Guide to Artificial Bait Presentation

There is nothing like soaking up the sun with your hook on the water, tasting the salt on your lips, and basking in the thrill of that tug on your line. If you’re a dedicated angler, you live for that moment when your line tugs you realize that you have a bite on your saltwater soft plastic lures. Of course, we assume you’re using artificial bait. If you aren’t, here is why you should be using them and some tips for using saltwater lures.

Benefits of Artificial Lures

When deciding on a bait to use, you need to consider the pros of what you plan on using, as well as how to negate the possible downfalls.

Cost

The cost of live bait can be expensive, although this will vary based on the type of bait you use per piece. Using artificial lures can be a lot more cost-effective. Because artificial lures are reusable and less likely to be eaten right off the hook, you won’t go through as much bait every time you fish. You might end up staying out longer and bringing more fish home as a result without needing to re-bait more than a few times throughout the day.

Reduces Chance of Hooking Non-target Fish

When using artificial lures, you want to match the type of lure to what you are trying to catch. The level of specificity needed to catch target fish will also lower the chances of you catching non-target fish. If you are trying to catch large fish and using a large artificial lure, then your chances of catching small fish are unlikely.

No Special Storage

If you use live bait, you have to keep it in an aerated container or livewell where it remains cool and the bait can breathe. With artificial bait, you don’t need to have any extra equipment to haul around or worry about whether they’ve died in storage. You just keep saltwater lures with all your other fishing equipment and they will be there waiting for you.

Choosing Your Saltwater Lures

If you decide to use an artificial lure rather than live bait, then you definitely need to know what kind of lure you want and how to pick the ones that will benefit you the most. Here are some of the factors that impact your lure choice the most.

Know What You Are Trying To Catch

If you don’t know what you are trying to catch when saltwater fishing, then you won’t know what kind of artificial lure you need to use. This is because you want your lures to look like food to your target fish.

One example of this is snook. If your target fish is snook, then you will want to use lures that resemble their usual prey like this. Knowing what you want to catch and taking the time to select your artificial lures based on their food source will not only increase your chance of catching them but also decrease your chance of catching unwanted fish.

Match Your Lure To The Conditions

One of the most important things to consider when choosing your lure is the conditions of the water you plan on fishing, as well as the weather conditions. If you are fishing on a bright day in crystal clear waters, then light-colored saltwater lures are ideal. However, at night or on overcast days, you want to stick with bright or dark-colored saltwater lures. If you plan on using metallic lures, use silver for sunny and gold for gloomy days. One exception to this rule is black lures. Black lures will work in any conditions to draw a fish’s keen attention.

What Lures Work Best For Saltwater Fishing

Artificial lures are ideal for saltwater fishing, more so than live bait, because they are more durable. Because of the conditions that exist in bodies of saltwater, you need something that can stand up to the stronger current and the beating it can take. Saltwater soft plastics are less rigid and more able to absorb impact without breaking and becoming unusable.

Types of Saltwater Lures

Here are some different types of artificial saltwater lures to help you find what’s right for you.

Grubs

Grubs are an incredibly versatile lure and can be bought in packs. They work best when used with the right size jig head and used in fresh and saltwater.

Chuggers

Our pre-rigged chugger heads come in a variety of holographic colors and feature a heavy-duty skirt that reduces debris accumulation while optimizing movement. Great for trolling for Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Barracuda, Marlin, Sailfish and more. 

Jiggin’ Dipper

These, like the grubs, are great for saltwater and freshwater fishing. Use in saltwater to catch fish like Striped Bass, Red Snapper, Snook, and Flounder to name a few. 

These are just a small example of the amazing selection we carry. A large number of our product pages offer information on the fish each lure is geared towards. So you can spend less time researching and more time doing.

Saltwater Fishing Tips For Using Lures

What guide would be complete without some helpful tips?

1. Google a tide forecast before each trip. The tides play a huge role in how fish act, and how your lures move. Knowing what the tides are doing will help you plan accordingly.
2. Try different lures. Try as many lures as you want to find what works for you. Each person has their own way of fishing and sometimes using soft bait does not work as well. 
3. Bring extras of everything. Always bring an extra or two of your essential equipment. This means line, swivels, lures, etc. Nothing ruins a fishing trip quicker than having to turn around and go buy more line or tackle..
4. Chat with us. If you have questions about our products, don’t hesitate to ask.

Whether you are looking for kits, nets, lures, lines, rigs, or almost anything else you may need for your next fishing adventure, Rite Angler has it. We specialize in artificial lures, including saltwater soft plastics. Visit our website to check out our specialized kits if you’re unsure what to buy to keep on your game this year.