Z-Man's PrawnstarZ ICAST's Best Soft Saltwater Lure. (Photo courtesy of Z-Man Fishing)
July 23, 2024
By Alan Clemons
Amid the vast expanse of a saltwater flat or bay, it would seem unlikely to some people that a 4-inch lure could attract a hungry redfish, speckled trout or other fish. But they do, and this year’s new lures introduced at the 67th annual ICAST Show also attracted a lot of interest.
The show is the debut for many products amid the fishing world, from trolling motors and electric reels to jigheads, hook removers and clothing. Here are some of the hottest new saltwater lures that we saw this year in Orlando.
Z-Man Fishing PrawnstarZ Z-Man Fishing's PrawnstarZ Who has the cocktail sauce and cold beers? That’s what you might think after seeing the new Z-Man Fishing Prawnstar, thanks to its realism and anatomically correct antennae, swimming legs and tail. Don’t eat it, though. That’s what fish are supposed to do. The pre-rigged Prawnstar is weighted and balanced to help maintain a horizontal plane during the fall or on the bottom. It shines For inshore species such as flounder, redfish, snook or speckled trout, whether you’re sight-casting, drifting or dancing it under a popping cork. The ElaZtech body handles toothy bites while maintaining its realistic appearance and colors. The legs and hinged tail move with each twitch or pop, and an internal glass rattle gives it the clicky-pop sound shrimp make when flittering around. Available in September, it comes in a 3.5-inch 3/16th version with a 2/0 hook and 5-inch 1/2-ounce sizes with a 5/0 hook in 12 colors. zmanfishing.com
Z-Man Fishing Shadtron LT Swimbait Z-Man Fishing Shadtron LT Along with the PrawnstarZ, the new Shadtron LT from Z-Man looks like a winner for imitating mullet or other swimmy baitfish. It has an over/under line-through harness for a top- or belly-hook rig setup. The thick, rounded wedge tail pulses and thumps during a slow retrieve but doesn’t blow out on faster ones. Sometimes you need a slower presentation and, at other times, a speed-burner to turn on a fish. The tough ElaZtech body comes in eight realistic photo-printed and hand-painted colors in 4.5- and 6-inch sizes with slow or fast-sink options. Available in November. zmanfishing.com
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Heddon Spin’n Image Heddon Spin’n Image Tailspin topwaters aren’t new, but the tiny change with the Heddon Spin’n Image could put a few more fish in the boat. A small hole in the rotating tail offers a slightly different sound. It also creates a bubble trail, which at times could make a difference. The Spin’n Image is tabbed as a "finesse topwater lure," so it might shine in areas that have been pressured. It’s 3.5-inches long, weighs 1/2-ounce, has No. 4 black nickel treble hooks and works on baitcasting or spinning rigs. Eight colors include Black Shiner, Bone Olive and Clear with Blue Face. lurenet.com
Yum FF Sonar Minnow Yum FF Sonar Minnow Designed for forward facing sonar in the freshwater world, the new Yum FF Sonar Minnow baits offer a different presentation for inshore action. The sleek design creates a quivering tail movement with a reel-and-twitch retrieve on a jighead. If you’re keen on trying new tactics, such as a drop shot rig on an oyster bar or sandy flat, the 3.25-inch minnow would be right at home. It’s available in 10 colors. lurenet.com
Rapala Sarda Rapala Sarda The new Sarda from Rapala is a beefy, sturdy hunk of beauty ready to take on pelagic beasts. The 7-inch stainless steel one-piece Sarda weighs 7 ounces and has an internal rib design with a reinforced body to handle wahoo, tuna and more. It comes with two forged, 8/0 VMC TechSet hooks with welded rings. This is a slammer, no doubt. It can be trolled up to 14 knots and comes in 13 proven colors: Bigeye Scad, Blue Sardine, Dorado, Flying Fish, Firetiger, Gold Fluorescent Red, Pink Dorado, Purple Mackerel, Red Head UV, Real Red Bait, Sliver Blue Mackerel, Sailfish UV and Wahoo UV. rapala.com
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FishLab Soft Mack Attack FishLab Soft Mack Attack The FishLab Soft Mack Attack swimbait is a paddle-tail swimbait designed for casting in heavy current, slow trolling or deep-water jigging or dropping. The bait comes in 5 ½-, 6 ½-, 8- and 10-inch lengths that range from 3 ½ to 16 ounces. The heavy-duty jig hook is streamlined with the bait for accurate tracking. fishlabtackle.com
Savage Gear RevMag Walker Savage Gear RevMag Walker The RevMag Walker from Savage Gear has an internal reverse magnetic weight transfer system that ensures longer casts and perfect balance in the water. The transfer system allows the weight to move backward during the cast. Then the internal magnet kicks in, transferring the weight and propelling the weight forward while ensuring a smooth, flat landing. The weight stays forward during the side-to-side walking action, helping it stay horizontal during a pause. It comes in two sizes — 95 and 120 —in American Shad, Bone, Dirty Silver, Ghost Minnow, Lemon Back, White Flash, Gold Black, Black Purple, Pink Purple and AYU Chrome. savagegear.com
