee –any one of these 7 saltwater fishing lures will work in your favorite fishing destination on all 7 continents. Each lure that we feature here can catch and baitfish in freshwater lakes and large freshwater bodies, particularly pike or largemouth bass.

1.     Paddletail Soft Plastic

We’re starting out our list strong with the paddletail soft plastic. This type of lure has a number of advantages over hard bodied lures such as crank baits and spoons, as the soft plastic has the soft texture as real food. Due to the fact that it feels so natural, fish will mouth it longer, which gives the angler extra time to set the hook.

Having said this, this versatile lure’s greatest strength is probably the fact that it can cover so many different water depths. When rigged on a jig head, it can cover water in as shallow as 10 inches with a tip-up fast retrieve, but can also target depths of 5 or more feet by putting the rod tip down and slowing down the retrieve.

2.     Gold Spoon

We’ve all heard of the gold spoon, with this lure being a staple in most fisherman’s tackleboxes. But why does the gold spoon produce so many fish? This comes down to the fact that it gives the fish what they all are searching for - the gold spoon is the approximate color and shape that resembles the baitfish that they regularly consume. Plus, the irregular movement makes them think they are witnessing a wounded baitfish, ripe for the plucking. Spoons are also easy to cast, won’t snag in weeds and can easily be skipped into hard to reach spaces.

3.     Berkley Gulp! Shrimp

It’s not exactly difficult to convince a saltwater fish to eat a shrimp - and the Berkley Gulp live Shrimp are some of the best artificial ones out there. These fishing lures not only look like real shrimp, but they feel and smell like real shrimp too, which is perfect for tricking your targets. The Berkley Gulp Shrimp are durable and long lasting, while still being less expensive than most other lures of their kind. Plus, with the extreme scent dispersion of Gulp! Products, you’ll be able to expand your strike zone, allowing you to catch even more!

4.     Bucktail

If you’re a fan of the bucktail, you may not have eyes for any other type of lure - and we understand why. The bucktail can be used to catch a multitude of prey, in a variety of conditions, and in a variety of ways. This type of lure enjoys many advantages over other lures, including the fact that it’s created for casting, trolling and vertical jigging.

It can create a ton of movement in the water as the result of vigorous rod-tip action, or it can be left to slowly float through the water at a relaxed pace. These fishing lures come in various colors, with prey focusing on its eye-catching tail. Plus, the bucktail lure can be tipped with bait to make it even more alluring.

5.     Top Water Lure/Popper

We have to admit, it’s super satisfying to see a fish attacking a top water lure. It’s a huge advantage to be able to see top water lures and surface bait being pulled on and eaten. Not only do you get to watch a full strike occur right before your eyes, but you’ll be able to gather more information on the circumstances surrounding it (how the water moves, how the bait works, etc.). Top water lures can be used year-round and in a variety of conditions, making them truly versatile.

6.     Soft Plastic Fluke (Jerkbait)

This simple, yet highly effective lure can truly attract a fish’s attention anywhere, and is one of the best lures out there to catch both freshwater and saltwater fish. The fluke is one of the most versatile lures you can buy, with the ability to fish close to the top, weedless, or with the help of a weighted hook to fish a bit lower. The fluke (or soft jerk bait) comes in many different shapes and sizes, with the quality varying from company to company. What we do know for sure is, you’ll definitely want to keep a collection of them in your tackle box.

7.     MirrOlure Suspending Twitchbait

The benefit of this particular twitchbaits are the fact that they’ve been designed to mimic a glass minnow, which, when alive, are one of your saltwater prey’s favorite treats. Twitchbaits come in a variety of shapes and colors and are truly versatile. They can be fished in different conditions and in a variety of depths. Plus, the MirrOlure Suspending Twitchbait is particularly lifelike - they not only feature luminescent inserts with life-like 3D eyes, but they rattle to call the attention of your prey.

Fish All Over the World with These 7 Lures

Aren’t you glad that you’re not going to need to lug around your entire tacklebox to fish in saltwater anywhere in the world? With these 7 essential saltwater fishing lures, you’ll be able to catch fish pretty much anywhere. Of course, not all 7 of these will work in every location, on every fish in the world, every time. But more often than not, at least one of these lures will make your fishing trip a successful one. We hope the information above will help you choose the right lure for you - and if you want to be totally covered, we definitely recommend you add all 7 of them to your collection!