The Case for Throwing Hard Lures in Saltwater Fishing
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
Soft plastics VS hard body lures? While soft plastics can’t be beat for their versatility, the best saltwater hard lures offer some unique advantages—especially when puffers are thick, the wind’s blowing, and baitfish are moving fast.
If you’ve been curious about hard plugs but haven’t given them a real shot yet, this is your chance. In this post, I’ll break down why some anglers prefer them, the pros and cons, and how to use the four hard lures in our Hard Body Bundle—a collection I personally fish and trust.
👉 Click here to grab the Hard Body Bundle while it lasts
Why Try Hard Lures?
The best saltwater hard lures solve problems that soft plastics sometimes can’t:
- They cast a mile – Most hard baits are more aerodynamic and weight-balanced, letting you reach distant fish even on windy days.
- They’re puffer-proof – Soft plastics get shredded. These don’t.
- They create reaction strikes – Rattles, wobble, flash, and sound can trigger big bites when fish are fired up.
- They do the work for you – Hard lures are built with their own swim and action, so you don’t have to rig them perfectly or work them just right.
They’re ideal for spring through fall, when baitfish are active and you need to cover water quickly.
Pros and Cons of Hard Baits
Pros:
- Long casting, even in wind
- Durable (especially around puffers and structure)
- Built-in action for covering water fast
- Excellent for mid-column or topwater feeding fish
Cons:
- Not ideal for bottom-hopping or finesse presentations
- Can be too aggressive in clear, pressured water
- Slightly more expensive than soft plastics—but they last way longer
Breakdown: The Best Saltwater Hard Lures for Every Inshore Condition
To make it easier to try these out, we put together the Hard Body Bundle—a four-lure collection that covers a wide range of inshore scenarios. Whether you’re targeting redfish, trout, or snook, there’s a hard bait in here worth throwing.
Here’s what’s inside:
Skinny Lipper (Subsurface Darting Lure)
The all-around workhorse. Casts long, swims just under the surface, and mimics a wounded baitfish. Fish it fast or slow—it works either way.
Fat Lipper (Crankbait with Vibration)
Perfect for dirty water or night fishing. Its wide bill creates strong vibration, and the deep internal rattle helps fish find it in low visibility.
Flea Flicker (Suspending Plug)
This one’s for calm water and picky fish. It sinks slowly, tail-down, and even glides backward—mimicking a dying baitfish to trigger reaction bites.
Moonwalker (Topwater Plug)
Your go-to when fish are striking near the surface. Walks the dog easily and has a rattle that brings predators up for explosive strikes.
Why The Bundle?
Whether you’re tired of puffers destroying your baits, struggling to cast into the wind, or just want to try something different, these are four of the best saltwater hard lures for inshore fishing.
Even better?
We’ve bundled all four of these proven lures so you can get the full lineup at 25% off—essentially a buy 3, get 1 free deal. And if you’re an Insider, your regular discount stacks right on top (40% off)!
👉 Click here to grab the Hard Body Bundle while it lasts
Tight lines,
Luke Simonds
Chief Fishing Addict
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Nice , I like what I see and thanks for the information.
Great information as always.
The fat lipper is basically the KVD wake bait, just saltstrong’s version and the KVD wake bait is $3 cheaper at Bass pro shop at $6.99
The Fat Lipper is a much improved version of the KVD one.., slightly bigger with a stronger core and much stronger hooks. The hooks that come with the KVD are not strong enough for redfish and snook.
Great breakdown, thanks Luke!
I have always used cut bait and soft plastics. My question is do you twitch the hards the same as soft plastics?
Yes, I treat hard plugs similar to soft plastics in that I continually adjust the retrieve in terms of twitches, tempo, and speed until the fish let me know which one they are most interested in.
I am proud to say that I have every lure both hard and soft that salt strong offers and overall they have been productive in both fresh and salt water.
So glad to see that you are enjoying these lures too!
Great info in there. I have had really good luck with the Skinny Lipper, its my favorite hard bait. Its like trout candy.
Thanks for making time to share your findings on the skinny lipper Bobby! It’s my favorite plug as well.