For saltwater fishing, the most effective lure categories as of 2025 include metal jigs (popular for high-speed jigging targeting amberjack, tuna, and grouper), saltwater swimbaits and minnow hard baits (effective for striped bass, snook, and redfish), poppers and surface walkers (for tarpon and GT fishing), and bucktail jigs (a proven staple for fluke, striped bass, and sea bass)
It's long, fragile, expensive, and usually rigged at the exact moment the boat gets busy
For a fishing guide that is out on the water every single day, getting live bait is not that tough, and they knot exactly where to fish with the lively baits because they are on the water so often and have a good idea where the fish are holding
Daiwa Like Shimano, Daiwa produces higher-end products in Japan but sources many mid-range reels and rods from China as well as other areas in the Far East
It is so ridiculously sensitive for a rod in the $200 price point