Best Surf Fishing Lures

Surf fishing can be a challenging and very frustrating experience at times; we’ve all been there. You go prepared and pumped for the biggest catch of your life, all hopes, and dreams. But a few hours later and an empty catch bucket can be very disheartening at best.

It always seems to happen when I decide to skimp on quality surf fishing lures – every single time! I learned my lesson the hard way, and I want to prevent you from doing the same. Even save you the frustration that comes with it.

That’s why, after hours and hours of research, I decided to put together a list of all the best surf fishing lures. So here it goes! Let’s go over the best surf fishing lures together and see if any of them will you secure your next big catch!

How To Choose Between The Best Surf Fishing Lures?

So let’s take a more in-depth look at the most commonly asked questions about surf fishing tips, what are the best options for fresh and saltwater.

What Are The Most Common Types Of Fishing Lures?

There are quite a few categories that fishing lures can fall into, but let’s take a look at the three main ones. That doesn’t mean these three encompass every type of bait on the market, just the three most common ones today:

Metal Spoons

Metal spoons are made to be cast at long distances, and they are very compact. There are quite a few color combinations and variations of metal spoons, and depending on the size and pack of fish you’re trying to catch, some metal spoons can be very different from others. It is all about your specific needs.

Poppers

Poppers are specifically designed to mimic an injured fish on the surface of the water. They are an excellent lure for large fish due to the motion they create.

Soft Plastic Jigs

Soft plastic jigs are probably the most common and widely used surf fishing lure. The variations of size, shape, and color are nearly endless. Lots of saltwater anglers love soft plastic jigs because of their near-universal applications and the excellent results they produce.

What Are The Best Lures For Different Types Of Fish?

It’s really hard to specify a lure for a specific type of fish. In the individual reviews above I tried to cover what lure works best for certain types of fish, but different anglers will produce very different results even with virtually the same surf fishing rigs, bait, and surf fishing tackle. That’s mostly because their technique, experience and, most of all – luck, will play a significant role in the results they get.

I’ll try to generalize things a bit, but don’t hold me to my words as there are more than a few exceptions to these rules.

In general, crankbait is an excellent choice for bass. Crankbait is the general term for lures that imitate live baitfish like anchovies, gudgeon, and halfbeaks, for example.

Jig lures are specifically designed for jigging and are one of the most versatile lure choices for basically all angling applications. They attract a wide array of fish and depending on the size of the bait used can catch small and large fish.

Spoon lures are another category of lures. Spoons are usually made of shiny metal that looks like baitfish. Spoons are ideal for catching catfish, for example, and other deeper lurking fish.

Is Live Bait Better Than Lures?

That can really depend on the type of fishing you prefer and the species of fish you are trying to catch. Live bait is not better than artificial bait, especially one that is chemically formulated to attract other fish, like the Berkley Gulp, for example.

The main advantage of artificial lures is that you can usually use them over and over without affecting their performance and structural integrity. Live bait, while generally cheap to get, lasts for only a single bite.

Live bait, on the other hand, is much better for fishing at night or in muddy water. If you can’t use live bait, try to opt out for bright and shiny lures to increase your visibility and attract more fish.

Are You Supposed To Put Sinkers On Lures?

Sinkers are slowly declining in popularity as modern best lures often outperform them. They are, however, great for placing a bait exactly where you need it to be. The extra weight can also improve your lure’s action and movement thus attracting more fish in the process.

Are There Specific Lures For Saltwater?

Yes, there are. Saltwater lures are specifically designed to survive the corrosive nature of saltwater. It is always better to go for a saltwater specific lure as it will prove more durable and will easily outlast a freshwater model.

What Is The Best Action?

Action is very important as it is done manually – surf fishing is usually done from the shore or on a pier, for example. When you’re on a boat, you can imitate the slow-motion or low pace baitfish, but angling is different from the shore – you control the movement of the lure.

Try to do a little research beforehand on the location and the type of fish that is most commonly found there. Once you do that, you’ll be better equipped to mimic the kind of movement that is most appealing to the fish that lurks the water there. It can vastly improve your chances of actually catching anything.

Is There A Specific Color To Look For?

Surf fishing lures come in a variety of shapes, colors, and palettes. There are quite a few “schools” on the matter, some saying to use bright and flashy colors while others are teaching to choose a color that closely mimics the color of the baitfish of the fish you’re trying to catch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s see what are the most common questions when it comes to surf fishing lures and angling with lures in general:

What is the difference between saltwater and freshwater lures?

The main difference between freshwater and saltwater fishing lures is the durability of the latter. Saltwater lures are designed to withstand the overly corrosive nature of seawater, and they won’t break down or get damaged in saltwater. Saltwater lures can be used in both saltwater and freshwater, but they will vastly outlast the freshwater ones in seawater.

Can you use freshwater lures in saltwater?

Unless you tell the fish otherwise, they will bite just fine with both saltwater and freshwater lures. There will be a massive difference in how long the latter will last in seawater – you might spot signs of corrosion after just a few uses while saltwater lures will be far more resistant to the corrosive effects of salt.

How do you clean saltwater lures?

The best way to clean saltwater lures is by cleaning them with fresh water, dry them, and store them in a dry container.

Never leave the lures without washing them after a saltwater fishing trip as that will significantly reduce the life of them, and they might corrode and get damaged prematurely.

You can refresh plastic lures by changing the hooks if they are badly rusted, but be careful not to change the type and weight of the treble hooks you use. Putting a hook on that is vastly different in shape and weight might severely affect the action of the lure and impact its performance too.

There is also a special paint for plastic lures called tail dip. You can even experiment with different tail dips and see if a different color or pattern will work better for the same lure.

How to select the best location for surf fishing?

The best location for surf fishing depends on the time of day and the tide. However, it is always best to do a little research before going surf fishing to save yourself a bit of trouble. Using Google to find articles like the one’s Fishing Pioneer produce will help you determine great locations for surf fishing. Here is a list of great places to go fishing in Florida without a boat. 

Recap

I had a tough time picking the best surf fishing lure from all the choices above. Both the Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait XR10 and the Yo-Zuri Crystal 3D Minnow lures are fantastic choices, but in the end, our winner is Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait XR10.

The Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait XR10 surf fishing lure consistently gets impressive results for both surf and deep water fishing. It is the choice of bait for many anglers. The X-Rap Jerkbait is available in lots of colors and patterns, as well as size and action. Depending on the type of prey you’re after, you can switch around between different patterns and see what works best for the species of fish you’re trying to catch.

The Yo-Zuri Minnow family is almost as good as the Rapala lures but came just short of it. We spotted a few inconsistencies with the quality, and the design of the Yo-Zuri lures while researching. Always try to shop from a reputable place that stands behind its products.

I hope this list will help you choose the best surf fishing lure for your next fishing trip, and I hope the next big catch is just a throwaway!