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Lure Fishing for Ballan Wrasse – The Ultimate Guide
If you’re looking for a hard-fighting, colourful, and highly underrated saltwater species to target on lures, then Ballan Wrasse should be right at the top of your list. In my opinion, they’re one of the most exciting and overlooked fish to catch on lures in the UK. However, every year, more and more anglers are discovering just how addictive lure fishing for wrasse can be.
I might be a little biased, but I genuinely believe the Southwest of England has some of the best wrasse fishing in the world. I was lucky enough to grow up on the Isles of Scilly, a true wrasse angler’s paradise, a maze of granite ledges, kelp-covered gullies and crystal-clear water that’s home to these stunning, hard-fighting fish.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about targeting Ballan Wrasse on lures, from the best gear and setups, to the most effective rigs, lures, and techniques. Whether you’re completely new to wrasse fishing, or just looking to refine your approach, this will give you the confidence to hit the rocks this winter and make the most of every session.
Why Lure Fishing for Wrasse Is So Addictive
Wrasse are pure muscle. Their aggressive nature, stunning colours and powerful runs make them an incredible sport fish, especially on light tackle. They hit hard, dive instantly for cover, and test both your gear and your nerve.
And the best bit? You don’t need a boat, just a bit of rocky shoreline, a handful of soft plastics, and the right mindset.
Wrasse Fishing Setup, The Essential Gear
| Roscoe’s Wrasse Set Up | Buy It Below! |
|---|---|
| Rod | Majorcraft Crostage Hard Rock CRX-762ML/S 3-20g |
| Reel | Shimano Stradic 2500hg |
| Braid | 25lb Berkeley Sick! Braid X8 |
| Fluorocarbon Leader | Berkeley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon |
| Terminal: Weights | FITU 5+7+10.5g tungsten bullet weights and cheb heads |
| Terminal: Hooks | Gamakatsu EWG worm hooks in sizes 2, 1, 1/0, 2/0 and 3/0 |
| Lures | Z-Man TRD Crawz Deps Death Adder Yoshikawa Superworm Senko Style Worms |
Rods
Wrasse fishing doesn’t require complicated tackle. In fact, a simple, well-balanced setup is often the best. If you’ve done any light lure fishing for perch or zander, the style will feel familiar, just slightly beefed up to cope with the power of wrasse and the rugged terrain they inhabit.
I typically use rods rated up to 20–30g. My current favourite is the Majorcraft Crostage Hard Rock CRX-762ML/S (3–20g). That’s about as light as I’d go, but it still has the backbone to bully wrasse away from snags.
A 7’6” rod is ideal, short enough for accuracy and control when fish are tight under your feet, but long enough to give leverage when you need to steer a wrasse clear of the rocks.
Reels and Line
Pair your rod with a 2500-size reel. It balances perfectly with rods in the 7–8ft range and keeps the setup light and responsive.
- Mainline: 20lb braid
- Leader: 20lb fluorocarbon
A fluorocarbon leader is crucial, it’s abrasion resistant against rocks and weed, and virtually invisible underwater. Wrasse love snaggy ground, so that extra bit of toughness is vital.
Keep your drag tight. Wrasse will instantly bolt for cover, and if you give them even an inch, they’ll bury themselves in kelp or holes between the rocks. You need to bully them up and away from the snags as soon as you feel that thump.
Best Rigs for Lure Fishing for Wrasse
Texas Rig, My Go-To Setup
If you only try one rig for wrasse, make it the Texas rig. It’s simple, versatile, and perfect for fishing weedy, rocky marks.
It consists of a bullet weight sliding freely above a weedless soft plastic lure. Because the weight isn’t fixed, the lure can rise and fall naturally behind it, ideal for tempting wrasse nosing around on the bottom.
Pro tip:
Let your weight hit bottom, then slowly release a bit of line. This allows the lure to hover just above the weed, right in the “strike zone” where wrasse are hunting. Buoyant soft plastics make this even more effective.
This technique is deadly when fishing over bladderwrack or mixed weed beds, keeping your lure visible and out of snags.
Best Lures for Wrasse Fishing
There are endless soft plastics that will catch wrasse, but these are a few of my personal favourites that have consistently produced big fish across the Southwest.
Z-Man TRD CrawZ
An absolute must-have. Made from Elaztech, these are tough, stretchy, and buoyant, perfect for withstanding multiple wrasse bites. The buoyancy helps them stand up on the bottom, claws raised, just like a defensive crab, which triggers savage takes.
Deps Death Adder
I only started using these recently, but they’ve already accounted for some of my best fish of 2025. The pintail design gives constant movement and vibration, even with subtle rod twitches.
Rigged Texas-style and hopped along the deck, they drive wrasse crazy.
Yoshikawa Superworm
Quite possibly the most productive wrasse lure I’ve ever used. Rigged weedless and fished slowly along the bottom, the ribbed body and active tail create irresistible movement.
I like to “shake” the rod tip just enough to make the lure dance in the gaps between the weed, without actually retrieving line. Wrasse find it impossible to ignore.
Senko-Style Worms
Senko worms are timeless. Cast them over structure, boulders, or kelp beds, then work them back with short hops and long pauses. Wrasse are incredibly inquisitive, often inspecting a lure before hitting it hard while it’s stationary.
Finding Wrasse Marks
Look for rocky coastlines, boulder fields, kelp beds, and submerged ledges. Wrasse love structure, anywhere with cracks, gullies, and hiding spots.
Here’s a good example of a productive mark, heavy granite outcrops, deep gullies, and plenty of weed cover. These areas provide the perfect habitat, but also the reason you need strong gear and tight drags. Once hooked, wrasse will dive straight for home.
Final Thoughts
Lure fishing for Ballan Wrasse is pure fun, aggressive takes, brutal fights, and beautiful fish. It’s the perfect way to keep your lure fishing sharp through the colder months and connect with a truly underrated UK species.
If you’ve never tried it, grab a handful of soft plastics, head to the rocks, and give it a go. Once you hook your first wrasse on a lure, you’ll be hooked for life.
