Quick Facts – Best Lures for Striped Bass
- Best overall: S&S John Skinner Striped Bass Fixed Hook Bucktail.
- Best daytime surfcasting: Savage Gear Panic Pencil Popper.
- Best calm-night plug: Daiwa Floating Salt Pro Minnow Plug.
- Best rough-surf night swimmer: Super Strike Little Neck Swimmer.
- Best darter: Super Strike ZigZag.
- Best needlefish style: Super Strike Super N Fish.
- Best popper: Super Strike Little Neck Popper.
- Best big-fish topwater: Musky Mania Saltwater Doc.
- Best all-round soft topwater: Lunker City Slug-Go.
- Best budget pencil: Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper.
Striped bass can be picky. One day they crush topwater plugs in the surf, and the next day they only touch a slow swimmer in the wash. If you keep casting the wrong lure, long sessions turn into quiet nights.
This guide shows you the best lures for striped bass right now. Each pick has a clear job: daytime surf, calm nights, rough surf, deep current, or big-fish topwater. You will also find an FAQ and a short buying guide so you can match your lures to your water and rod.
If you chase other species as well, you might also like best bait for bass and best crankbaits for bass for your freshwater trips.
How to choose striped bass lures
Before looking at each lure, keep these simple points in mind:
Match the lure to the water
- Calm water: Slim swimmers, minnows, and soft stickbaits shine.
- Rough surf: Heavier swimmers, needles, and pencils hold better in waves and wind.
- Fast current: Darters and bucktails stay down and track well.
Think about depth and profile
- Use bucktails and swimmers when bass hug the bottom or hold in current.
- Use pencils and poppers when fish chase bait near the surface.
- Use needles when bass are on sand eels or other slim bait.
Adjust for casting distance
Wind and big surf often demand extra weight. Pencils, needles, and some swimmers are built for long casts from open beaches and rock points.
Build a small, focused selection
You do not need a big tackle bag. A few proven lures, fished with confidence, will beat a large pile of random plugs. The lures below cover most conditions surf anglers and boat anglers face.
Best overall: S&S John Skinner Striped Bass Fixed Hook Bucktail
The S&S John Skinner Striped Bass Fixed Hook Bucktail is a reliable lure for almost any striped bass situation.
Why it works
- The hair and feather dressing give a natural baitfish profile.
- You can swim it high in the column or bounce it along the bottom.
- It cuts current well and stays in the strike zone longer than many soft plastics.
- It works from jetties, beaches, boats, and inlets.
Fish it with a slow, steady lift-and-drop retrieve along the bottom, or swim it with a steady crank when bass feed higher in the water. Pair it with a small trailer, such as a pork rind or soft curly tail, when you want more action.
Best daytime surfcasting lure: Savage Gear Panic Pencil Popper
For bright days and clear water, the Savage Gear Panic Pencil Popper is hard to beat.
Strengths of the Panic Pencil
- Long casting design lets you reach distant bars and rips.
- Walks and splashes on the surface, calling bass from far away.
- Works well when baitfish scatter across open beaches.
Cast as far as you can, then use a rhythmic rod-tip pump with a slow to medium retrieve. The lure skips, splashes, and darts, imitating a fleeing baitfish.
You can see how many anglers work pencil poppers in this style here:
Best calm-night lure: Daiwa Floating Salt Pro Minnow Plug
When the water is calm at night, a noisy surface lure can spook fish. The Daiwa Floating Salt Pro Minnow Plug gives a subtler look.
Why it shines on quiet nights
- Slim body and tight wiggle match small baitfish.
- Internal weight system helps with long casts from shore or boat.
- Stable action in gentle current and light chop.
- Works with slow, steady retrieves or gentle twitches.
Cast across the rip or along the beach lip, then reel just fast enough to feel the plug work. Add occasional pauses and rod twitches to mimic injured bait. This approach often triggers strikes from bass cruising under bait schools.
Best rough-surf night swimmer: Super Strike Little Neck Swimmer
The Super Strike Little Neck Swimmer is made for heavy surf and strong onshore wind.
What makes it so dependable
- Weight and shape let you punch casts into stiff wind.
- Wide swimming action stays stable in white water.
- Holds depth in waves, where many lighter swimmers blow out.
- Works both at night and on darker, stormy days.
Fan-cast across breaks and points, then retrieve with a steady crank. The lure digs in and wriggles through white water, staying in front of feeding bass that patrol the wash.
Best darter: Super Strike ZigZag
The Super Strike ZigZag is a classic darter for striped bass in current.
Main features
- Side-to-side darting glide that mimics a wounded baitfish.
- Tracks well in powerful rips and inlet outflows.
- Excels at night when bass hold near structure and current seams.
To fish it, cast slightly up-current, let it sink a bit, then begin a slow retrieve. The plug will dig and glide from side to side. Small pauses and gentle rod twitches help it slide and kick even more, which often triggers larger fish.
There is a short learning curve with darters, but once you feel that glide, it becomes a trusted tool.
Best needlefish lure: Super Strike Super N Fish
When bass feed on thin bait such as sand eels, a needle is often the answer. The Super Strike Super N Fish is a proven option.
Why anglers rely on it
- Long, slim body matches natural forage.
- Multiple sizes and weights cover bowls, bars, and deep cuts.
- Casts extremely far, making it ideal for open beaches.
- Works in both calm and rough water.
Cast and let the lure sink to the depth you want, then reel slowly. The lure’s subtle wobble and profile tease bass that have seen louder plugs all night.
Best popper: Super Strike Little Neck Popper
The Super Strike Little Neck Popper is a classic striped bass popper that performs in many conditions.
What it brings to the table
- Strong casting design that reaches distant rips.
- Cup face throws water and makes a sharp splash.
- Works with slow pops or faster chugging retrieves.
- Comes in sizes for back bays, open surf, and boat use.
Use shorter, sharp rod pops for a louder presentation, or gentle sweeps for a quieter look when bass are shy. The lure imitates a wounded baitfish thrashing on the surface, which stripers often crush at dawn and dusk.
Best big-fish topwater: Musky Mania Saltwater Doc
The Musky Mania Saltwater Doc has a reputation for attracting very large stripers.
Why big fish like it
- Large, heavy body pushes a lot of water.
- Walk-the-dog action taunts big, hunting bass.
- Casts far from shore and from boats.
- Easy for many anglers to work with a simple side-to-side retrieve.
Cast, pick up slack, then twitch the rod tip side to side while reeling just enough to keep tension. The lure glides and swings, acting like a large, wounded baitfish. When big stripers commit, the strikes are often explosive.
Best all-round soft topwater: Lunker City Slug-Go
The Lunker City Slug-Go is a soft plastic that behaves like a topwater and a twitch bait.
Where it excels
- Soft floating plastic gives it a lively, natural look.
- Deadly in shallow flats, back bays, and calm coves.
- Can be rigged weightless or with a small belly weight.
- Works well when fish refuse louder plugs.
Cast it out, let it settle, then twitch the rod tip with gentle pauses. The lure darts and glides like a wounded baitfish, which is very hard for finicky stripers to ignore.
If you often fish light tackle in the back bays and also chase other species there, you might pair this lure with gear from best multi-tool for survival for shore missions and scouting trips.
Best budget pencil: Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper
The Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper offers classic pencil performance at a friendly price.
Why it deserves a spot in your bag
- Walks and splashes like injured baitfish on the surface.
- Strong casting design for beaches, jetties, and inlets.
- Proven fish-catcher that many anglers start with.
- Lower cost makes it less painful to throw into rough, rocky areas.
Work it much like the Panic Pencil: rod-tip pumps, steady retrieve, and lively surface splash. It continues to catch stripers year after year and remains a solid choice for anglers who want results without paying premium plug prices.
Comparison: best striped bass lures by situation
| Situation | Recommended Lure(s) |
|---|---|
| All-round use | S&S John Skinner Bucktail |
| Daytime surf, clear water | Savage Gear Panic Pencil Popper |
| Calm night, back bay or open beach | Daiwa Floating Salt Pro Minnow Plug |
| Rough surf at night | Super Strike Little Neck Swimmer |
| Fast inlet or rip current | Super Strike ZigZag (darter) |
| Sand eel or slim bait pattern | Super Strike Super N Fish (needle) |
| General popper fishing | Super Strike Little Neck Popper |
| Big-fish topwater | Musky Mania Saltwater Doc |
| Shallow, quiet water | Lunker City Slug-Go |
| Budget pencil for surf fishing | Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper |
FAQ
Proven lures for striped bass include the S&S John Skinner Striped Bass Fixed Hook Bucktail, Savage Gear Panic Pencil Popper, Daiwa Floating Salt Pro Minnow Plug, Super Strike Little Neck Swimmer, Super Strike ZigZag, Super Strike Super N Fish, Super Strike Little Neck Popper, Musky Mania Saltwater Doc, Lunker City Slug-Go, and Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper.
The S&S John Skinner Bucktail has a natural baitfish profile and can be fished in many ways. You can swim it, hop it along the bottom, or use it in a strong current. This makes it suitable for beaches, inlets, jetties, and boat fishing.
Use the Savage Gear Panic Pencil Popper during the day, especially in clear surf with bait on top. It casts far and makes intense surface commotion, which helps draw stripers from a distance when they are hunting near the surface.
On calm nights, stripers often prefer a quieter look. The Daiwa Floating Salt Pro Minnow Plug has a tight, smooth action that imitates small baitfish without too much noise. It casts well and continues to work in a gentle current.
The Super Strike Little Neck Swimmer is a strong choice in rough surf and stronger winds. Its weight and shape help it cast far and hold depth in waves, so it keeps swimming where stripers feed in white water at night.
The Super Strike ZigZag glides from side to side in current, which looks like a struggling baitfish. It holds well in strong rips and inlet flows, where many big stripers feed, especially after dark.
The Super N Fish has a long, thin body that matches sand eels and other slim bait. It casts far, sinks steadily, and has a subtle wobble that convinces bass feeding on these baitfish patterns.
Its cup face sprays water, creating a sharp splash. That sound, combined with its profile, draws stripers to the surface. You can work it slowly or more aggressively, depending on how active the fish are.
The Saltwater Doc is large and heavy, and it moves in a wide walk-the-dog pattern. This action, along with its size, appeals to larger bass hunting big bait. It also casts far, letting you cover broad areas from shore or boat.
The Slug-Go is ideal in shallow, quiet water where bass may shy away from loud plugs. Its soft body and darting action look like a wounded baitfish, which often convinces picky stripers to strike.
Yes. The Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper delivers classic pencil action at a lower price. It still casts well and creates intense surface commotion, giving you a practical way to chase stripers on top without spending too much.
DISCLAIMER:
This blog post is for informational purposes only. We make every effort to provide accurate, current, and well-sourced information, but we cannot guarantee its completeness or absolute accuracy.
All images, videos, and logos used on bestfordaily.com belong to their respective owners. We aim to credit and reference them appropriately. If you are the rightful owner and wish to have your image, video, or logo removed, please contact us.
