Best Sea Bass Lures

Built as a slim, weedless version of the Sandy Andy, the Westin Sandy Andy Weedless Jig has an ultra-realistic sandeel design made for saltwater species, particularly sea bass. Sizes are 10cm at 16g, 13cm at 23g and 15cm at 33g, on a lead head with an ultra-sharp, wide-gap single hook.

The soft body has a hook slot in the belly and is free from toxic phthalates. A small paddle tail swims at any speed, and a fast-attach system with a micro stainless-steel plate lets you change the body in seconds. Finishes are Snow White, Tobis Ammo and Real Sandeel.

Fish it from the shore or a boat, fast or slow, on a steady retrieve or jigged among bottom structure. Next to the Westin Sandy Andy Jig, you get the weedless hook slot and a larger 15cm size.

To be fair, there are only three finishes, and the 15cm at 33g is a lot of lure for shallow water. For sea bass over rough, weedy ground, though, I think it's the lure I'd start with.

A hand-painted sandeel profile sits on a pre-moulded jig in the Westin Sandy Andy Jig, made for sea bass, cod and sea trout. It comes in 10cm at 12g and 13cm at 22g, and hook sizes run #1/0, #3/0, #4/0 and #5/0.

An ultra-sharp, strong Japanese-style sea hook is mounted in the jig, and the soft, durable body has optimised flexibility. Tailpieces can be replaced to extend its working life, and each pack holds one head and two bodies.

Fish it jig-and-sink or on a steady retrieve. Next to the Westin Sandy Andy Weedless Jig, it's lighter for its length, but the hook sits in the jig rather than a weedless slot. The Savage Gear Sandeel V2 Weedless adds a rattle and a weedless EWG hook.

To be fair, there are only two sizes, and snaggy ground calls for a weedless lure. For sea bass, cod and sea trout over cleaner ground, though, I think it's a dependable sandeel jig with a spare body in every pack.

With a soft PVC sandeel body and a weedless EWG hook, the Savage Gear Sandeel V2 Weedless is a sinking lure made for predator fishing. The 11.5cm and 13cm bodies come at 22g or 31g, with a #3/0 hook on the 22g and a #5/0 on the 31g.

It kicks on the retrieve and the drop, and a rolling-rise jig head rolls the lure and lifts it as you wind. The EWG hook clicks on and can be swapped, a Pro Peg holder and toothpicks fix the body to the head, and a removable glass rattle sits inside.

The sandeel profile and weedless hook suit the way bass anglers fish soft lures over weed and rock. Next to the Westin Sandy Andy Jig, it adds a rattle and a weedless hook. The Storm Biscay Minnow 9cm is smaller and fully rigged.

To be fair, each pack has one jig head and two tails rather than two complete lures. For anglers who like to tweak a soft sandeel's set-up, though, I think it's a clever, adaptable lure.

Sold two to a pack, the Storm Biscay Minnow 9cm is a sinking, fully rigged soft lure at 16g, made for long casts from the shore or a boat. Its slim, supple baitfish-profile body rides a tapered weighted jig head with a fixed VMC hook, to reduce drag and cut through coastal wind.

It's made for fast fishing in rough water or a more aggressive presentation, yet the paddle tail still kicks at slow speeds and keeps working as it falls. Depth changes with sink time, rod angle and retrieve speed, from just below the surface to the seabed.

That suits bass anglers who need distance on a windy shore. Next to the Savage Gear Sandeel V2 Weedless, it's smaller and ready to fish, though the hook is fixed rather than weedless. The Storm Biscay Shad 12cm is the larger, weedless choice.

To be fair, it comes in one 9cm, 16g size only. For rough water or a stiff wind, though, I think it's a handy rigged lure, with an eyelet for an extra hook or blade.

Articulated through the body and head, the Storm Biscay Shad 12cm mimics the swimming motion of a small baitfish. It has a 31g jig weight and a single 5/0 VMC hook, and each pack holds two complete rigged lures in Green Mackerel, Mullet or Sandeel.

A paddle tail produces a strong action, and the weighted head lets it work on the drop as well as the retrieve. The supple body is fixed by a free-swinging screw, with the hook hidden in a weedless channel, so you can work it nearer the seabed or structure.

It casts well from the shore, and from a boat it can be fished vertically or on a flying collar rig over wrecks. Next to the Storm Biscay Minnow 9cm, it's larger and weedless. Beside the Savage Gear Surf Walker 2.0, it works near the bottom rather than across the top.

To be fair, it comes in one size only, 12cm at 31g. For shore anglers working near structure, or boat anglers over wrecks, though, I think it's a versatile paddle tail.

Long and slim at 15.5cm and 17g, the Savage Gear Surf Walker 2.0 is a saltwater walking lure for sea bass, bluefish, barracudas and leerfish. It carries a size 6 SGY Saltwater UAR 3X NP treble and comes in four colours.

The tiniest rod twitch starts it dancing, and the walking action has been increased by up to 50%. A redesigned weight system gives a more stable flight and casts up to 30% further than the original Surf Walker. Three UV red dots near the tail sit just above the rear hook to reduce missed bites.

It suits sea bass anglers who want to walk a lure across the surface at range. Next to the Storm Biscay Shad 12cm, it works on top rather than near the seabed. Beside the Savage Gear Bullet Mullet, it's longer at 15.5cm, against 8cm and 10cm.

To be fair, there's one size only, and it needs steady rod work rather than a straight wind. For sea bass on the surface, though, I think it's a long-casting walker with a clever strike point.

Shaped like a mullet, the Savage Gear Bullet Mullet is a floating surface walker for predators feeding on top, including sea bass, and for LRF and light game fishing. It comes in 8cm and 10cm, with the 10cm weighing 17.3g.

Its walk-the-dog action is made for calm days, and every swing shows the lure's side and full profile. An ultra-long-cast design gives a steady flight for long, accurate casts, and a discreet rattle draws attention without spooking fish. Micro foam on the gills gives off tiny bubbles, and strong saltwater trebles are fitted.

It suits calm conditions when bass are feeding on top, often at dawn and dusk. Next to the Savage Gear Surf Walker 2.0, it's shorter and adds an 8cm size. Beside the Rapala Precision Xtreme Pencil, it's smaller and lighter, with a discreet rattle rather than a knocker.

To be fair, its action is made for calm days, so it's less at home in rough water. For sea bass on a flat, calm surface, though, I think it's a neat, lifelike little walker.

Rapala's Precision Xtreme Pencil is a topwater saltwater lure made for casting, with a walk-the-dog action. The 10.7cm model weighs 21g with two size 3 trebles, and the 12.7cm weighs 26g with three, all VMC 7548 Ti-Coated, across 12 saltwater prey patterns.

Its through-wired plastic body carries a sliding weight on an internal rail, which doubles as the Dual Frequency Knocker. It strikes a plastic pillar and a stainless-steel weight in turn, giving high and low pitches. A textured translucent finish adds printed scales and a 3D holographic eye.

It suits saltwater anglers who want sound as well as a walking action on top. Next to the Savage Gear Bullet Mullet, it's larger and heavier, with a knocker in place of a discreet rattle. The Savage Gear Sandeel Pencil SW sinks, where this one stays on the surface.

To be fair, the 12.7cm carries three trebles, which is a lot of hooks to handle. For a loud walk-the-dog lure on top, though, I think it's a durable, well-finished pencil.

Based on a 3D scan of a real sandeel, the Savage Gear Sandeel Pencil SW is a sinking sea lure for sea bass. The 9cm weighs 13g with a size 5 treble and a 1/0 inline single, and the 12.5cm weighs 19g with a size 5 treble and a 2/0 single.

Its slim body swims in an S-curve with the head slightly up, and on a pause it flutters and rolls backwards. A built-in rattle chamber clicks loudly when you twitch it, and the long-cast design covers plenty of water. A treble hook protector is supplied.

It suits bass anglers who want a sandeel shape under the surface. Next to the Rapala Precision Xtreme Pencil, it sinks rather than walking on top. Beside the Savage Gear Seeker ISP, it swims a sandeel S-curve instead of flashing on a spin-stop.

To be fair, the 12.5cm comes in Sayoris only, so colour choice sits with the 9cm. For sea bass on sandeels, though, I think it's a lifelike sinking pencil.

Made for ultra-distance casting in windy conditions, the Savage Gear Seeker ISP is a super-long-cast blade lure for sea trout and sea bass. Sizes run 6.8cm at 12g, 8.7cm at 16g, 9.8cm at 23g and 10cm at 28g, each with a Y-treble and a wide-gape, beak-point single hook.

The blade swims lively and erratically, then makes a 360-degree rotation on a spin-stop to throw a flash. Body holes filled with Night Glow and UV epoxy paste form Intense Strike Points that draw fish to the tail, where the hook sits.

It suits bass and sea trout anglers who need range into a wind. Next to the Savage Gear Sandeel Pencil SW, it trades the sandeel shape for flash and distance. Beside the Savage Gear Surf Seeker, it's lighter, at 12g to 28g against 30g to 40g.

To be fair, it stops at 28g, and there's no sandeel pattern among the five colours. For sea bass and sea trout at long range, though, I think it's a smart, well-hooked blade.

Super-light metal alloy forms the body of the Savage Gear Surf Seeker, a super-long-casting sinking lure with a lively, erratic action. It comes in 10cm at 30g, 10.5cm at 35g and 11cm at 40g, one lure to a pack.

On a spin-stop, it turns away from the retrieve's centreline at once and flashes through a 360-degree rotation. ISP strike points sit in the tail, and the wire-through build carries SGY 2X UAR-finish No. 3 trebles, with a strong No. 3/0 inline single included.

Its distance and sinking body suit the long casts bass anglers often need from open shores. Next to the Savage Gear Seeker ISP, it's heavier, at 30g to 40g. Beside the Dexter Wedge, it's lighter, with an erratic action rather than a wobble.

To be fair, there's only one lure per pack, and 30g is the lightest size. For shore anglers who need to reach fish a long way out, though, I think it's a sound long-range metal with a handy single hook included.

Strong and long casting, the Dexter Wedge is a metal lure designed for casting in salt or fresh water, and it comes in 60g and 80g. Its wobbling action comes from its shape, and the highly reflective silver foil changes colour as it moves through the water.

Chromed solid brass blades, stainless-steel split rings and quality hooks are fitted. It can also be fished as a jigging lure, or used in place of a lead when wreck fishing with feathers, lures or Hokkai rigs in deep water.

The weight and casting distance suit bass anglers who need to cover water a long way out, and the jigging and wreck uses make it useful afloat. Next to the Savage Gear Surf Seeker, it's heavier, at 60g and 80g against 30g to 40g, with a wobble rather than an erratic action.

To be fair, 60g is the lightest option, which is heavy for many lure rods. For anglers who want one tough metal for long casts, jigging and wreck work, though, I think it's a versatile lure.