If you’re fishing in the Tampa Bay area and not using these three artificial lures, you’re honestly making fishing a lot harder than it has to be. Whether you’re targeting redfish, snook, trout, tarpon, or even some of our pelagic species like Spanish mackerel and kingfish, these three lure styles consistently produce fish all over Tampa Bay.
One of the questions I get asked all the time is:
“Capt. Chris, what artificial lures should I throw in Tampa Bay?”
The truth is, there are hundreds of lures on the market. Every company claims they have the next best thing, but if you really want to simplify your fishing and consistently catch fish here in Tampa Bay, these are the three artificial lures I would recommend every single time.
1. Paddle Tails — The Bread and Butter of Tampa Bay Fishing
If I could only carry one artificial lure on my boat, it would probably be a paddle tail.
Paddle tails are incredibly versatile and imitate almost every baitfish species we have swimming around Tampa Bay. Pilchards, threadfins, pinfish, scaled sardines — a paddle tail can mimic them all depending on the size and color you choose.
For most inshore fishing applications, I like using paddle tails in the 3 to 5-inch range. A lot of anglers think bigger baits automatically mean bigger fish, but honestly, that’s not always the case. Smaller paddle tails often get more bites, especially when fish are feeding on smaller bait during different times of the year.
Now if you’re targeting bigger species like tarpon or grouper, you can absolutely size up to a 6 to 8-inch paddle tail. Larger profile baits can be extremely effective when targeting fish that are feeding aggressively.
When it comes to jig heads, I usually keep it simple:
- 1/8 ounce jig head for shallow water
- 1/4 ounce jig head for deeper grass flats or stronger current
Natural colors are almost always my go-to choice. White, silver, greenback, root beer, or anything that resembles local baitfish tends to work extremely well here in Tampa Bay.
One reason paddle tails are so effective is because they can be fished almost anywhere:
- Grass flats
- Mangrove shorelines
- Docks
- Oyster bars
- Bridges
- Open water schools
The steady swimming action triggers reaction bites from almost every inshore species in our area. Redfish, trout, and snook absolutely crush paddle tails year-round.
If you’re newer to artificial fishing, a paddle tail is one of the best confidence baits you can own.
2. Artificial Shrimp — The Most Underrated Tampa Bay Lure
The second artificial lure I recommend is one that I honestly think is underrated by a lot of anglers: artificial shrimp.
Here’s the reality — fish in Tampa Bay eat shrimp every single day.
Shrimp are one of the most common food sources in our estuary, so having a lure that imitates them naturally is a huge advantage.
There are several great artificial shrimp options on the market today:
- DOA Shrimp
- Gulp Shrimp
- LiveTarget Shrimp
- Vudu Shrimp
- Z-Man ShrimpZ
The brand honestly matters less than how you fish them.
Artificial shrimp are deadly around:
- Docks
- Mangrove shorelines
- Grass flats
- Potholes
- Oyster bars
- Residential canals
One of my favorite techniques is skipping shrimp lures underneath docks and mangroves where snook and redfish are staging. Let that lure sink naturally and work it slowly. A lot of bites happen on the fall.
What’s crazy is how many different species will eat an artificial shrimp. Redfish, trout, snook, flounder, grouper, and even juvenile tarpon will crush them.
I’ve personally seen tarpon eat small DOA shrimp in Tampa Bay.
The key with shrimp lures is confidence. Find one brand and style you trust, learn how to fish it properly, and stick with it. Too many anglers constantly switch lures instead of learning how to truly fish one effectively.
Slow presentations usually work best with shrimp imitations. Let the lure do the work naturally and avoid overworking it.
3. Spoons — The Old School Lure That Still Crushes Fish
My third choice might surprise some anglers, but I’m telling you right now — spoons still catch fish, and not enough people throw them anymore.
Gold spoons and silver spoons have been producing fish for decades, and they remain one of the most effective search baits you can throw in Tampa Bay.
The reason spoons work so well is because they imitate injured baitfish extremely naturally. That wobbling flash triggers aggressive reaction strikes from predators.
Spoons are incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide variety of situations:
- Casting shorelines
- Fishing grass flats
- Working mangrove edges
- Covering open water
- Targeting schooling fish
Gold spoons tend to work great in dirtier water or lower light conditions, while silver spoons excel in cleaner water and sunny conditions.
One of the biggest advantages of spoons is how many species will eat them.
Inshore species like:
- Redfish
- Snook
- Trout
Absolutely love spoons.
But they also work incredibly well for pelagic species including:
- Spanish mackerel
- Kingfish
- Bonita
- Bluefish
If bait schools are getting pushed around on the surface, there’s a good chance a spoon can get bit.
Another huge benefit is that spoons are extremely durable. Unlike soft plastics that can get torn up quickly, a quality spoon can last through multiple fish catches.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, you do not need hundreds of artificial lures to catch fish in Tampa Bay.
If you simply keep:
- Paddle tails
- Artificial shrimp
- Spoons
In your tackle bag, you can target almost every major inshore species Tampa Bay has to offer.
The biggest thing with artificial fishing is confidence and time on the water. Learn how your lure moves, where to throw it, and how fish react to it under different conditions.
The more confidence you build in these lures, the more successful you’re going to become.
If you’re looking to learn more about fishing Tampa Bay, stay tuned for more fishing reports, tips, and techniques right here on the website. And if you’re ready to experience some of the best inshore fishing Florida has to offer, book a Tampa Bay fishing charter and let’s go catch some fish.
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