If you’re an experienced fisher, your tackle box is probably already overflowing with lures when surf fishing. While you may have enough to get by, wouldn’t it be better to have the best lures for the type of fishing and the fish you want to catch? Often, anglers are carrying around a large assortment of lures when they really only need a few top performers.
Top 10 Lures for Surf Fishing
[amazon box=”B00HR0Q03C,B001NXCYMK,B00S9ENXX0,B001E25JMC,B000LF2R5K,B008YUPP3K,B000SHPVBI,B0000AUW7N,B014UX655Q,B07SZKFRP3″ template=”table”]Surf fishing lures should be designed specifically for saltwater use to prevent corrosion, and there are other factors to look for when choosing surf lures. Use the best lures for surf fishing to catch more fish and improve your fishing trip. This small change could make the difference for your next great catch!
The Best Surf Fishing Lures
We’ve compiled the best surf fishing lures, based on factors like brand quality, material, colors, and more. These saltwater lures are perfect for surf fishing and are sure to survive the tough surf conditions.
There are different types of lures, so depending on the fish you’re aiming to catch, different types of lures will work better. We’ve chosen from the top-rated spoons, plugs, poppers, bucktail jigs, and more.
These are the Best Saltwater Fishing Lures for Surf Fishing
- Sea Striker Surf Spoon
- Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait
- Yo-Zuri Crystal 3D Minnow Floating Lure
- Berkley Gulp! Shrimp
- Heddon Zara Spook Topwater Plug
- Spro Bucktail Jig
- MirrOLure Suspending Twitchbait
- Johnson Sliver Minnow Hard Bait Spoon
- Yo-Zuri Sashimi Metallic 3D Popper
- Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shad
Sea Striker Surf Spoon
Metal spoons are a staple for any saltwater fisherman. Large metallic spoons are meant to resemble most baitfish, making them a great lure to attract a variety of fish in the ocean. This spoon from Sea Striker is top-rated for its high quality materials and craftsmanship.
The Sea Striker Surf Spoon weighs ½ ounce, and comes in silver or gold. Both colors have reflective patterns to attract fish. Those who have tried this lure praise its long-casting ability. If you need a quality, staple metal spoon, this is a great choice.
Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait
Rapala lures are well known among the fishing community for their quality and durability. The Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait is a great choice for surf fishing for both of those reasons, plus its action and long-casting ability.
This jerkbait lure weights 0.4375 ounces and comes in 10 colors. The Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait lure has a rattle to attract fish. It suspends and rolls at rest to trigger strikes, increasing your chances of a catch.
Yo-Zuri Crystal 3D Minnow Floating Lure
The Yo-Zuri Crystal 3D Minnow Floating Lure is versatile, but it is a favorite among surf fishers. Yo-Zuri produces high quality fishing gear, and this lure is no different. This floating diver lure has an internal 3D prism to grab fish’s attention.
The Yo-Zure Crystal 3D Minnow Floating Lure only weighs ¼ ounce, making it easy to cast far out into the surf. It comes in 13 colors, and has a responsive darting action to attract fish to bite. Yo-Zuri lures are durable and made with top-notch materials and manufacturing.
Berkley Gulp! Alive! Shrimp
Most fish will bite shrimp, and Berkley Gulp! Alive! Shrimp are the best artificial shrimp lures out there. You can order individual versions of these lures, but a bucket of assorted colors is extremely inexpensive and well worth your while.
Each shrimp lure is 3 inches long, and in the bucket they are saturated in Gulp’s “powerful attractant” to entice fish. They recommend putting the shrimp back in the bucket between uses to re-coat the lure with the attractant. For a cheap and reusable alternative to live shrimp, the Berkley Gulp! Alive! Shrimp lures are the best choice.
Heddon Zara Spook Topwater Plug
Plugs are a great choice of lure for surf fishing, and the Zara Spook Plugs are some of the best out there. Heddon is a trusted fishing brand, and the Zara Spook Lures are one of their bestsellers.
Known for their “walk the dog” action, Zara Spook lures works along the surface of the water to attract fish and trigger strikes. The Zara Spook Topwater Plug comes in 6 colors, and weighs about 0.8 ounces. Heavy duty construction ensures durability, so this lure will last.
Spro Bucktail Jig
Some jigs work better for surf fishing, and most anglers opt for a bucktail jig. They’re easy to cast and they catch all sorts of fish species, making them a versatile lure for your tackle box. The Spro Bucktail Jig looks like a baitfish, attracting various species, and glides easily through the water.
Spro is a well-known, high quality brand, and the Spro Bucktail Jig upholds that reputation. The number one Amazon Bestselling Fishing Jig, this bucktail comes in 15 colors. It’s made with durable, super sharp Gamakatsu hooks to improve catch rate.
MirrOLure Suspending Twitchbait
MirrOLure is another trusted fishing brand, and their Suspending Twitchbait is a popular choice for surf fishing. It is designed to mimic a glass or rain minnow, which is a popular baitfish for many saltwater fish.
The slender shape and luminescent body attracts fish, increasing your chances of catching something on the shoreline. The MirrOLure Suspending Twitchbait lure is only 0.3 ounces, so it is lightweight and easy to cast. It comes in three colors and is affordably priced.
Johnson Sliver Minnow Hard Bait Spoon
Spoons are great lures for surf fishing, and the Johnson Sliver Minnor Hard Bait Spoon is a classic design that is sure to work. Made with high quality metal and sure to last, the brass blade is designed for long casting. The angle of the spoon will wobble to attract fish without twisting and tangling your line.
The Johnson Sliver Minnow Hard Bait Spoon has a metal weed guard to prevent catching on plants. It comes in 15 colors and various sizes and weights, so you can choose the right lure for your fishing trip. The Johnson Sliver Minnow Hard Bait Spoon is plated with pure silver or 24K gold to improve shine and attract fish.
Yo-Zuri Sashimi Metallic 3D Popper
Popper’s design is ideal for surf fishing, especially surface feeding fish. The Yo-Zuri Sashimi Metallic 3D Popper Lure is especially popular among poppers, for its quality, color, and motion.
Yo-Zuri’s patent pending 3D prism lens doubles the amount of reflected light to attract fish from a longer distance. The prism creates a color changing effect, and combined with the wave motion of the popper, this lure looks real to fish. The eye adds extra realism, making this lure great for attracting and catching fish.
Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shad
Similar to the Berkley Gulp! Shrimp, the Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shad is another popular lure for surf fishing. This saltwater, artificial jerk shad attracts a wide variety of fish, and comes in 18 assorted colors. They also come in 5 or 6 inch length options.
The Berkley Gulp! Jerk Shad is only 0.18 ounces, so it is extremely lightweight and makes for easy casting. The catch rate of this lure is much higher than average, which is why it is so popular among saltwater fishermen. It’s also a very affordable option.
Find Surf Fishing Lures and Other Gear
Choose from these surf fishing lures, or if you prefer live bait, check out our top surf fishing bait. For all things surf fishing, including surf fishing tips and essential gear, check out Fishmasters.
Fishmasters is your go-to source on all things fishing; we love fishing and are excited to share our knowledge with you! Leave a comment and tell us your favorite surf fishing or saltwater lures.
great list! it would be helpful if you listed the retrieval of the lures instead of how many colors they came in.
Love the surf spoon lures (we call em spinners). They are great for tailor and bonito on the east coast of Australia.
Great post
Paul
An absolute must for every surfcaster’s tackle box is a diamond jig with tube. Casts a mile, and fish love them. Go with 1-3 oz and white is my favorite tube color, but green, yellow and red all have their fans.
Ted I agree and it has been so long I forgot to add this one to the list. First time using one was with my grandfather many moons ago. They look like sand eels and fish love them. I’ll be sure to update the list. Thanks fro the recommendation.
Jigs, specialized lures made specifically for jigging, are one of the most versatile choices, and attract almost all species of fish. Catfish, panfish, pike, and bass tend to go for spoon lures, an oblong, shiny piece of metal designed to look like bait fish.
This entire post about surf fishing lures absolutely ROCKS! Thank you for all the hard work you put into it. It really shows.