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Lure fishing in the sea is our favourite method of fishing. You can cover ground, target some absolutely fantastic fish and try so many different methods of lure fishing. Its variety and almost hunting-like quality are what sets it apart for us.
In order to enjoy some saltwater lure fishing, you need some of the best sea fishing lures available. And you need a variety; sinking lures, surface lures, metals, soft plastic et al. Your lures should provide you with enough variety in terms of colour, action, size and features so that you aren’t overly reliant on a single type and that you’re equipped for any condition(s).
As such, we have rounded up the best sea fishing lures on the market. From durable, long-distance casting metals to premium surface lures and everything in between.
Sea Fishing Tackle – What do I Really Need?
What’s on this page?
What sea fishing lures do we have in our bag?
Typically we have a blend of metal lures, paddle tails and surface lures of different weights in our sea fishing lure box, actions, colours and sizes. Ultimately we’re trying to prepare for every opportunity – murky or clear water, overcast or clear overhead conditions, choppy or still surf etc.
You don’t want to find yourself in a fantastic fishing spot without the appropriate sea fishing lures for the prevailing conditions. We always have some Surf Seekers or equivalent metal lures, small, medium and large-sized paddle tails (Savage Gear Sandeels), surface lures (preferably the Xorus Patchinko), sinking lures and sub-surface lures will cater to every eventuality.
What makes a good sea fishing lure?
A good sea fishing lure should have at the very least 75% of the below features for us to consider it a good option;
- Lifelike action: Whilst fish are not the fussiest predators, it’s important to have a lure that mimics a fish effectively. In a feeding frenzy, this doesn’t matter so much, but when the fish aren’t biting, you want something that looks irresistibly good.
- Versatility: Versatility is the reason we think the Savage Gear Surf Seeker is the best sea fishing lure on the market. IT can handle any conditions and catch surface-feeding predators like bass and bottom dwellers like pollock.
- Durability: Your lures are going to get bashed around in the sea and there’s no use in a lure that loses its sheen and shape after a few bumps and bruises.
- Hookup rate: Hookup rate and hook quality are key when targeting certain species. Lures with a treble and single hook option tend to offer the best versatility.
- Colour range: Having a range of colours is important when sea fishing. Some fish – like bass – rely on their eyesight to hunt and when conditions are murky, brighter colours are a great option.
- Features: Whilst these features are not essential for sea fishing lures, some lures have additional features like a built-in rattle chamber
What is the best sea fishing lure?
The best sea fishing lure is the Savage Gear Surf Seeker. An ultra-durable metal lure capable of targeting virtually any predatory fish – bass, pollock, cod, wrasse, mackerel – none of them are safe!
With multiple surface and diving options available at very reasonable prices, these metal lures should make up a significant proportion of your lure fishing box. With a superb casting distance and hook-up rate, we love the Seeker more than any other lure.
At a glance
The 9 best sea fishing lures
Savage Gear Surf SeekersThe best all-around sea fishing lure
Fishing, Tackle & Bait
eBay
Amazon.co.uk
- An ultra-durable metal lure with fantastic casting distance and exceptional hookup rate
- Multi-species lure capable of handling any fresh or saltwater fish
- Up to 42g in weight
- Variety of natural and bright colours
Savage Gear’s Surf Seeker is our sea fishing lure of choice. No matter the conditions, casting distance, or visibility, this lure just never seems to let you down. And that’s not just for bass either; we’ve found almost any predatory fish loves a Seeker as we do. It is one of the best bass fishing lures and best pollock fishing lures, which is remarkable given the different depths these fish exist.
As a proponent of natural colours and attempting to mimic an injured spratt or herring, the light blue and silver colours have always served us well. And the 28 – 35g models are superb for fishing from the shore. With a casting distance of significantly more than 80m and enough density to manage rough conditions, these pocket rockets are a no-brainer when it comes to bass fishing.
Patchinko 125The best surface lure for sea fishing
Tackle Direct
- Hard, durable surface lure
- Sizes: 100m, 125mm and 140mm
- Weight: 18-25g
- Colours: A huge variety of colours including silver black, sand eel, yellow, white cotton, mackerel, green, illusion, black mullet and many more
The Xorus Patchinko is one of the best sea fishing lures ever made. Particularly for bass fishing, where this surface lure stands out as – outside of the Savage Gear Surf Seeker – arguably the best bass fishing lure of all time. This classic tail-weighted surface lure has a fantastic action and is capable of casting impressive distance for a lure on the lighter side. Any tail-weighted lure tends to have better casting distance and accuracy, which means you can cover distance really effectively, particularly in favourable conditions.
We’ve found that when other more traditional lures struggle, the Xorus Patchinko seems to work better than any other. We like to think of it as a blank-saver. Best fished with a ‘walk-the-dog’ style, side-to-side action, the goal is to emulate a baitfish struggling on the surface in the waves. With a superb range of muted and bright colours available, the Patchinko is a lure with only one drawback – price.
Savage Gear Saltwater SandeelsBest soft plastic lure for sea fishing
Go Outdoors
Karl's Fishing & Outdoors
- Ultra-realistic lure capable of handling all manner of salt and freshwater predators
- A blend of natural and bright colours
- Weight range from 23-42g
Another superb lure for the majority of salt and freshwater predators Savage Gear’s Saltwater Sandeels are our favourite soft plastic and at any one time comprising at least 20% of our lure boxes such is their flexibility. The range of colours is perfect for almost any condition. We’ve had excellent success on bright pinks in murkier, rougher conditions and – when the sea is calmer – have used the greens, blues and silvers to excellent effect.
The weight range – primarily 23 – 35g – is designed specifically for the bass market and allows for some reasonable distance casting and precision casting. Although when conditions are extremely windy they can leave a little to be desired. On any trip, you should have multiple naturals and a few brighter colours to hand.
Top 10 Tips for Bass Fishing in the UK
Fiiish MinnowBest paddle tail for sea fishing
- A powerful lure with enhanced lateral movement in sinking and sub-surface options
- Up to 60g casting weight
- Range of natural and bright colours
Fiiish Minnows are a truly outstanding paddle tail on the market. The lure itself is made up of three parts – a weighted head, (almost) weedless hook and imitation body. This is fairly unique in terms of paddle tail design and the separate hook and jig head help generate more lateral movement.
The larger size and more powerful tail action create a larger volume of water displacement, which is ideal for slightly rougher conditions. The larger size options are superb for longer casts and it can be used as a slightly sub-surface lure or left to sink for extended periods of time.
Savage 3D Gear Sandeel PencilThe most realistic sea fishing lure
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- An ultra-realistic, slow sinking lure that is based on a 3D scan of a real sandeel
- Typically comes in three options – 90mm (13g), 125mm (19gm) and 150mm (30g)
- Based on a 3D scan of a real sandeel
Savage Gear 3D Sandeel is the most realistic lure on the market when it comes to retrieval action and aesthetic design. Based on a 3D scan of a real sandeel, the slow-sinking lure works best around one metre below the surface with a steady retrieve and the occasional pause and twitch to initiate the rattle chamber’s clicking sound.
The lure comes in three sizes – 90mm, 125mm and 150mm – of which the two larger options are preferable when it comes to bass fishing. The 90 is just a little too small and light to be effective in anything other than almost perfect conditions. But it’s worth having a couple to hand in case the sea is carpet-like and there’s minimal wind.
What are the Best Conditions for Bass Fishing in the UK?
Storm 360GT Coastal Biscay ShadBest sea fishing lure for big fish
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- Up to 91g in weight and 19cm in length
- Multiple colourways – naturals, fluorescents and everything in between
- Weighted, articulated body and head and super realistic swimming pattern
- The body collapses and the weedless hook gape is exposed when attacked to increase hook-ups
Storm 360GT Weedless Deep Shad is an exceptional quality weedless lure that very closely resembles shad and mackerel. The weight of the lures makes fishing in rougher conditions – synonymous with pollock, cod, wrasse and conger – much more accurate. When fishing in water that can be more than 50m deep, a heavier lure can reduce the sinking time from 45 seconds to 15. It all adds up.
The articulated paddle head and tail have a spectacularly lifelike action, working as well on the drop as it does on the retrieve. Which is particularly useful when the drop can cover more than 50m. Excellent for shore, boat, and rock fishing, particularly with a weedless hookset and collapsible body when attacked.
IMA HoundSea fishing lure with the best hookup rate
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- Hard plastic surface and sub-surface lure
- Weight: 20g and 125mm in length
- A huge variety of muted and bright colourways. From cotton candy to more traditional silver scales
- Lightweight and durable, with an excellent casting distance
The IMA Hound lure is one of the best sea fishing lures ever made, particularly for the bass market. Much like the Xorus Patchinko, this hard surface lure has a fantastic hookup rate and even though it doesn’t look like it’s doing anything particularly different in the water (the surface action looks fairly standard), it seems to work particularly well in both rough waves and more serene conditions.
Really the IMA Hound’s main issue is its availability (or lack of it) here in the UK. It is slightly cheaper than the Xorus Patchinko, but still definitely a premium lure and it smarts a little bit whenever one happens to snap off. Particularly if the snap-off happens to be your own fault.
Berkley Power WormsBest curly tail sea fishing lure
Sportfish
- Great for wrasse, pollock and creatures that reside in rocks
- Lightweight curly tail lure that is 7-10″ long
- Variety of bright and dark colours
A good value curly tail worm imitation lure – like the Berkley Power Worm – is essential for targeting aggressive predators who live in the deep. It’s one of the best lures available for pollock fishing when combined with a 3 or 4-oz weight and a strong fluorocarbon leader. You can’t keep losing expensive lures in every session and we found their action on both the drop and retrieve mustered up some truly huge bites.
Coming in an array of colours and sizes, these terrific value lures are a great piece of kit to add to your lure box. Tying them on with a flying collar rig worked very effectively for us. A top tip when lure fishing with slightly more time-consuming rigs is to tie a number of them beforehand and take them with you. This will maximise your fishing time, as these rigs can be tricky in blustery conditions.
HTO Tronix Pro Shore JigBest value lure for sea fishing
- Long-casting, very durable metal lure with a 5-40g weight range
- Single, feathered assist hook minimises damage to the fish
- Fantastic array of colours: from muted baitfish to vibrant cotton candy and pink sardine
HTO Tronix Pro Shore Jig is arguably the best value sea fishing lure available. With a fantastic array of muted and bright colours (think sparkling pinks all the way through to silvery greys), an exceptional casting distance thanks to its streamlined nature and a very good hookup rate, this cheap and cheerful lure is one of the best sea fishing lures available. At any one time, this lure makes up to 20% of our lure boxes thanks to its versatility (jigging and long-casting in particular) and superb value. Whilst it doesn’t have quite the same durability and performance as the very best lures, it is still one of the best metal lures ever made.
One of our favourite features of this lure is the single feathered assist hook. It sparkles slightly in the sunshine and its fantastic array of colours and already excellent hookup rate is definitely complemented by the slight sparkle.
FAQs
What lure is best for sea fishing?
We think the best lure for sea fishing is the Savage Gear Surf Seeker. Durable, versatile and capable of catching almost any species – from surface-feeding bass to pollock down in the briny deep.
At somewhere around £6, it’s pretty good value and typically makes up at least 25% of our tackle box. With a very good range of colours to choose from and both sinking and sub-surface options to choose from, it covers all the bases.
What is the best surface lure for sea fishing?
The best surface lure for sea fishing is the Xorus Patchinko. Relatively lightweight with a fantastic action best fished with a walk-the-dog motion, this superb lure is one of the best bass fishing lures ever made.
The Patchinko has a fantastic hook-up rate and range of colours, from garish right the way through to muted mackerel tones. Really the only downside is the price.
What is the best value sea fishing lure?
The best value sea fishing lure is the HTO Tronix Pro Shore Jig. With prices starting from under £3, this superb metal lure works fantastically well in all conditions.
The single-feathered hook is one of our favourite features and tends to work well for larger fish who can bend more traditional treble hooks. With another super range of colours to choose from, we really recommend purchasing a number of these metal lures.
What kind of lures do you use in the ocean?
There are multiple types of lures you should use in the ocean, including:
- Jigs
- Spoons/metal lures
- Surface lures
- Diving lures
- Soft plastics
These are the five primary types of lures we tend to use in the ocean and cover all of the bases. Soft plastic paddle tails are the most traditional, spoons and metals offer fantastic casting distance and reflect in the sun, jigs are ideal for deep sea fishing and surface and viding lures let you target species at all levels of the pelagic zone.
Are lures good for sea fishing?
Yes, lures are very good for sea fishing. They are one of the most enjoyable ways to target multiple species of fish and can be incredibly effective.
Whilst lures don’t have the same attraction as bait and require you to find the fish, they do let you cover more ground and are invaluable when targeting aggressive predatory fish. Just make sure you have a blend of surface and sinking lures in a variety of colours and sizes.
What colour lure is best for saltwater fishing?
The best-coloured lure for saltwater fishing really depends on the prevailing conditions. In crystal clear water with bright sunshine overhead, more muted natural blues, silvers and greens lures tend to be more effective.
Whereas in overcast, murkier conditions, bright pinks, oranges and reds can prove to be more fruitful. That’s why it’s important to have a range.
What is the most realistic sea fishing lure?
The most realistic sea fishing lure is the Savage Gear 3D Sandeel. Based on a 3D scan of a real sandeel, this slow-sinking lure works best around with a steady retrieve and the occasional pause and twitch to initiate the built-in rattle chamber’s clicking sound.
What is the best fishing lure for beginners?
We think the best sea fishing lure for beginners is the Savage Gear Surf Seeker. Durable, versatile and good value it’s capable of catching almost any species – from surface-feeding bass to pollock down in the briny deep.
With an excellent range of colours, a good hook-up rate and super simple to use, we’d recommend using a single hook instead of a treble to make removing it from the fish’s mouth easier.
Harry
Hi, I'm Harry. A keen, albeit exceedingly average fisherman. I've spent the last few years trawling London's waterways with - if I'm being kind - varied success and would love to help you avoid the mistakes I have made.
