Artificial Bait for Saltwater Fishing: The Complete Guide to Jigs, Spoons, Soft Plastics & More

Artificial Bait for Saltwater Fishing: The Complete Guide to Jigs, Spoons, Soft Plastics & More

Artificial Bait for Saltwater Fishing

You don't need a cooler full of live bait to catch saltwater fish.

Sometimes all you need is a rod, a handful of artificial lures and an understanding of what the fish are looking for.

Artificial bait has become one of the most versatile tools in saltwater fishing. A small jig head and soft plastic can imitate a shrimp or baitfish. A spoon can flash like an injured baitfish. A topwater lure can create a commotion across the surface. A plastic worm can crawl across the bottom and imitate prey hiding in the grass.

The advantage is simple:

Artificial bait lets you cover water.

You don't have to keep shrimp alive. You don't have to carry a bait bucket. You can keep several different lure styles in a small tackle bag and quickly change your presentation when conditions change.

From the marshes of coastal Georgia to the beaches of Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, artificial lures can be used in creeks, flats, rivers, docks, bridges, jetties, beaches and open water.

This guide explains the major types of artificial bait, what they imitate, how to fish them and how to choose the right lure for the situation.

For natural bait, see our Live Bait for Saltwater Fishing guide.

What Is Artificial Bait?

Artificial bait, often called an artificial lure, is a manufactured fishing bait designed to imitate something a fish naturally eats.

Artificial lures can imitate:

• Shrimp

• Baitfish

• Small crabs

• Worms

• Squid

• Minnows

• Insects

• Small crustaceans

• Injured or fleeing prey

They can also trigger a fish through movement, vibration, flash or reaction rather than simply looking like something edible.

That gives anglers several ways to catch fish.

You can imitate food.

You can create a reaction.

Or you can do both.

Why Fish Artificial Bait?

Artificial bait has several advantages.

You Can Cover More Water

Instead of waiting for fish to find your bait, you can actively search for them.

Cast.

Retrieve.

Move.

Cast again.

This is especially useful when you're trying to locate fish.

Artificial Bait Is Reusable

One package of soft plastics or a few hard lures can last through many fishing trips.

It's Easy to Carry

A small tackle bag can hold dozens of lure options without needing a livewell or bait bucket.

You Can Control the Presentation

You can fish an artificial lure:

• On the surface

• Mid-water

• Along grass

• Through current

• Across the bottom

• Around structure

• Through deeper channels

The lure becomes a tool for exploring the water.

Jig Heads

A jig head is one of the most important pieces of artificial-bait tackle for inshore fishing.

A jig head combines a hook with a weighted head.

Add a soft plastic and you have one of the simplest and most versatile artificial-lure combinations available.

Jig heads come in different:

• Weights

• Hook sizes

• Shapes

• Head designs

• Hook styles

The correct weight depends on water depth, current and the size of your soft plastic.

You generally want enough weight to control the lure without making it unnecessarily heavy.

How to Fish a Jig Head

There isn't one correct retrieve.

Try:

Slow Bottom Bounce

Cast out, allow the lure to reach the desired depth and slowly lift and drop it.

This can imitate a shrimp or small baitfish moving along the bottom.

Steady Retrieve

Cast and retrieve at a consistent speed.

This can make a paddle tail or other swimming soft plastic look like a small baitfish.

Lift and Fall

Raise the rod tip, allow the lure to fall, then repeat.

Many strikes happen during the fall.

Current Drift

Cast across current and allow the lure to drift naturally while maintaining enough contact to know where it is.

This can be particularly effective around creek mouths and current seams.

Soft Plastic Lures

Soft plastics are arguably one of the most versatile categories of artificial bait.

They come in countless shapes and sizes.

Common styles include:

• Paddle tails

• Curly-tail grubs

• Jerk shads

• Shrimp imitations

• Crab imitations

• Plastic worms

• Creature-style baits

• Fluke-style baits

• Minnow imitations

One of the biggest advantages is that you can change the action simply by changing the shape of the plastic or the way you retrieve it.

Paddle Tail Lures

Paddle tails have a small tail that moves back and forth as the lure is retrieved.

That movement creates vibration and resembles a swimming baitfish.

Paddle tails are excellent search baits because you can cover a lot of water with them.

Try them around:

• Grass flats

• Creek mouths

• Oyster edges

• Marsh channels

• Bridges

• Docks

• Drop-offs

A paddle tail can be retrieved steadily or allowed to sink and then worked with short hops.

Curly-Tail Grubs

Curly-tail grubs are simple, inexpensive and effective.

Their curved tail creates movement even when the lure is moving slowly.

They can be fished:

• On jig heads

• Near the bottom

• Through current

• Around structure

• Under a float

For a beginner learning artificial bait, a small jig head paired with a simple curly-tail or paddle tail is an excellent place to start.

Plastic Worms

Plastic worms aren't just for freshwater bass.

A soft plastic worm can also be useful in saltwater, particularly when rigged to imitate small prey moving along the bottom or through shallow vegetation.

They can be rigged:

• Weedless

• On a jig head

• Texas-style

• Weightless

• Beneath a float

The best rig depends on the habitat.

If you're fishing thick grass or structure where an exposed hook constantly gets snagged, a weedless presentation can make much more sense.

Artificial Shrimp

Shrimp are one of the most important prey items in many coastal environments.

That makes artificial shrimp an obvious lure choice.

Artificial shrimp can be:

• Jigged along the bottom

• Drifted beneath a popping cork

• Slowly retrieved

• Worked around oyster beds

• Fished through grass

• Drifted with current

The key is making the shrimp look natural.

A shrimp generally doesn't need to rocket through the water.

A slow, controlled presentation can be extremely effective.

Jerkbaits and Jerk Shads

Jerkbaits imitate small baitfish.

The name comes from the way they're often fished.

Instead of simply winding them straight back, you can use short rod movements to make the lure dart, pause and change direction.

Try a pattern such as:

Twitch — pause — twitch — pause.

The pause can be particularly important.

A fish following the lure may strike when it stops.

Spoons

Spoons are one of the oldest artificial lure designs, and there's a reason anglers still carry them.

They produce:

• Flash

• Vibration

• Erratic movement

As a spoon moves through the water, its wobbling action can resemble an injured or struggling baitfish.

Spoons can be especially useful when you need to cover a lot of water.

They can be cast long distances and retrieved at different speeds.

Bucktail Jigs

Bucktail jigs combine weight, profile and movement into a simple lure.

They can be used in both shallow and deeper water depending on the weight.

Bucktails are particularly useful when you need to get an artificial bait down into the water column.

Try them around:

• Channels

• Bridges

• Jetties

• Deeper flats

• Current seams

Add a soft plastic trailer when you want additional profile or action.

Topwater Lures

Topwater lures are designed to create action on or immediately below the surface.

They can be exciting because you can often see the strike.

Common styles include:

• Poppers

• Walk-the-dog plugs

• Prop-style topwaters

Topwater fishing can be particularly productive when fish are actively feeding near the surface.

Look for:

• Bait schools

• Birds working

• Surface activity

• Calm mornings

• Current edges

• Shallow flats

But don't assume topwater only works at sunrise.

Fish behavior changes with conditions.

Suspending Lures

Suspending lures are designed to remain relatively stationary in the water after you stop retrieving them.

That makes the pause extremely important.

A basic retrieve might look like:

Twitch — twitch — pause.

Then repeat.

A fish may follow the lure without striking during the retrieve and attack when the lure pauses.

Weedless Artificial Bait

Fishing shallow saltwater often means fishing around grass, oysters, wood and other structure.

That creates a problem:

Snags.

Weedless rigs help solve that problem.

A soft plastic can be rigged so the hook point is protected or partially embedded in the lure.

This allows you to fish areas that would be difficult with an exposed hook.

Consider weedless presentations around:

• Marsh grass

• Shallow flats

• Oyster edges

• Mangroves

• Fallen structure

• Heavy vegetation

Artificial Bait for Redfish

Redfish are one of the best species for learning artificial-lure fishing.

Good choices include:

• Paddle tails

• Shrimp imitations

• Jerkbaits

• Spoons

• Topwater lures

• Curly-tail grubs

When redfish are feeding shallow, don't automatically reach for the heaviest jig head.

A lighter presentation that moves naturally through shallow water may be more effective.

Look for:

• Grass edges

• Oyster beds

• Creek mouths

• Tidal drains

• Shallow flats

• Deeper water next to shallow feeding areas

Artificial Bait for Spotted Seatrout

Trout are often willing to chase artificial lures.

Soft plastics are especially versatile.

Try:

• Paddle tails

• Jerk shads

• Shrimp imitations

• Curly-tail grubs

• Topwater lures

• Suspending plugs

If trout are feeding aggressively, you may be able to speed up your retrieve.

If they're following but not striking, slow down.

Artificial Bait for Flounder

Flounder are bottom-oriented predators, so lure placement matters.

Good choices include:

• Jig heads with soft plastics

• Paddle tails

• Shrimp imitations

• Jerkbaits worked near the bottom

Focus on:

• Channels

• Drop-offs

• Creek mouths

• Sandbars

• Current edges

• Bottom structure

Keep the lure close enough to the bottom for flounder to see and attack it.

Artificial Bait for Sheepshead

Sheepshead can be more challenging with artificial bait because of their feeding habits and structure-oriented behavior.

Small crustacean-style artificial baits may be useful in certain situations, but natural bait remains an important option.

If you're specifically targeting sheepshead, structure is often more important than having a giant selection of artificial lures.

Look around:

• Bridge pilings

• Docks

• Jetties

• Rocks

• Oyster structure

Choosing Lure Color

Color can become one of the most confusing parts of artificial-bait fishing.

You don't need every color in the store.

Start simple.

Clear Water

Natural or subtle colors can be useful.

Think:

• Pearl

• White

• Natural baitfish

• Shrimp tones

Dark or Dirty Water

A stronger silhouette can help.

Try:

• Darker colors

• High-contrast colors

• Bright colors when visibility is poor

Low Light

Contrast and vibration can become particularly important.

But don't get trapped thinking there is one magic color.

Presentation usually matters more than having 40 colors in your tackle bag.

Choosing the Right Lure Size

Match the lure to the food whenever possible.

If baitfish are tiny, throwing an enormous lure may not make sense.

If large mullet are present and predators are feeding on them, a larger profile may be appropriate.

Look at the water.

Look at the bait.

Then choose the lure.

This is another reason learning to read the water is so important.

Choosing Jig Head Weight

Jig-head weight should be based on the conditions rather than simply choosing the biggest one available.

Consider:

• Water depth

• Current speed

• Wind

• Lure size

• Desired retrieve

• Structure

You want enough weight to control the lure.

But too much weight can make a soft plastic fall unnaturally or become difficult to fish through shallow water.

Artificial Bait and Tides

Artificial bait and tides go together.

Moving water changes where fish position themselves.

Incoming water can push bait and forage into shallow areas.

Outgoing water can pull food from creeks and marshes toward larger channels.

That creates feeding opportunities around:

• Creek mouths

• Points

• Oyster beds

• Grass edges

• Drains

• Current seams

Before choosing your lure, think about what the tide is doing.

Our Tides 101 guide goes deeper into reading tides and understanding moving water.

Artificial Bait Around Piers and Docks

Artificial lures can be extremely useful around structure.

Try casting:

• Along pilings

• Beside docks

• Across current

• Around shade

• Along drop-offs

Soft plastics can be especially useful because they allow you to change depth and presentation quickly.

Our Pier & Dock Fishing Guide covers the structure, rigs and tactics involved in fishing these areas.

Artificial Bait Around Jetties

Jetties create current breaks, deeper water and structure.

Artificial lures can be effective, but you need to be prepared to lose some tackle.

Try:

• Paddle tails

• Jerkbaits

• Spoons

• Bucktails

• Heavier soft plastics

Work the edges rather than constantly casting directly into the rocks.

Pay attention to current seams and areas where moving water meets slower water.

Our Jetty Fishing Guide explains how to approach these environments.

Artificial Bait for Beach and Surf Fishing

Artificial lures can also be used from the beach.

Longer casts can allow you to cover:

• Sandbars

• Troughs

• Cuts

• Channels

• Feeding zones

Spoons, jigs and other casting lures can be useful when fish are actively feeding.

Surf fishing is often about finding where the food is concentrated.

The lure is only half the equation.

Our Beach & Surf Fishing Guide covers how to read the beach and find productive water.

How to Build a Beginner Artificial-Bait Tackle Box

You don't need 100 lures.

Start with a small selection.

Beginner Artificial Bait Kit

2–3 jig-head sizes

Choose weights suitable for the water you normally fish.

Paddle tails

Carry a couple of sizes.

Jerk shads

Useful for baitfish imitations.

Artificial shrimp

Excellent for inshore fishing.

Curly-tail grubs

Simple and versatile.

A spoon

Useful for covering water.

One or two topwater lures

For surface-feeding fish.

A few suspending lures

Useful when fish are following but not committing.

That's enough to start learning.

Don't Change Lures Every Five Minutes

One of the biggest beginner mistakes is constantly changing lures.

Cast.

Retrieve.

Nothing happens.

Change lure.

Cast again.

Nothing happens.

Change lure again.

Eventually you have used ten lures without learning anything.

Instead, give a lure enough time to tell you something.

Try changing:

• Retrieve speed

• Depth

• Casting angle

• Location

• Pause duration

before immediately changing the lure.

Sometimes the problem isn't the bait.

It's where you're fishing it.

Artificial Bait vs. Live Bait

Both approaches work.

Live Bait

Best when you want:

• Natural scent

• Natural movement

• A simple presentation

• A strong option for less-active fish

Artificial Bait

Best when you want:

• To cover water

• To search for fish

• A reusable presentation

• Less equipment

• More control over lure movement

And there's no reason you have to choose only one.

A good angler can carry both.

The Most Important Artificial-Bait Skill

It's not knowing the name of every lure.

It's not owning every color.

It's not having the most expensive tackle.

It's understanding what the fish are doing.

Ask yourself:

What are they eating?

Where is that food located?

What is the tide doing?

Where is the current moving?

How deep are the fish?

Do I need to imitate a shrimp, baitfish or something else?

Once you start answering those questions, choosing an artificial lure becomes much easier.

Artificial Bait Along the Georgia and Northeast Florida Coast

The Georgia and Northeast Florida coast provides an enormous variety of places to experiment with artificial lures.

You can fish:

• St. Marys

• Cumberland Island

• Crooked River

• Brunswick

• St. Simons Island

• Jekyll Island

• Fernandina Beach

• Amelia Island

• Nassau Sound

• Jacksonville

• Mayport

• Huguenot

• Fort Clinch

• Beaches

• Piers

• Docks

• Jetties

• Inshore

Different locations require different presentations.

That's what makes artificial fishing so much fun.

You're not simply throwing a lure.

You're learning to match the lure to the environment.

A Simple Artificial-Bait Game Plan

If you're heading out and don't want to overthink things, start here.

Shallow Marsh

Try a lightly weighted paddle tail, shrimp imitation or weedless soft plastic.

Grass Flats

Try a weedless soft plastic or topwater lure.

Creek Mouth

Try a jig head and paddle tail or shrimp imitation.

Deep Channel

Increase jig-head weight and work the lure near the bottom.

Dock or Bridge

Try a soft plastic around structure.

Beach

Try a spoon, jig or other casting lure and search the troughs and cuts.

Jetties

Try a paddle tail, bucktail, spoon or jerkbait while carefully working current edges.

Fish Feeding on the Surface

Tie on a topwater.

Sometimes the fish will tell you exactly what they want.

Final Thoughts

Artificial bait gives you something that natural bait can't always provide:

The ability to actively search for fish.

You can cover water.

Change depth.

Change speed.

Change direction.

Imitate shrimp.

Imitate baitfish.

Create vibration.

Create flash.

Create surface commotion.

And when you learn to combine those tools with tides, structure and fish behavior, artificial fishing becomes much more than simply casting a lure.

You're reading the water.

You're finding the food.

You're choosing a presentation.

And you're learning how fish react.

That's the real advantage of artificial bait.

Fish. Explore. Belong.

This is 912 Coastal.