Sea fishing with soft lures: How do you fish with soft lures at sea?

The fishing with soft lures at sea is one of the fishing techniques we enjoy practising the mostespecially when fishing from the shore. In fact, sea fishing with lures is a type of fishing that can be done from the shore. highly versatile which adapts to different fishing conditions. It also makes it possible to target a wide variety of fishthe bar at location via the old or the meagre. In this article, we detail our techniques and equipment for effective sea fishing with soft lures.

The key advantage of soft lures for sea fishing

The main advantage of soft lures for sea fishing lies in the incredible versatility and adaptability they offer anglers. Thanks to the hundreds of references, shapes, types of vibration and density of rubber on the market, sea fishing with soft lures can be adapted to almost any fishing condition. In fact, you can fish with a soft lure at sea by prospecting the bottom, in the current during tides or even by surface at buzzing. Whatever the depth, you'll always have a soft lure that can fish there.

Among the most popular types of soft lures for sea fishing are :

• Shads
• Slim shads
• Slugs

These lures are generally mounted on lead heads of different weights. As you'll appreciate, this allows the presentation to be adjusted according to the desired depth and current. As a general rule, natural colours such as blue or khaki, but also fluorescent colours such as pink or yellow, are particularly effective at sea.

Here are 5 soft lures we like to fish with:

• OSP Dolive Shad : A super shad for bass fishing
• Megabass XLayer A reference slud for both Texan and weightless sea fishing
• Fiiish Black Minnow 120 Shore : A super soft lure for crowded environments
• Megabass Dark Sleeper : The best bass lure for rocky areas
• llex Nitro Shad : A cult lure for bass fishing. This shad has a very pronounced rolling action and a fairly stiff, toned rubber which gives the lure a unique resonance and vibration. The Nitro Shad one of our top tips for bass fishing in strong currents

How do you animate a soft lure at sea?

Successful soft lure fishing at sea depends largely on mastery of animation techniques. Here are the main methods we recommend:

1. Traction This is a very wide linear movement interspersed with pauses. This allows the soft lure to explore several layers of water to find the one with the most fish.
2. Scratching This animation is perfect for imitating a fish searching the bottom. The lure is dropped onto the bottom and short, dry pulls are applied to lift it slightly off the bottom. This animation is best used on sandy bottoms with little clutter.
3. The lift This is an effective vertical animation in deep water.
4. Linear swimming As the name implies, this involves reeling in your soft lure steadily. This action is ideal for covering long distances.
5. Fly-fishing A dynamic technique for prospecting the water column. The aim here is to produce dynamic actions imitating the escape of prey.

As described above, the weight of the lead head is a key factor in maintaining optimum presentation in the face of current variations and achieving the desired depth.

Technical	Depth	Target species
Scraping	Close to the bottom	Sea bass, pollack
Flight	Water column	Lean sea bass
Linear	Mid-water surface	Sea bass, bonito

What equipment should you choose for sea fishing with soft lures?

When fishing with soft lures from the shore, we advise you to opt for a 2.3 to 2.5 metre cane with fast action and a power range from 10 to 45 grams. This type of rod offers a good compromise between sensitivity and power so you can feel long-distance strikes while still being able to strike effectively.

As far as the reel is concerned, we generally go for spinning reels in the 3000 to 4000 size range. These offer good control and durability over time.

For the leader, a 27 to 30/100ths fluorocarbon is recommended, if not compulsory, against the armion and power of marine fish.

As for soft lures as such, don't hesitate to adapt their size (90-220mm) according to the species you're targeting. In congested areas, we strongly recommend fishing with Texan assembly. This will help you avoid any mishaps and the risk of multiple breakages.

Seasonality and optimum conditions for soft lure fishing

Sea fishing with soft lures is particularly productive when conditions are favourable. The spring and summer are generally the most favourable seasons, particularly when the water temperature is above 15°C. This is when fish activity intensifies.

On the other hand, don't overlook other times of year. Autumn can be full of surprises, especially when it comes to bass fishing, which remains active even as the waters cool. We had some memorable sessions along the Normandy coast in October.

To optimise your lure fishing sessions, pay attention to the following factors:

• Tidal cycles : neap periods can be particularly productive
• Wind strength and direction : a slight chop can stimulate the activity of predators
• Water clarity : adapt the colour of your lures accordingly
• The presence of surface hunting : a reliable indicator of fish activity

Remember that when fishing with lures, as with any other technique, perseverance is your best ally. Even on seemingly calm days, stay focused and vary your approaches. It's often at times like these that the best catches surprise even the most tenacious anglers.

By following this advice and practising regularly, you'll improve your sea angling performance considerably. Every outing is an opportunity to learn and perfect your techniques. So don't wait any longer to embark on this exciting adventure!