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New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show

Squid, shrimp and flounder are among the prey items shown at this years ICAST tackle trade show in the soft-plastic category.

The emphasis this year in soft plastics seemed to be on less-traditional worms and swimbaits, with numerous soft squids and shrimps. The trend to increasing realism in hard baits is evident in soft plastics as well.
Prices are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Chasebaits Ultimate Squid

  • “Designed to be the most realistic squid ever made,” says this bait’s Australian manufacturer. I saw this in the test tank and indeed the “rolling hood wings” scintillate as if on a living mollusk. Add 3D eyes, fluttering tentacles and squid scent and it seems a pretty tempting tidbit. Available in two sizes (5.9 inches and 7.8 inches); the manufacturer also offers weighted rigs designed specifically for this bait.
  • Five color patterns.
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
Chasebaits Ultimate Squid
$12 (5.9 inch) and $13 (MSRP; three and two per pack respectively)
Available now (smaller size; larger size available November 2018)
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
Chasebaits Ultimate Squid
Weighted two-hook rigs designed specifically for the Ultimate Squid sell for $8.50 and $9.00
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Engage Dartspin

  • This soft-plastic jerkbait is designed by Patrick Sebile to be particularly versatile, with multiple rigging options. The willow-leaf blade adds flash and vibration, even on the fall, when the lure moves horizontally. The Hyperlastic Softough body is tough and durable. Five sizes (3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 7 and 9.5 inches).
  • Eight colors
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
Engage Dartspin
$7 MSRP
Available December 2018
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Engage Twitcher Soft Lure Saltwater

  • An extremely durable soft-bodied twitch bait with a great action, says the lure’s maker, Patrick Sebile. The 108-mm (4 ¼-inch)Twitcher is reinfored with a through-wire and has extra-strong split rings and hooks. A slot through the back holds a rattle to be inserted when conditions call for it; its transverse position offer maximum sound with a lure worked side to side. Effective on both a slow, steady retrieve and with a hard pause-and-twitch retrieve.
  • Eight colors
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
** Engage Twitcher (bottom)**
$10 MSRP
Available November 2018
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Fish Snax Lures Da’Squid

  • Fish Snax Lures is based in the Northeast, and while the new Da’Squid have already proven effective for stripers and other game fish, the manufacturers point out that everything everywhere eat squid. These are 7 ½ inches long.
  • Three colors
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
Fish Snax Lures Da’Squid
$12 for three (MSRP)
Available now
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

LiveTarget Fleeing Shrimp

  • The Fleeing Shrimp is designed to mimic the look/action of a shrimp trying to escape a predator. A silicone skirt folds on retrieve and fans out when resting. Two sizes (2 ¾ and 3 ½ inches).
  • Three color patterns.
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
LiveTarget Fleeing Shrimp
$9 (TackleDirect)
Available spring 2019
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

MirrOlure Paul Brown’s Soft-Dine XL Twitchbait

  • Designed for fishing shallow water, with big seatrout and redfish in mind, the XL version of the popular soft-bodied Soft-Dine twitchbait offers a reflective-foil insert for added flash and a sonic rattling chamber for added vibration. Two sizes (2 5/8-inch and 3 ¼-inch).
  • 23 color patterns
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
MirrOlure Paul Brown’s Soft-Dine XL twitchbait
$9 MSRP
Available now
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Savage Gear Salt 3D Swim Squid

  • These soft mollusk baits are based on a 3D scan of a real squid, and look it. The manufacturer says the lure, of super-strong TPE material, swims and looks exactly like the real thing. It can be cast/retrieved, slow jigged or trolled; a unique two-part design allows for scent to be added. Four sizes (4, 5, 7 and 10 inches).
  • Six color patterns.
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
Savage Gear Salt 3D Swim Squid
$14 to $20 MSRP
Available November 2018
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Strike Pro Guppie and Guppie Junior

  • The manufacturer calls this the “gold standard for handmade wood glide baits.” While the lure isn’t new, the various hand-painted colors are. The glide baits unique long, soft tail should make this hard/soft hybrid tempting for redfish, trout and other inshore game fish (though changing out the thin-wire hooks would be wise). The Guppie measures 5.3 inches; the Junior 4.3 inches.
  • Six color patterns
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
Strike Pro Guppie and Guppie Junior
$20 to $30 MSRP
Availability of lures with new colors unknown
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Tsunami Pro Tidal Baits

  • PVC construction baits in 3.5- and 4.5-inch sizes designed to mimic real fish.
  • Two color patterns (mullet and sardine)
Tsunami Pro Tidal Baits
Tsunami Pro Tidal Baits
$5.00 MSRP Available fall 2018
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Westin Flat Matt Jig Soft Bait

  • The realistic swimming action of this little soft flatfish is enhanced with the curly tail and side skirts. The baits feature 3D eyes and detailed, hand-painted colors. The result: amazingly lifelike. Two sizes (3 3/8 and 5 1/8 inches).
  • Four color patterns
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
Westin Flat Matt Jig soft bait
$11 and $16 (MSRP)
Available January 2019
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing

Z-Man Trout Trick Jerk Shrimpz

  • A tail-first retrieve imitates backward swimming of a fleeing shrimp; wiggly appendages add appeal. The 4-inch ElaZtech plastic bait has a natural gliding action on the fall. Rigs weedless or on a Z-Man jig head.
  • Eight color patterns
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
Z-Man Trout Trick Jerk Shrimpz
$6 for a four-pack (MSRP)
Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
New Soft-Plastic Fishing Lures at the ICAST International Tackle Show
The buoyance of ElaZtech keeps the Jerk Shrimpz upright when a jig head rests on bottom. Doug Olander / Sport Fishing
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