What are the best artificial lures for species like bay bass, halibut and shortfin corvina?

[Ken Jones]

Although I have a plethora of different lures I primarily am a bait fisherman. However, in looking through old reports it's kind of amazing the number of people that prefer using lures (for a variety of reasons).

I was updating a story on the Shelter Island Pier and the eelgrass beds there that yield a lot of spotted bay bass (as well as kelp bass and sand bass). The sandy area next to the beds yield a lot of halibut and at night the shortfin corvina show up.

Lures mentioned included:

Big Hammers
Fish Traps
MC Swimbaits
Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullets
Scampis
Scroungers
Berkeley Gulp Jerk Shads
Zoom Flukes

If you fish with any of these what are your favorites?

 

[pinfish]

I used to also fly fish there. nymph-ing shrimp-like flies. pretty effective avoiding all the snags and kelp. and natural presentation helps with wary fish.

 

[onelilcrazyazn]

I like using the flukes with paddle tail on a drop shot rig when fishing for butts in sandy area and a big hammer swimbait when fishing around rocky areas

 

[packyourtrash]

Fish Trap isn’t around anymore. Big hammers have a good thump, but Corey has better colors with his MC swimbaits. Gulp’s effectiveness is undeniable, but it’s pricey and often leaks when you buy it buy the pint. Zoom flukes are a go to, readily available and come in colors to cover any scenario.

 

[Ken Jones]

I thought Fish Trap had a new owner but you could be right. Haven't seen them lately.

 

[pinfish]

I use whatever the freshwater bass fishing market is selling

 

[Ken Jones]

Anyone else know if Fish Trap soft lures are history? Reason I am asking is I will need to remove their name from my articles.

 

[pinfish]

the tackle shops in the Southern California stock all that good stuff. Up here they only have fishing gear for deep sea fishing and freshwater fishing. Nothing for brackish, bay, and surf fishing.