Topwaters for Every Speed

There's nothing better than watching a fish slam a plug as it rips across the water's surface.

- Joe Albanese

In terms of pure excitement, Lit's hard to beat a topwater. I find there's nothing more thrilling than watching a fish rocket up from the depths and smash a lure dragged along the surface. Fortunately, you can find a surface lure designed to catch just about any species these days, from inshore favorites like snook to offshore bruisers like bluefins. And depending on their action, these plugs can be fished at a near standstill up to speeds that only a wahoo could handle.

Shimano's Pop-Orca has the stereotypical look we've come to expect from a modern popper. But the open-mouth design, which Shimano calls a bubble chamber, shoots water out the top of the lure to create a surface commotion that poppers of the past never produced. The giant concave face also makes this popper easy to work, great for those new to the popping scene. Slow or fast, this one excels. Throughwire construction and beefy hooks make this suitable for offshore species.