Big Hammer Lures

The Big Hammer 5" Swimbait is a West Coast go-to built for anglers who want a bigger profile with the same erratic, fish-triggering action the brand is known for. Its square tail generates a darting, unpredictable swim that draws reaction strikes from calico bass, halibut, lingcod, and more — even on tough days when finesse baits aren't getting it done.

The soft yet durable plastic holds up through multiple fish on the less toothy species. Rig it with a Big Hammer jig head and fish it slow for suspended fish or let it sink deep before starting your retrieve.

Key Features

• Square tail design — erratic, darting action that triggers reaction strikes
• 5" profile — larger presence for bigger target species
• Soft, durable plastic — holds up through multiple fish
• Versatile depth range — adjust with jig head weight
• 13 colors available — proven West Coast patterns
• Pairs with Big Hammer jig heads and Owner Stinger Harness
• Ideal for calico bass, halibut, lingcod, and inshore species
• Sold individually

Color Note

In 2020, Toast was updated to Toasted — same proven color with the addition of a black tail for enhanced contrast and effectiveness.

Specs

Why Anglers Reach for Big Hammer Swimbait Heads

Big Hammer Swimbait Heads are precision-engineered jig heads built specifically to pair with Big Hammer swimbaits, delivering balanced, lifelike swimming action that turns follows into strikes. The signature flat-head design stabilizes the bait at any retrieve speed, while premium hooks ensure solid sets and keep fish pinned all the way to the boat or bank.

Built for Big Hammer Swimbaits

The main advantage is purpose-built compatibility. These jig heads match the body shape and weight distribution of Big Hammer swimbaits, so you get a natural, level swim right out of the package — no tuning, no tweaking, no wasted casts. The flat-head creates a wide, rolling action that mimics wounded baitfish, and the hook placement is optimized for short-striking fish.

The Problem It Solves

Generic jig heads often cause swimbaits to roll, dive unnaturally, or ride off-center — killing the realistic action that triggers strikes. Big Hammer Swimbait Heads eliminate that frustration with a purpose-built design that keeps your bait swimming true at any speed, from a slow crawl to a fast burn.

What Makes Them Stand Out — and What to Watch For

Advantages: Purpose-matched to Big Hammer swimbaits for perfect balance, flat-head design for stable swimming action, premium sharp hooks, available in 9 colors and 7 weights, and proven across both freshwater and saltwater fisheries.

Considerations: Designed specifically for Big Hammer swimbaits — while they work with other soft plastics, you'll get the best results when paired with the intended bait. Pack counts vary by size (3 per pack for smaller weights, 2 per pack for larger).

The Right Pick If...

You fish swimbaits for calico bass, striped bass, largemouth bass, pike, or musky and want a jig head that delivers consistent, natural action without constant adjustment. These are ideal for anglers who fish kelp beds, offshore structure, freshwater lakes, and rivers where a realistic presentation makes the difference.

Best Fishing Techniques

• Slow Retrieve: A steady, slow wind lets the flat-head work its magic — the bait swims with a wide, natural roll
• Bounce and Swim: Hop the bait off the bottom, then retrieve slowly — deadly over structure and through kelp
• Countdown Method: Let it sink to the desired depth, then retrieve at a speed that keeps it in the strike zone
• Swim and Pause: Retrieve with periodic pauses to mimic an injured baitfish — strikes often come on the pause

Best Conditions

• Water Clarity: Effective in both clear and stained water — use natural colors (Plain, White, Brown) in clear water and bright colors (Chartreuse, Red, Yellow) in stained or murky conditions
• Structure: Excellent around kelp beds, rocky structure, weed lines, and drop-offs
• Depth: The 7-weight range (3/16oz to 1.5oz) covers shallow flats to deeper structure — match the weight to the depth and current
• Season: Productive year-round, especially strong during baitfish migrations and when gamefish are actively feeding on bait balls

Best For

• Species: Calico bass, striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, musky, halibut, and other swimbait-eating gamefish
• Techniques: Swimbaits, slow retrieve, structure fishing, kelp-bed fishing, countdown method
• Environments: Inshore saltwater (kelp beds, reefs, bays), freshwater lakes, rivers, and reservoirs
• Angler Level: Beginner to advanced — easy to fish effectively, but rewards experienced anglers who can dial in the right weight, color, and retrieve for the conditions

Key Features

• Flat-Head Design: Creates stable, natural swimming motion that mimics wounded baitfish
• Premium Hook Construction: Sharp, durable hooks in sizes 2/0 through 5/0, matched to each weight
• Purpose-Built for Big Hammer Swimbaits: Engineered for perfect balance and action right out of the package
• 9 Color Options: Plain, Red, Chartreuse, White, Yellow, Black Red Eye, Green, Brown, and Black
• 7 Weight Options: 3/16oz through 1.5oz to cover shallow to deep presentations
• Pack Quantities: 3 per pack for 3/16oz–1/2oz sizes, 2 per pack for 3/4oz–1.5oz sizes

Models & Specs

• 3/16oz — 2/0 Hook — 8 colors (Plain, Red, Chartreuse, White, Yellow, Black Red Eye, Green, Brown) — 3 per pack
• 1/4oz — 2/0 Hook — 8 colors (Plain, Red, Chartreuse, White, Yellow, Black Red Eye, Green, Brown) — 3 per pack
• 3/8oz — 2/0 Hook — 8 colors (Plain, Red, Chartreuse, White, Yellow, Black Red Eye, Green, Brown) — 3 per pack
• 1/2oz — 4/0 Hook — 8 colors (Plain, Red, Chartreuse, White, Yellow, Black Red Eye, Green, Brown) — 3 per pack
• 3/4oz — 4/0 Hook — 8 colors (Plain, Red, Chartreuse, White, Yellow, Black Red Eye, Green, Brown) — 2 per pack
• 1oz — 4/0 Hook — 8 colors (Plain, Red, Chartreuse, White, Yellow, Black Red Eye, Green, Brown) — 2 per pack
• 1.5oz — 5/0 Hook — 6 colors (Plain, Red, Chartreuse, White, Yellow, Black) — 2 per pack

Weight: 0.2 lbs per pack | Brand: Big Hammer

Tackle Express Tips

• Match the Hatch: Choose a head color that contrasts slightly with your swimbait body — a darker head with a lighter body creates a natural silhouette that triggers more strikes
• Weight Matters: Use the lightest weight that still lets you feel the bottom or maintain contact — lighter heads produce a more natural, slower fall that fish can't resist
• Keep a Color Rotation: Carry at least 2–3 colors per trip. Start with natural tones in clear water and switch to brighter colors if the bite is slow or water is stained

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these work with other swimbait brands, or only Big Hammer?

While they're optimized for Big Hammer swimbaits, these jig heads work well with most soft plastic swimbaits of similar size. You'll get the best action and balance when paired with the intended Big Hammer baits, but they're versatile enough for general swimbait fishing.

What's the difference between the 2/0 and 4/0 hook sizes?

The 2/0 hooks are paired with the lighter weights (3/16oz–3/8oz) and are ideal for smaller baits and lighter line. The 4/0 and 5/0 hooks come on the heavier weights (1/2oz–1.5oz) and are built for bigger baits, bigger fish, and heavier cover where you need more hook gap and holding power.

How many come in a pack?

Pack counts vary by size: the 3/16oz, 1/4oz, 3/8oz, and 1/2oz sizes come 3 per pack, while the 3/4oz, 1oz, and 1.5oz sizes come 2 per pack.

The Big Hammer Perch Grub is a compact, versatile soft grub built for anglers who fish both salt and fresh water. At 1.75 inches, it's the right size for a wide range of species — from surf perch, halibut, corbina, and croaker in the surf zone to crappie, bass, panfish, and smallmouth in freshwater lakes and rivers. It also works well on smaller saltwater bass and shallow rockfish when fish are keying on smaller forage.

Rig it on a light jig head and work it slowly through the surf, along structure, or over shallow flats. The grub tail produces a natural, pulsing action on the retrieve that draws strikes even from finicky fish.

Key Features

• 1.75" profile — compact size ideal for perch, crappie, panfish, and finesse presentations
• 25 per pack — great value for high-volume surf and freshwater fishing
• 18 colors available — wide selection for matching local forage in salt and fresh water
• Versatile applications — surf, inshore, shallow rockfish, freshwater lakes and rivers
• Target species — halibut, surf perch, corbina, croaker, crappie, bass, panfish, smallmouth

Specs

The Big Hammer 3" Swimbait is a West Coast staple built for anglers who know that presentation matters. Its distinctive square tail generates an erratic, darting action that triggers reaction strikes from bass, calico, halibut, and more — even when fish are finicky. Imagine dropping this bait along a rocky ledge and watching it flutter on the fall, drawing up a calico that had ignored everything else all morning.

The soft yet durable plastic holds up through multiple fish on the less toothy species, and the bait pairs perfectly with a Big Hammer jig head. Fish it slow on a light head for suspended fish, or go heavier and let it sink to the bottom before starting your retrieve. We recommend gluing the head to the plastic once rigged to prevent the body from pulling off on short strikes. The Owner Stinger Harness is also a great option for converting those short bites into landed fish.

Features

• Square tail design for erratic, strike-triggering action
• Soft, durable plastic — holds up through multiple fish
• Versatile depth range — adjust with jig head weight
• Available in 15 proven West Coast color patterns
• Pairs with Big Hammer jig heads and Owner Stinger Harness
• Ideal for bass, calico, halibut, and inshore species
• Sold individually

Specs

The Big Hammer 6 1/2" Swimbait is the second-largest size in the Big Hammer lineup — a proven big-fish bait trusted by West Coast saltwater anglers and freshwater trophy hunters alike. Its lifelike swimming action and realistic profile trigger strikes from calico bass, striped bass, largemouth bass, landlocked stripers, pike, and musky across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

In trout colors, it's a go-to for giant largemouth and landlocked stripers in West Coast reservoirs. In baitfish patterns, it dominates the surf, kelp beds, and offshore structure. Few swimbaits cover this much water this effectively.

Key Features

• 6.5" profile — second-largest in the Big Hammer lineup; ideal for targeting trophy-class fish
• Lifelike swimming action — natural body roll and tail kick on the retrieve
• 8 colors available — Halloween II, Pacific Chovy, Olive Herring, Toasted, Red Calico Hunter, Glow Bug, Creeping Death, Calico Hunter
• Recommended jig heads — pairs with 3/4oz to 1.5oz Hammer Heads with a 5/0 hook
• Sold individually

Color Note

In 2020, Toast was updated to Toasted — same great color with the addition of a black tail for enhanced contrast and effectiveness.

Specs

The Big Hammer 3.5" Full Body Swimbait is a compact, high-action soft swimbait built to trigger feeding responses from a wide range of predatory fish. Its realistic baitfish profile and Big Hammer's signature square tail design produce an aggressive kicking action and natural body roll that pressured fish can't ignore — whether you're working structure in the surf, kelp beds, or freshwater flats.

Molded with textured scales, gill plates, lifelike eyes, and detailed fins, the 3.5" profile matches the size of common forage species and excels on a jighead, swim jig, or drop shot rig. Available in 9 proven colors to match any water condition or forage.

Key Features

• Realistic full-body profile — textured scales, gill plates, eyes, and fins for maximum visual appeal
• Square tail design — produces aggressive kicking action and body roll on the retrieve
• Versatile rigging — jighead, swim jig, or drop shot
• 9 colors available — Sexy Smelt, Ledge Crawler, Rainbow Trout, Green Sardine, Surf Smelt, Red Rum, Bay Smelt, Pacific Chovy, Red Calico Hunter
• Sold individually

Specs

The Big Hammer Sledge Hammer is 9 inches of serious fish-catching plastic. A proven calico machine at the Southern California islands for years, its lifelike swimming action and durable construction make it a seek-and-destroy bait for big fish — in both salt and fresh water. It's also highly effective for lingcod, striped bass, largemouth, pike, and musky.

Key Features

• 9" profile — maximum presence for targeting trophy-class fish
• Lifelike swimming action — natural body roll and tail kick on the retrieve
• Durable construction — holds up through repeated strikes and aggressive fish
• 3 colors available — Red Calico Hunter, Fry, Toasted
• Pairs with War Bait Slayer Heads for a complete big-fish setup
• Sold individually

Color Note

In 2020, Toast was updated to Toasted — same proven color with the addition of a black tail for enhanced contrast and effectiveness.

Specs