What if I told you the secret to landing that trophy striped bass lies not just in your casting skill, but in what you dangle at the end of your line? Striped bass, or “stripers,” are legendary fighters, but getting them to bite consistently can feel like a guessing game. Choosing the perfect bait is often the biggest hurdle. Do you go natural, like a plump bunker, or rely on the flash of a topwater plug? The wrong choice means hours of casting with nothing to show for it but sore arms and frustration.
This confusion stops right here. Understanding what makes a striper strike—whether they are feeding aggressively near the surface or holding tight to the bottom—is key to success. We are diving deep into the best baits for every situation you’ll face this season. By the end of this guide, you will stop guessing and start catching. Get ready to learn the tried-and-true methods that put more big stripers in your cooler.
Top Bait For Striper Fishing Recommendations
- 【SIMULATED DESIGN】All saltwater fishing lures are designed with brilliant holographic laser finish and create lifelike swimming actions, which can effectively stimulate carnivorous fish to bite at a long distance
- 【GRAVITY BALLS INSIDE】Surf fishing lures have steel rattle balls inside, it will move to the tail when it is thrown out, makes the lures long accurate cast and postural stability. Besides, the balls will make unique noise to attract fish attention
- 【PREMIUM MATERIAL】The fishing lures are made of durable ABS, rigged with ultra-sharp treble hooks and stainless steel split rings, hold strong, allow for faster penetration, increasing the chances of catching fish
- 【APPLICATION】These Jerkbait Lures for Fishing work great for both saltwater and freshwater. Productive when trolling, brilliant for a very broad range of fish species, such as striped bass, salmon, sea trout, striper, pike, walleye and musky etc.
- 【QUANTITY】6pcs minnow lures hard baits, different sizes are available to meet different casting needs and dive depths. Ideal for both novice and experienced anglers!
- ONE-STOP FISHING SOLUTION: stop by and pick up whatever you want for fishing in Syosisny -- fishing lovers secret fishing tackle store. Fishermen's favorite choice.
- WHAT YOU GET: 50PCS soft plastic fishing lures, 2.75inch long, 0.08oz weight.
- LIFE-LIKE FISHING LURES SET: Made of high quality rubber, these soft fishing baits are durable and elastical. Scented silicone oil attached the whole body, which makes the soft bait smooth. The soft fishing lures have 3D eyes, realistic split tail design, bright luster and sequins inside can flash underwater.
- ATTENTION: The package only includes soft plastic lures.
- MULTIPIE PURPOSE: The soft plastic bait can imitate a lot of natural looking motions and fish of all sizes will attack them. These soft baits are great for bass, trout, panfish, crappie, rockfish, mackerel, smallmouths and stripers fishing.
- ✅ LIFE-LIKE ACTION. See the video below. It has a realistic profile of a bait fish that the fish targets. Makes a great gift!
- ✅ SMOOTH GLIDE action that can be retrieved slow with wide side-to-side action.
- ✅ SLOW SINK allows the bait to swim in the strike zone. ROF 5"-6". Throw bait around rocky points and dropoffs.
- ✅ INCLUDEDS SHARP VMC HOOKS. WE USE REAL IMAGE of bait fish wrapped onto lure that is detailed just like the real fish!
- ✅ WEIGHS 2 3/4oz. WALK-THE-DOG Action when retrieved like a jerkbait. Sometimes fish prefer the erratic motion to trigger those big bites!
- Beautiful Appearance：Simulated fish head combined with 3D simulation of fish eyes, plus hand-tied colorful skirt, with advanced dyed deer hair and crystal glitter, so that they are in the water as in swimming, so that our bucktail jigs more realistic more attractive fish effect.
- Strong Jig Hooks：High carbon steel hooks are used, which are very sharp and have needle points to help penetrate quickly and keep the fish caught.
- Good Quality：The Bucktail Jig are made of quality materials and are super strong, durable and rust-free, which means they can stand up to the rigors of fishing.
- Widely Used：The Bucktail Jig has a wide variety of applications in both fresh and saltwater during the summer and winter season.Easily attracts most fish such as Fluke, Stripers, bass, snook, Blackfish, Snapper, Snook, Rockfish, Mackerel, Walleye .
- Packaging and Colors：5 pieces of Bucktail Jigs in different colors mixed by strong packaging.The Bucktail Jigs is available in two weights 0.35oz and 0.49oz
- FULLY RIGGED, INCLUDES EVERYTHING YOU NEED. Umbrella Rig Featuring 5 Arms, and 8 Willow Leaf Blades, 20cm long from tip of head to end of arms. Also Includes (5) 9cm long Swim Baits and (5) 7g Jig Head as shown in the picture
- BASS CAN'T RESIST! Imitates a school of Shad Swimming. The color chosen for this bait is a natural Shad color. Grey, White, and Black colors are great for any time of the year and any type of water clarity
- ADEQUATE SIZE. 20cm from tip of head to the end of the arms which allows you to spread out the arms enough to ensure that the swim baits are seperated enough to ensure the "schooling effect"
- LOOKS LIKE A SCHOOL OF SHAD. 8 willow leaf blades really emphasizes the shad school effect by providing "flashing" under water. Gets bass attention from far distances.
- CATCH MORE THAN 1 AT A TIME. Its not uncommon to catch more than 1 fish at a time on these. And they are great for species other than bass. Basically anything that eats shad wont pass this up.
- This Umbrella Fishing Bait Rigs Kit is very simple, because the swimbait and the jighead are perfectly combined, you can’t see many scattered accessories, just hang the swimbait on the Rigs arms and you can use it.
- But it has an obvious disadvantage. When your bait is bitten by a big fish, you can only replace it in its entirety, and the cost of use may be higher.
- The product you bought has 2 sets of Umbrella fishing rigs with 2 colors. If you are careful, you will definitely find that the swimbait are very different in length and size. Remember to hang the largest swim bait in the last position of arms when using it. because the fish usually attack the lagging fish, if them sees that the swimbait is the largest, it will not hesitate to attack and will not miss the perfect opportunity
- I have another suggestion. You can mix different colors of swimming baits. For example, you can use 4 small green baits. Use white for the big bait at the last position. This will make it easier to attract the attention of big fishes. They have a difference in color. very sensitive
- The largest swimbait has a weight of 26 grams, and the resistance is also high. If you drag the alabama rigs manually, it will feel heavy after long time use. It is recommended that you use a lighter swimbait to search, when you find fish, and then use the biger swimbait to attract the big fish, This fishing Rigs uses boat trolling is the best, whether it is fresh or salt water.
- WIDELY FISHING SPECIES - Using Japan material, the freshwater fishing lures is the perfect size at 3.5in, which ready to take on multiple hits. Whether you are fishing reefs, estuaries, rivers, fresh or saltwater, the Truscend lures for fishing will become your essential paddle tail lure to target bass, trout, Walleye, pike snook, salmon, redfish and many more.
- LIFE-LIKE ACTION - The bass fishing lures have a special 3D paddle tail to give off turbulence, ultra-realistic patterns, life-like halographic eyes and solid wire through construction to ultra-sharp BKK back hook. The Top Hook protects against hangups. Its weedless nature enables you to fish it well through all types of cover.
- LONG CASTING JIG HEAD - Having an ideal weight for long casting and slow sinking, Truscend fishing bait can achieve a slow, flutter presentation. Featuring a precisely engineered shape, the soft body swimbaits generate the perfect kicking action. You can easily cast the fishing jigs bait into your ideal fish area.
- JAPAN DESIGN - Constructed from high quality materials from Japan, expertly design and rigorous testing of light refraction fish pattern make TRUSCEND "Shad Paddle Tail Bait" more realistic and attractive. The soft plastic fishing lures who lively Japanese design perfectly emulates erratic baitfish action.
- ULTRA-SHARP HOOK - Equipped with sharp high quality high carbon steel hook on back, the innovative design of these soft lures can help ensure increased fish hook ups in all situations while avoid getting hung up when fishing. The bass lures can take your bass fishing game to the next level.
- The Creek Chub Striper Strike delivers super-long casts – perfect for fishing the surf, below dams or anywhere long-casts are necessary to catch fish.
- As a slow-sinking lure, the Striper Strike should be retrieved quickly on top to mimic an escaping baitfish, driving stripers, bass, redfish and other gamefish wild.
- The Striper Strike was engineered to be cast farther than other lures, perfect for anglers plying the surf, fishing below dams or anywhere long casts are required.
- Subsurface cranking technique with treble saltwater hook. Durable and trophy-tough hardware.
- Species: Salt, Striped Bass, Bluefish
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Bait for Striper Fishing
Striped bass, or stripers, are powerful fish. They offer an exciting fight for any angler. Choosing the right bait is crucial for success. This guide helps you pick the perfect lure or live bait for your next striper trip.
Key Features to Look For in Striper Bait
When you shop for striper bait, look closely at a few important things. These features make a big difference in how often fish bite.
1. Size and Profile
Stripers eat many different things. Big stripers often chase large meals. Look for baits that match the size of the baitfish already in the water. A bait that looks too small might get ignored by a large fish. A good profile means the bait looks real from a distance.
2. Action in the Water
How the bait moves matters a lot. Whether you use a lure or natural bait, it needs to swim or sink naturally. Hard plastic lures should wobble or dart convincingly. Soft plastics should swim smoothly when retrieved slowly. Poor action scares fish away.
3. Color Selection
Color choice depends on the water clarity and the time of day. Clear water often calls for natural colors like silver or white. Murky water benefits from bright colors like chartreuse or fire-tiger. Always carry a few different colors to test the water conditions.
Important Materials: What Your Bait Is Made Of
The materials used in bait construction affect durability and realism.
- Hard Baits (Plugs and Jigs): High-quality plastics like durable ABS are best. These resist cracking when hitting rocks or being chomped by a big striper. Metal components, like hooks and split rings, must be corrosion-resistant, especially in saltwater environments.
- Soft Plastics: Soft baits need to feel natural in the fish’s mouth. Look for soft plastics infused with scents. This keeps the fish holding on longer, giving you more time to set the hook.
- Live Bait: If using live bait like eels or bunker, ensure the source keeps the bait healthy. Healthy, lively bait attracts more strikes than sluggish ones.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Bait Quality
Good quality bait lasts longer and catches more fish. Poor quality bait fails quickly.
Improving Quality:
Sharp, strong hooks greatly improve quality. Ensure the line tie is strong and won’t bend easily. For artificial lures, well-applied paint jobs that resist chipping are a sign of high manufacturing standards. Many experienced anglers upgrade stock hooks immediately for better strength.
Reducing Quality:
Cheap hardware is a major quality reducer. Thin wire hooks bend easily when fighting a large fish. Plastic bodies that are too soft tear easily on the first few casts. Inspect all connection points before you leave the dock.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about where and how you plan to fish. This changes the best bait choice.
Surf Casting:
When casting from the beach, you need distance. Heavy jigs or durable plugs with good weight distribution cast farthest. You want baits that stay near the bottom where stripers often feed on sand eels or crabs.
Boat Fishing (Trolling or Casting):
When trolling, large diving plugs are effective. These baits mimic larger forage fish deep in the water column. When casting near structure or jetties, use weedless soft plastics or bucktail jigs that you can work vertically.
Live Bait Tactics:
Using live eels or herring near channels or inlets often triggers aggressive strikes from large migratory stripers. This method requires more preparation but often yields the biggest results when conditions are right.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Striper Bait
Q: What is the single best type of bait for stripers year-round?
A: Many anglers consider a white or chartreuse bucktail jig the most versatile bait. It imitates many different food sources and works well in various water conditions.
Q: Should I use live bait or artificial lures?
A: Live bait often triggers more bites, especially from very large, picky fish. However, artificial lures offer ease of use, casting distance, and are always legal, unlike some live bait restrictions.
Q: How does water temperature affect my bait choice?
A: In very cold water (early spring or late fall), stripers are sluggish. Slower moving, natural baits work best. Warmer water allows them to chase faster, more erratic lures.
Q: What is the best color for murky or stained water?
A: Bright colors that create a strong silhouette are best. Think fire-tiger, bright chartreuse, or dark colors like black or purple.
Q: Do I need to add scent to my artificial lures?
A: Adding a fish attractant scent often helps. It gives the fish an extra reason to hold onto the bait longer after the initial strike.
Q: How often should I change my bait when I am not getting bites?
A: If you have not had a strike within 15 to 20 casts, change your bait’s color or action. Fish get used to seeing the same thing repeatedly.
Q: Are heavy metal jigs good for catching big stripers?
A: Yes, heavy jigs are excellent for deep water or strong currents. They sink fast and allow you to work the bottom where many large feeding stripers stay.
Q: What is the best way to store soft plastic baits?
A: Keep soft plastics in their original packaging, especially if they are oil-based or scented. Do not let different colors touch, as the colors can bleed together.
Q: Does the time of day matter for bait selection?
A: Yes. During low light hours (dawn and dusk), natural or darker colors are effective. Midday usually requires brighter or more reflective baits.
Q: What size hooks should I look for on a plug?
A: For average stripers (20-30 inches), size 2 or 1/0 treble hooks work well. For trophy fish, look for hooks that are size 1/0 or larger, ensuring they are strong enough.