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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? 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. 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.  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.. 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.

Did you know that the first ever evidence of recreational fishing goes back to the 15th century? That means that for over 600 years, people have been catching fish and perfecting the art of angling for fun! Neither recreational nor survival fishing would be what it is without the invention of fishing swivels, so here is your guide to learning more about them!  Different Types of Fishing Swivels Differences aside, a fishing swivel is basically two or more rings connected to a point of pivot. This means that when in use the ring connected to the main fishing line moves independently from the ring connected to the lure, or bait, and hook.   The major benefit of this system is that it helps prevent tangles in the line and the problems caused by a twisted line. There are different styles of swivels that are beneficial in different circumstances. Here are five of the most commonly used fishing swivels and when they can be most useful. Barrel Swivel  A Barrel Swivel is the most recognizable of the swivels available and features a simple ring-pivot-ring design. This is a great ‘standard’ swivel to use in just about any situation and what many swivels stem from design-wise.  Ball-bearing Swivels  Ball-bearing swivels are great for use with larger fish. They’re also known as load swivels and work well under large load weights. This way, when you are reeling in a big catch your line will be less likely to twist and snap. The barrel swivel and ball-bearing swivel will likely cover all of your saltwater fishing needs. Snap Swivels  While other swivels connect line-to-line, snap swivels do not. They’re great for changing out lures quickly without having to cut the previous one loose and re-tying the new one on. Because the lure attaches directly to the swivel, it allows for more movement of the bait which attracts plenty of attention from the fish! Three-way Swivels If you are an avid angler, you’ll eventually want more than one lure in the water at a time to increase the likelihood of a bite while minimizing the number of poles in the water. When using a three-way swivel, it is a good idea to stagger the two lines in the water at different lengths or depths. You’ll cover more area and the hooks will be less likely to get tangled together  Hybrid Swivels While not necessarily a ‘type’ of swivel, it is important to note that there are hybrid style swivels–like the ball-bearing snap swivel– that are great for heavier loads and quick lure changes. If one specific kind of swivel isn’t working exactly how you want, it’s worth trying out a combo swivel. Regardless of your preference, Rite Angler has a huge variety of different types of fishing swivels for you to choose from. Our products aren’t limited to just swivels! We have just about everything you need to make the most of your angling adventures. 

If You Love Bacon and Ceviche, This Killer Sinuglaw Recipe Is For You No matter if you’ve loaded up the freezer with yellowfin this spring, or you’re still slaying the blackfin now, this tuna Sinuglaw recipe is a must try. While it tastes best with fresh caught tuna, you can thaw out any tuna you already have to prepare this smoky, fatty, and tart dish in a jiff. But… Since there’s no replacement for fresh caught tuna, you may need to head offshore to catch some… and It’s well worth it! Here’s how we catch ‘em: We troll a five-line spread of Tuna Darts. Four lines on the riggers and one shotgun. We put the short rigger lines back 75 and 100 feet, with the long riggers out 150 and 200 feet. Our shotgun line goes waaaay back. At least 300 feet, and we troll for tuna at 6-7 kts. Keep your eyes on the skies and find the birds. Chances are, that’s where the tuna will be. Try to stay ahead of the birds (don’t run through them) and watch that shotgun line. It’s usually the first to get bit. Now, both blackfin and yellowfin tuna love to strike these Tuna Darts, so be sure your fish box is loaded with ice before you head out. Alright…  now that you’ve loaded up the box with tuna, it’s time to head in and make some Sinuglaw. What is Sinuglaw? Sinuglaw is an Asian cousin to ceviche. It’s a combination of pork belly (or thick cut bacon) and vinegar-cured fish with fresh veggies and herbs. But unlike ceviche, the addition of pork in Sinuglaw offers you a much more savory bite. While there are quite a few ingredients in Sinuglaw, you’ll see it’s actually pretty easy to make. Here’s what you’ll need to make enough for four people. ½ pound of fresh yellowfin or blackfin tuna, cut into squares ½ pound grilled pork belly or thick cut bacon ½ cup white vinegar ½ cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 tablespoons sliced red onion 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped 1 cup diced cucumber, skin removed ¼ cup tomatoes, cut into small pieces 1 medium avocado, peeled and diced 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger ¼ cup fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon lemon, or lime zest Sea salt and pepper to taste Since Sinuglaw is a cold dish, you’ll want to cook your pork belly first, then refrigerate it. But don’t overcook it, you’ll want plenty of that savory, salty fat to pull it all together. In a large bowl, toss your raw, fresh tuna with the white vinegar and a little bit of sea salt and pepper. Mix it up good and place it in the fridge for at least 2 to 3 hours. The longer the tuna sits in the vinegar, the more it “cooks.” As your tuna is curing in the fridge, get another bowl and stir together the coconut milk, lime juice, onion, jalapeno, fish sauce and ginger. Once your tuna is ready, remove it from the vinegar mix and add it to a serving bowl. Now pour the coconut milk mix in, and top the fish with your cooked pork belly, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, and cilantro. Toss it all together, zest with lemon or lime and enjoy! Now, if you aren’t catching enough tuna to make this dish, you’re using the wrong lures. We suggest trying our Tuna Darts, because like we said earlier, the yellowfin and blackfin can’t resist ‘em.