Striped bass are aggressive and reckless, making them a perfect target for artificial lures. From the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic, striped bass anglers score with topwater, swimming plugs, jigs, spoons and almost any lure that resembles a stressed-out baitfish or crustacean.
The true test of a striped bass lure is both its attraction and durability. When the bite is on, and 40-pound rockfish are launching out of the water to crush a topwater, only the toughest lure will survive the feeding frenzy.
Our picks for the best lures start with alluring action and attractive appearance, and end with beefy hooks, bulletproof construction and a durable finish.
Best Striped Bass Lures: Our Top Picks
- Shimano Ocea Bomb Dip Flashboost
- Rapala Countdown Mag
- FishLab BBZ Hardbait
- Yo-Zuri Mag Pencil
- Savage RevMag Walker Salt
- Berkley PowerBait CullShad
Best Striped Bass Lure Overall
Shimano Ocea Bomb Dip Flashboost
MSRP: $39.99
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Why I Love It
Nothing beats the excitement of a topwater striped bass bite. The lure splashes and flees across the surface until a striper comes half out of the water, mouth gaping open, and descends on its victim. Shimano’s Ocea Bomb Dip Flashboost is designed to entice a striper to bite and then keep the fish pinned all the way to the boat.
The Bomb Dip is a large cup-faced topwater appropriate for trophy striped bass. Every aspect of the lure is designed to cause chaos and commotion. The cup face has a bubble chamber that adds a deep gulping sound. Inside the clear-plastic lure body, holographic tape imitates the prism of fish scales, and a suspended piece of foil rocks and spins to reflect light like a disco ball. To increase casting distance, the Ocea has a weight transfer system that moves the center of gravity from the front of the lure to the back while the lure flies through the air. When the Bomb Dip hits water, the weight settles in the center of the lure to improve swimming action. Shimano designed the Ocea for tuna and wahoo, so there will be no issue trusting the heavy-duty treble hooks to hold up.
Reasons to Buy
- Internal flash
- Sliding casting weight
- Bubble chamber
Consider Another Model If
- You target smaller striped bass
- You need a finesse topwater
Who Should Buy The Ocea Bomb Dip Flashboost
Anglers who target large striped bass feeding on the surface need the Ocea Bomb Dip Flashboost.
When the striped bass are in a feeding frenzy, and bait is flying out of the water, a topwater lure with exaggerated action and noise gets a crazed striper’s attention. Match the local bait with menhaden- or anchovy-themed color schemes. The big lure requires a heavy-action rod and 5000-size saltwater spinning reel or 400-size baitcaster to control. I like the sturdy construction and heavy-duty hooks to put maximum pressure on a brawling bass. Beating and releasing the fish quickly reduces post-release mortality to give the fish a fighting chance at survival.
Best Trolling Lure
Rapala Countdown Magnum
MSRP: $20.49
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Why I Love It
I don’t leave the dock without Rapala’s Countdown Magnum. These classic wooden swimming plugs are tank tested and guaranteed to run straight at speeds up to six knots.
Built tough with a metal lip, welded line tie, and steel hooks, the Countdown Magnum is capable of handling the biggest striped bass. In any conditions, at any trolling speed, the Countdown Mag swims with a predictable, tight wobble.
I rig the swimming plug on five feet of 50-pound monofilament leader. I use split ring pliers to attach a 250-pound-test swivel to the split ring on the lure’s lip. Then I tie a perfection loop in the other end of the leader and clip it to a 250 pound-test snap swivel on my fishing line. I like the Countdown Mag for a search bait because I can troll fast to find the fish and then slow down to work a specific area.
Reasons to Buy
- Welded line tie
- Wood body
- Reliable swimming action at high or low speeds
Consider Another Model If
- You’re targeting smaller striped bass
- You need a deep-swimming lure
Who Should Buy The Rapala Countdown Magnum
The Rapala Countdown Magnum is one of the most versatile lures in the world. The lure can be cast and retrieved, but I prefer to troll at up to six knots. Striped bass generally respond to a slow-trolled lure, and the Countdown Mag will swim as slow as two knots.
Rapala brags that the Mag is responsible for more IGFA World Records than any other lure. The Countdown Mag has been around the world for decades, the aggressive shape, tight swimming action and durable construction are universally recognized as fish-fooling juju. Anglers fishing for large striped bass in open water need to add a Countdown Mag to the spread.
Best Swimbait For Striped Bass
FishLab BBZ Hard Swimbait
MSRP: $19.99
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Why I Love It
Hard-body swimbaits are the rage with freshwater bass anglers and the FishLab BBZ Hard Swimbait brings the trend to saltwater.
Winner of the 2025 ICAST Best Saltwater Hard Lure, the BBZ Hard Bait is designed to sink slowly and suspend in the water where subtle twitches of the rod tip transfer down the four body sections for a life-like swimming action. Fish get a good look at a hovering swimbait, so the Hard Bait is outfitted with life-like fish patterns and colors.
Finicky striped bass are wary of hitting a lure, but the Hard Bait’s super sticky BKK treble hooks connect with the lightest bite. My favorite feature is the hybrid tail, which acts as a rudder to keep the lure upright and undulating in place.
Reasons to Buy
- Reasonable price for a swimbait
- Award-winning design
- 6- and 4.5-inch sizes
Consider Another Model If
- You need a custom swimbait
- You are fishing deep water
Who Should Buy The FishLab BBZ Hard Bait
When the striped bass are in a feeding frenzy, keep the swimbait in the tackle box. But when striped bass turn up their noses at other lures, break out the FishLab BBZ Hard Bait.
To entice finicky striped bass, the swimbait hovers in the water with a slow swimming action. The big lure makes an easy target that even the most suspicious striper can’t turn down. In clear, shallow water, striped bass are often wary of loud, flashy lures. I use the large ultra-realistic swimbait tied to fluorocarbon leader for a realistic presentation. Work the lure by quickly turning the reel handle a few cranks followed by a long pause.
Best Walk-The-Dog Topwater
Yo-Zuri Mag Pencil
MSRP: $24.99
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Why I Love It
Working a large walk-the-dog style topwater lure is one of the most deadly tactics for big striped bass. Yo-Zuri’s Mag Pencil is eight inches long for a huge profile and a wide track.
Casting a big plug is like throwing a log into a hurricane. The Mag Pencil uses a weight-transfer system to load the lure on the backswing and then launch the lure on the cast. When the lure hits the water, the weight returns to center to improve the swimming action. Moving a large lure through the water takes a lot of work. The Mag Pencil has an upturned face and slight keel to bounce across the water. The front and rear hooks are connected with a wire running through the lure body so the fish stays hooked if the lure is destroyed. Opportunities to catch big striper on topwater are rare—the Mag Pencil is optimized to make those encounters successful.
Reasons to Buy
- Through-wire construction
- Nine colors
- Giant eight-inch profile
Consider Another Model If
- You need a smaller lure
- You like custom lures
Who Should Buy The Yo-Zuri Mag Pencil
Where I live, the only opportunity to target large striped bass with topwater lures occurs in the spring on the flats. Schools of 20 to 40 pound striped bass move into the clear, shallow water, making them very spooky. One way to fool them is with a walk-the-dog topwater lure. By holding my rod tip low and jerking the tip back and forth while making quick half turns of the reel handle, the lure rocks back and forth while moving slowly across the surface. To make the most of every opportunity, I use a premium topwater lure like the Yo-Zuri Mag Pencil. I have several color options to match local mullet and menhaden patterns. The through-wire construction means I can rely on the Mag Pencil to stay stuck when I connect with a big striper.
Best Small Walk-The-Dog Striped Bass Lure
Savage Gear RevMag Walker Salt
MSRP: $16.99
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SAVAGE GEAR BASS PRO SHOP CABELA’S
Why I Love It
When I target school-sized striped bass, I keep one rod rigged with a walk-the-dog topwater lure. I don’t use the set-up on every trip, but when striped bass are slurping bait off the surface, I want to be ready. The Savage RevMag Walker Salt is ready for action in any weather or water condition. The lure’s aerodynamic shape and weight transfer system improve casting distance and accuracy. The lure uses magnets to secure the internal weight between a tail-weighted position for casting and a center-weighted weighted to float naturally on the water. My favorite detail is the V-shaped keel that allows the lure to land quietly without spooking the fish.
Reasons to Buy
- 10 color options
- Two sizes
- Weight transfer system in a small lure
Consider Another Model If
- You need a larger topwater lure
- You are on a budget
Who Should Buy The Savage RevMag Walker Salt
Topwater fishing is so addictive, many anglers dedicate themselves to the tactic. Watching the lure dance across the surface until it is engulfed by a gaping striper’s mouth offers a rush like no other drug. Anglers who are hooked on topwater demand a lure with all the advantages. The Savage RevMag Walker Salt is designed to optimize action and attraction. The magnetic casting weight is unique for a smaller topwater lure. The system allows me to use a baitcasting rod to cast the lure in high wind for accuracy and distance. I use a topwater lure as a search bait, so maximum casting distance allows me to cover more water with the confidence of a premium lure fine-tuned to attract fish.
Best Soft Swimbait Lure For Striped Bass
Berkley PowerBait Cull Shad
MSRP: $10.99
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Why I Love It
When I mark striped bass with my forward-facing sonar, but I can’t get them to bite, I break out the Berkley Cull Shad.
The soft-plastic swimbait has a unique weight system that allows the lure to hover in the water or swim slowly to entice suspicious bass. The tail section has a honeycomb texture to maximize lure action with minimal movement. This allows the lure to hold steady over suspended fish marks for maximum time in the strike zone.
Berkley gave the Cull Shad their Saltwater PowerBait fish attractant profile and beefy single hook on top with a 3X treble secured with a belly harness. When a fish hits the stationary lure, it’s up to the treble hook to make the connection. I like the Cull Shad because it is subtle enough to tempt a wary striper with tough construction to withstand a saltwater battle.
Reasons to Buy
- Adjustable depth
- Hook harness
- Durable honeycomb tail
Consider Another Model If
- You need a larger swimbait
- You need a deep-diving lure
Who Should Buy the Berkley Cull Shad
Slow-sinking swimbaits are the big trend, and this puts the Cull Shad in position to become a striped bass angler’s favorite lure.
Berkley started with their Saltwater PowerBait scented plastic and added a durable reinforced honeycomb textured tail that is both soft and durable. I like the hook options, including a single hook and a treble in the belly harness. The lure is available in a four-inch and six-inch version for medium or larger striped bass. The Cull Shad sinks slowly with the tail moving to entice a finicky fish. Add a few nail weights to increase the depth and speed the lure sinks. In shallow water with lock-jaw striped bass, the CullShad forces fish to make the wrong decision.
Striped Bass Lure Brands
How We Tested The Best Striped Bass Lures
Striped bass are not the smartest fish in the ocean. They are famously aggressive and easy to fool, but hard-core striper anglers know the fish can also be coy and uninterested.
To test the best striped bass lures, I looked beyond classics to the latest generation of high-performance striper lures. Advancements in topwater lures and the growing trend for large swimbaits allowed me to explore new ways to target striped bass.
I’m a dedicated topwater angler. That means, when the conditions are right, I work a topwater lure for hours without a bite when other lures might have produced fish. I sacrifice success for the exhilaration of watching a striped bass attack my topwater lure. I measured the best topwater lures to give me the greatest confidence that my lure is doing everything to maximize my chances of fooling a fish. Most importantly, when I finally convince a striper to eat my surface lure, I know the solid construction and premium components will seal the deal.
The same goes for swimbaits. When the striped bass go silent, I switch to a slow-moving swimbait to pique their interest. A suspicious striper gets a good look at a suspended swimbait. To pass inspection, the lure needs to look and move like a real baitfish. Striped bass often strike when the lure isn’t moving, and my line is slack. The hooks and lure design need to improve the chance of hooking the fish.
Sure, when the bass are fired up and on a feeding frenzy, any old lure will work. To take striper fishing to the next level and target the toughest striper, I rely on the lures included in this article.
Feature Image: Ric Burnley
