For anglers who live to target big striped bass in the surf, having the right lure for the conditions can make all the difference.
In this three-part series, West Coast striper hunter and ima Pro Staffer Ray Serrano shares his favorite ima lures for targeting striped bass in the surf and how he puts them to work. In Part 1, Ray talks about the lure he considers his number one choice: the ima Glide 178.
ima Glide 178
If you live to target big striped bass in the surf, ima Baits has a full lineup of baits designed to help you pursue your passion. We asked expert West Coast Striper Hunter and ima Pro Staffer Ray Serrano to give us the Juice on his favorite baits.
The ima Glide is my number one lure. If I had one lure in my bag, it would be the ima Glide 178. It’s not a typical lure that anybody throws in the surf just because its a big glide bait and everybody is trying to match the hatch with jerkbaits, but there is something about that ima Glide, the width, the action that just attracts them, that makes them want to smash it.
The first time I fished the ima Glide was in the (California) Delta and once I saw the action I knew it would work in the surf.
There are so many glide baits on the market and they all have the fan tails. The tail makes a nice swimming action but the problem with the fan tail is when you cast it on the surf with the wind in your face all the glide baits helicopter, even with no wind they still helicopter but the ima Glide since it doesn’t have the fan tail, it has the hook in the back it casts well past the strike zone in the surf. On my very first cast in the surf I got a fish and I knew I was on to something.
I throw both versions of the ima Glide, the floating and the sinking. But the majority of time I fish the floating version. I like to change the hooks for saltwater use.
I’ll add a 1/0 BKK Raptor X Treble to the belly and a 3/0 Owner 3X Single Saltwater Hook to the tail along with upgrading to 50lb split rings. These modifications cause the bait to sink slowly, almost suspend. I’ll carry both styles and if I use the sinking it will sink just a little bit more. If the water is rough or deeper, that’s when I fish the sinking version.
As soon as I cast the ima Glide, I just kinda let it flutter around, then I’ll pop it with the rod and when it stops that’s when they’ll usually bite it. Any change in direction is good. Unlike in still water, in the surf, the bait is always moving, that’s what makes it so deadly.
I really like the Bone (color but I’ve used all the other colors like Ghost Sexy Shad and Ghost Minnow, they all work.
Gear Guide for Surf Stripers :
Glide 178 Setup
| Model | ima Glide 178 Floating |
|---|---|
| Belly Hook | 1/0 BKK Raptor X Treble |
| Tail Hook | 3/0 Owner 3X Single Saltwater Hook |
| Split Rings | 50 lb |
ima Glide 178 Sinking
Ray Serrano’s Surf Gear for Glide 178
| Rod | Stealth S1 11' — 1–3 oz |
|---|---|
| Reel | TW 6000 SW |
| Line | Ocean Silk PE 1.2 |
Explore the ima Glide 178
Continue the Series
In Part 2, Ray breaks down two of his go-to minnow-style lures for surf stripers: the Sasuke 130 Goriki and Jetty 135S. He shares how he uses them when baitfish are around and how he adjusts his retrieve based on the conditions and tide.
