Saltwater Topwater and Poppers

A stickbait lives or dies on whether an average angler can make it walk. The Espetit is built so it does — the taper and balance do most of the work, so you get a clean side-to-side glide without the wrist rhythm a lot of walking baits demand.

Short version: floating topwater stickbait in five sizes from 70mm to 140mm. Walk-the-dog and sliding action, twin cavities that pull bubbles down with the bait, and an internal rattle — with a silent version if the rattle is working against you.

What Makes It Different

• Dual cavities — the bait drags air down as it darts, leaving a bubble trail alongside the surface disturbance. Two signals instead of one.
• Internal rattle tuned to a specific frequency, adding sound to the visual and the bubbles.
• Floats at rest — the pause holds it in the strike zone instead of dropping out of it, and the pause is where most stickbait fish commit.
• Aerodynamic profile for distance, which matters when fish are boiling out of reach or you're covering a flat from the beach.
• Five sizes spanning bass-sized finesse to full pelagic profiles.

Rattle or Silent?

The White N Flash (Silent) is not a color variation — it's a rattle-free version of the bait, currently offered in 95mm.

Reach for the silent when fish are heavily pressured, the water is very clear and calm, or the rattling version has been getting follows and refusals. Sound is an attractant right up until it isn't, and on flat mornings a quiet bait sometimes gets eaten by the same fish that just refused a loud one. Take the rattle version everywhere else — chop, wind, stained water, and any time you need to call fish from a distance.

Which Size

We're confirming the 110mm's published weight and hook size with Fishus and will fill those in once verified — we'd rather show a blank than a guess. Call the shop and we'll weigh the one in the case.

Freshwater and Saltwater

The Espetit came out of the European seabass scene, which is why it casts and behaves the way it does — wind, chop, and long distances were the design brief.

Freshwater: 70mm and 95mm for largemouth and smallmouth, particularly on clear pressured lakes where a walking bait needs to be smaller than the standard.

Saltwater: the 125mm and 140mm are legitimate surface options for calico bass over structure, and for bonito and barracuda when they're feeding on top. The distance is the argument — boiling fish are usually further away than you'd like.

Fishing It Around Santa Clarita

Topwater windows on the local lakes move week to week. We publish Castaic Lake fishing reports with current conditions — worth checking before you decide it's a surface day.

Picking a Color

Colors offered vary by size. The selector above is the live list.

Recommended Gear

• Rod: moderate action with a forgiving tip. Stiff rods rip trebles out of fish on surface strikes — the single most common way anglers lose topwater fish.
• Line: braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Braid gives you the direct connection to work the walk; the leader gives you abrasion resistance and a little stretch.
• Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through — it sinks and pulls the nose down, fighting the bait's float.

Pro Tips from the Tackle Express Crew

• Slack line makes it walk. Twitch into slack, not into tension. A tight line pulls the bait straight and kills the side-to-side.
• Use the pause. It floats for a reason. Let it sit after a blow-up and miss — fish routinely come back for a bait that's sitting still.
• Wait to feel weight before you set. Setting on the splash pulls it out of the fish's mouth.
• Try the silent version on flat mornings. Same bait, one fewer signal. Sometimes that's the difference.

Common Mistakes

• Working it on a tight line. The bait needs slack to turn.
• Too stiff a rod. Costs you fish on every strike.
• Setting on sight. Wait for the weight.
• Undersizing for saltwater. A 95mm on calicos over structure will get bit — the #6 trebles are the limiting factor, not the bait.

Specifications

See It in Action

What's Included

One Fishus Espetit in the size and color selected, factory rigged with trebles. No spare hooks or split rings included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between White N Flash and White N Flash (Silent)?
The silent version has no internal rattle. Same body, same action, one fewer signal — for pressured fish and flat, clear conditions. Currently offered in 95mm.

Which size should I start with?
95mm for freshwater bass and general use. 125mm if you're fishing saltwater surface for calicos, bonito, or barracuda.

Does it float?
Yes. It holds position on the pause instead of sinking out, which is where a lot of the bites come from.

How do I make it walk?
Twitch the rod tip into slack line, not into tension. The bait needs slack to turn — pulling tight drives it straight.

Can I use it in saltwater?
Yes — the Espetit was developed for European seabass. Rinse the hardware after every trip like any other saltwater lure.

What rod and line?
Moderate action with a forgiving tip, braid to a fluorocarbon or mono leader. Avoid heavy fluorocarbon straight through; it sinks and fights the bait's float.

Why are some sizes offered in fewer colors?
Fishus doesn't produce every colorway in every size. The selector shows what's actually available.

Related Gear

• Topwater Fishing Lures — poppers, walking baits, and stickbaits.
• Freshwater Lures — cranks, jerkbaits, and soft plastics.
• Staff Favorites — what our crew actually fishes.

Buy It From People Who Fish It

We're on Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita and we fish these lures on both the local lakes and the coast. Not sure whether you want the 95 or the 125, or whether the silent version is worth it for your water? Call the shop or come in — that's a two-minute conversation and it saves you buying the wrong one first.

The Halco Roosta Popper 135 is perfect for targeting game fish that are aggressively  attacking bait fish near or on the surface.  The hardware on these poppers is of the highest quality and will stand up to big fish like tuna, GT's, dorado, and peacock bass. They are best used with a heavy spinning rod and reel due to the higher inches of line retrieved per crank.  We prefer to have braided line with a short 3' top shot of monofilament or fluorocarbon.

While designed with a blooping style retrieve in mind, the Roosta Haymaker can be simply wound in at speed or trolled for excellent results.The recommended method of retrieval for best results is to point the rod tip at the lure, retrieve any slack line and firmly sweep the rod tip in a downward motion approximately 45 degrees. Allow the lure to rest for several seconds and if a fish hasn't taken the lure repeat as necessary.

Roosta Popper 135 Specs

The Halco Roosta Popper 160 is perfect for targeting game fish that are aggressively  attacking bait fish near or on the surface.  The hardware on these poppers is of the highest quality and will stand up to big fish like tuna, GT's, dorado, and peacock bass. They are best used with a heavy spinning rod and reel due to the higher inches of line retrieved per crank.  We prefer to have braided line with a short 3' top shot of monofilament or fluorocarbon.

While designed with a blooping style retrieve in mind, the Roosta Haymaker can be simply wound in at speed or trolled for excellent results.The recommended method of retrieval for best results is to point the rod tip at the lure, retrieve any slack line and firmly sweep the rod tip in a downward motion approximately 45 degrees. Allow the lure to rest for several seconds and if a fish hasn't taken the lure repeat as necessary.

Roosta Popper 160 Specs

The Clear Choice Tuna Propper is a hard-hitting topwater lure built for anglers who demand explosive surface strikes. Its flying fish / injured baitfish profile triggers aggressive reactions from big pelagics and inshore bruisers alike — whether you're casting from the rocks or slow-trolling behind the boat. Unlike most topwater plugs, the Tuna Propper can be trolled through clean water at low speeds, giving you a versatile weapon that covers more water and more situations.

Features

• Long-distance casting design for maximum reach
• 5x heavy-duty hooks included — ready to fish out of the box
• HD hardware throughout for big-game durability
• Mimics a flying fish or injured baitfish for lifelike action
• Castable AND slow-trollable — rare versatility in a topwater plug
• Triggers explosive surface strikes from large pelagics

Best For

• Target Species: Bluefin & Yellowfin Tuna, Giant Trevally (GT), Amberjack, Snapper
• Techniques: Long-range casting, slow trolling, surface popping
• Conditions: Open ocean, blue water, clean inshore flats
• Available Sizes: 140mm | 160mm

Specs

The Halco Roosta Popper is perfect for targeting game fish that are aggressively  attacking bait fish near or on the surface.  The hardware on these poppers is of the highest quality and will stand up to big fish like tuna, GT's, dorado, and peacock bass. They are best used with a heavy spinning rod and reel due to the higher inches of line retrieved per crank.  We prefer to have braided line with a short 3' top shot of monofilament or fluorocarbon.

The Halco Roosta 195 Haymaker is designed for catching some of the toughest fish that swim, from Giant Trevally to Dogtooth Tuna. It is built with extra heavy duty, custom made 7xx fish rings and is equipped with Mustad 5 extra strong 5/0 trebles. While designed with a blooping style retrieve in mind, the Roosta Haymaker can be simply wound in at speed or trolled for excellent results.The recommended method of retrieval for best results is to point the rod tip at the lure, retrieve any slack line and firmly sweep the rod tip in a downward motion approximately 45 degrees. Allow the lure to rest for several seconds and if a fish hasn't taken the lure repeat as necessary.

Roosta Popper 195 Specs

Drifter Tackle Doc Topwater Lure have been one of the hottest plugs for East Coast Stripers for over 10 years.  It not only works on the east coast, it works from coast to coast on largemouth, stripers and more. For a long time, the unpainted “Bone” colored Doc’s were some what of a mystery.  Over the past couple years, as tackle shops have begun to stock them, the name and reputation has grown. 

These “Walk The Dog” top water plugs create a violent side to side action, and unmatched loud rattle unlike anything Striper have ever seen.  Striped Bass literally can not ignore them!

These lures come equipped with stainless steel hardware, and 4/0 VMC Perma Steel hooks able to hold up to the Saltwater environment. 

7" Lil' Doc weighs 2.75oz.

9" Doc weighs 3.25oz.

Built to Go Where the Fish Are Hardest to Stop.

Saltwater fishing puts a different kind of demand on a rod than freshwater does. The fish are bigger, the line classes heavier, the environments more corrosive, and the margin for blank failure much narrower. The Phenix Black Diamond Spinning Rod is built for exactly that environment. Using Toray's high-strength carbon fibers with a proprietary layering process and Phenix's own resin system, the Black Diamond achieves a blank that's thinner in diameter and lighter in hand than any comparable saltwater rod in its class — while being stronger, not weaker, than what it replaced.

Aerospace Technology, Applied to Saltwater Blanks

The Black Diamond's construction starts with Toray carbon fiber — the same raw material used in aerospace and defense applications where strength-to-weight ratio is non-negotiable. Phenix combines it with a unique layering process and a proprietary resin blend that bonds the fibers differently than standard production rods. The result is a super-strong blank with a thinner wall section and less total weight than previous-generation saltwater graphite blanks. What this means in practice: you fish 15-50lb line without the rod feeling overbuilt in your hands, and the blank telegraphs lure action and fish behavior at a sensitivity level that heavier saltwater rods can't match.

Built for Southern California Saltwater and Beyond

The four-model PSW lineup covers the two primary inshore/offshore spinning applications: a 7'–7'6" Medium range (15-40lb) optimized for live bait, light iron, and versatile inshore use, and an 8' Medium Heavy through Heavy range (15-50lb) for longer presentations, surface iron, open-water tuna applications, and situations where casting distance and fish-fighting leverage matter. Fuji Alconite guides handle braid loads without heat buildup or wear, and the Fuji DPS reel seat provides a corrosion-resistant, secure connection for the full-size spinning reels the 15-50lb line class demands.

Why It Beats the Competition

• Toray high-strength carbon fiber — aerospace-grade raw material; higher tensile strength per gram than standard graphite composites
• Proprietary layering process and resin system — Phenix's "secret sauce"; thinner diameter and lighter weight than comparable saltwater blanks without sacrificing strength
• Fuji Alconite guides — lighter than SiC with excellent heat dissipation; fully compatible with heavy braid in saltwater environments
• Fuji DPS reel seat — corrosion-resistant, secure under heavy reel loads; the standard for quality saltwater spinning builds
• Inshore and offshore capable — 4 models covering 7' to 8', Medium through Heavy; one lineup that bridges live bait and open-water applications

The Right Pick If...

• You fish Southern California inshore and offshore — yellowtail, white seabass, calico, tuna — and want a spinning rod that handles all of it
• You run 30-50lb braid to a fluorocarbon leader and need guides and a reel seat that hold up to that load over time
• You want a saltwater spinning rod that's noticeably lighter in hand than what you're used to without giving up strength or backbone
• You fish surface iron, live bait, and poppers from a sportboat or kayak and need one rod that covers those scenarios
• You're ready to upgrade from a mid-grade saltwater blank and want to feel the difference Toray carbon makes under load

Best Fishing Techniques

• Live bait (anchovy, sardine, mackerel): The 700M and 760M (15-40lb, Moderate Fast / Fast) load softly on a live bait pitch and absorb the initial surge of a yellowtail or white seabass without ripping the bait
• Surface iron and yo-yo iron: The 808MH (Medium Heavy, Fast) delivers the backbone to work surface iron at distance and drive hooksets on long-range retrieves
• Poppers and topwater lures: The 8' models give you the rod length and tip recovery speed to work poppers with authority; the Alconite guides handle repeated braid-to-lure stress
• Open-water tuna (schoolie to mid-range): The 809H (Heavy, Fast, 20-50lb) is the dedicated tuna model — the backbone turns fish that run hard and the tip recovers fast enough for a quick reset
• Calico bass and halibut: The 700M is the most versatile near-shore model; works equally well on dropper rigs, live bait, and iron for calico and halibut

Best Conditions

• Southern California kelp and offshore structure — yellowtail, white seabass, calico bass
• Open-water offshore — tuna on surface iron, poppers, and live bait
• Sportboat and long-range fishing — the lightweight blank reduces fatigue over multi-day trips
• Shore and jetty fishing — the 8' models give you the reach and power for longer shore presentations

Best For

• Target Species: Yellowtail, White Seabass, Calico Bass, Halibut, Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Rockfish
• Techniques: Live Bait, Surface Iron, Yo-Yo Iron, Poppers, Topwater, Dropper Loop
• Angler Level: Intermediate to Advanced — the blank sensitivity and fast action reward proper technique; an excellent choice for serious SoCal saltwater anglers stepping up to a premium spinning rod

Key Features

• Toray high-strength carbon fiber with proprietary layering and resin system
• Thinner diameter and lighter weight than comparable class saltwater blanks
• Fuji Alconite guides — lightweight, heat-resistant, braid-compatible
• Fuji DPS reel seat — corrosion-resistant, secure under heavy spinning reel loads
• Four models — 7' to 8', Medium through Heavy, inshore and offshore applications

Models & Specs

Tackle Express Tips

• Match the model to your primary species and presentation: The 700M (Moderate Fast) is the most versatile live bait and inshore model — the softer tip loads on a sardine pitch and absorbs the take. The 760M (Fast) adds a little more backbone for iron and larger baits. The 808MH and 809H are dedicated to power applications — surface iron, poppers, and open-water tuna where you need casting distance and fish-fighting leverage.
• Run 40-65lb braid to a 25-40lb fluorocarbon leader: The Black Diamond's Fuji Alconite guides handle the braid-to-leader connection cleanly. Keep the leader long enough (12–15ft) to stay out of your guides on the cast — the fish see fluorocarbon, not braid, and the leader absorbs chafe from structure and teeth.
• Rinse thoroughly after every saltwater use: The Fuji DPS seat and Alconite guides are corrosion-resistant, not corrosion-proof. A freshwater rinse after every trip — especially around the reel seat hood and guide feet — extends the hardware life significantly on a rod in this price range.

FAQ

What's the difference between the 700M Moderate Fast and the 760M Fast action?
The 700M's Moderate Fast action has a more forgiving tip that loads better on soft live bait presentations — it's the better choice when you're pitching anchovies or sardines and want the fish to take the bait without feeling the rod load. The 760M's Fast action stiffens the tip for better iron control and a quicker hookset on reaction strikes. If you fish primarily live bait, start with the 700M. If you split time between live bait and iron, the 760M is more versatile.

Is the Black Diamond suitable for shore fishing?
Yes — the 8' models (808MH, 809H) are particularly well-suited for shore and jetty fishing where casting distance and line management from elevation matter. The extra length gives you clearance over rocks and structure, and the heavier line ratings handle the larger terminal tackle typically used from shore.

How does the Black Diamond compare to other Phenix saltwater spinning rods like the Axis?
The Black Diamond uses a more advanced blank construction — Toray high-strength carbon with Phenix's proprietary layering and resin system — compared to the Axis's S-glass/T-16 carbon composite. The Black Diamond is thinner in diameter, lighter in hand, and built for higher-end saltwater applications where blank performance justifies the price premium. The Axis is a strong mid-tier saltwater option; the Black Diamond is the step up for serious offshore use.

Unleash the power of big bait fishing with the Fishus Espetit Goliath 210mm, a completely redesigned topwater monster engineered to tempt the most aggressive predators in saltwater and freshwater. This heavy-duty edition of the legendary Espetit combines massive profile with effortless action, delivering the walking-the-dog performance of a 30g lure while packing the fish-attracting presence of a true 97-gram bigbait.

Built around a reinforced core designed to withstand brutal strikes from trophy stripers, tuna, and monster bass, the Goliath comes rigged with three 1/0 4X-strong treble hooks that won't fail when you hook into the fish of a lifetime. The revolutionary weight-transfer system doesn't just maximize casting distance—it creates self-generated momentum on the first twitch, making walking and sliding actions incredibly smooth and responsive even at 100 grams. Simply reel and chop with baitcasting gear, and watch the Goliath's fluid, aggressive action trigger explosive surface strikes.

Product Specifications

• Brand: Fishus by Lurenzo
• Model: Espetit Goliath (Bigbait Edition)
• Length: 210mm (8.2 inches)
• Weight: 97g (3.4 oz)
• Type: Topwater walking bait
• Hooks: 3x 1/0 4X-strong treble hooks (pre-rigged)
• Construction: Reinforced core for heavy-duty applications
• Target Species: Stripers, tuna, trophy bass, large predators
• Use: Saltwater and freshwater

Key Features

• Completely redesigned bigbait edition of the classic Espetit
• Reinforced core withstands the hardest-hitting predators
• Advanced weight-transfer system for maximum casting distance
• Self-generated momentum creates effortless walking action
• Smooth, fluid movement even at 100g weight class
• Pre-rigged with 3x 1/0 4X-strong treble hooks
• Aggressive topwater action triggers explosive strikes
• Perfect for baitcasting gear—simply reel and chop

Available Colors

• White N Flash - High-visibility pattern for low-light conditions
• Mullet - Natural baitfish imitation
• Flashy Shad - Reflective finish for maximum flash

Perfect For

• Trophy striper fishing in surf and estuaries
• Offshore tuna on topwater
• Big bass hunting in reservoirs and lakes
• Targeting large predators in saltwater and freshwater
• Anglers seeking bigbait performance with easy handling

When trophy fish demand a bigger meal, the Fishus Espetit Goliath delivers unstoppable topwater action that turns follows into explosive strikes. Built for serious anglers chasing serious fish.

When the Surface Erupts, This Is What They Hit

The Daiwa Saltiga Frother 170F is built for one thing: drawing violent topwater strikes from big-game pelagics. At 170mm, this floating popper throws a wide, frothy spray that mimics a fleeing baitfish in distress — the kind of surface commotion that triggers reaction strikes from tuna, GT, amberjack, and yellowtail when nothing else will get them to commit.

Saltiga-Grade Performance on the Surface

The Frother 170F carries the Saltiga name for a reason. It's engineered to handle the demands of offshore topwater fishing — long casts into the wind, repeated high-speed retrieves, and the shock of a hard-charging fish blowing up on the surface. The hardware, hooks, and body construction are all built to Daiwa's flagship offshore standard.

Why Most Poppers Fail at Distance

Generic poppers lose action at long range and struggle to generate consistent surface disturbance on a fast retrieve. The Frother 170F is designed to throw a wide, frothy spray at any retrieve speed — slow walk-the-dog, medium chug, or full-speed burn — so you can match the retrieve to the conditions without losing the action that triggers strikes.

What Makes It Stand Out

• 170mm floating popper — sized for big-game offshore targets
• Frother cup design — generates wide, frothy surface spray that draws fish from distance
• Versatile retrieve — effective on slow walk-the-dog, medium chug, and high-speed burn
• Saltiga-grade hardware — built to handle the punishment of offshore topwater fishing
• Available in LI Clear Mint and Full Clear — translucent finishes that mimic glass baitfish in clear offshore water

The Right Pick If...

• You're targeting tuna, GT, amberjack, or yellowtail on topwater
• You need a popper that generates action at long range and high retrieve speeds
• You're fishing clear offshore water where translucent finishes outperform painted lures
• You want a Saltiga-grade lure that can handle repeated hard strikes without failing
• You're running a popper-and-stickbait spread and need a surface lure that stands out

Best Fishing Techniques

• High-speed burn — fast, aggressive retrieve that generates maximum surface spray for reaction strikes
• Chug and pause — rhythmic popping with short pauses to trigger hesitant fish
• Walk-the-dog — side-to-side surface action for a more natural fleeing baitfish presentation
• Long-range casting — cover water quickly when fish are busting on the surface at distance

Best Conditions

• Clear to slightly stained offshore water where translucent finishes shine
• Active surface feeds — birds working, fish busting, or bait pushed to the surface
• Calm to moderate conditions where surface action is visible and fish are looking up
• Offshore structure — seamounts, current edges, kelp paddies, and floating debris lines

Best For

• Species: Bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, GT (giant trevally), amberjack, yellowtail, dorado
• Techniques: Topwater popping, high-speed burn, chug and pause, walk-the-dog
• Conditions: Clear offshore water, active surface feeds, calm to moderate seas

Key Features

• 170mm floating popper
• Frother cup design for wide, frothy surface spray
• Effective across a wide range of retrieve speeds
• Saltiga-grade hardware and construction
• Translucent finishes (LI Clear Mint, Full Clear) for clear offshore water

Models & Specs

Tackle Express Tips

• Match your leader to the water clarity — in clear offshore conditions, drop to a lighter fluorocarbon leader. The translucent finishes on the Frother are designed to be subtle, and a heavy leader can undermine that presentation.
• Vary your retrieve until you find the trigger — some days fish want a fast burn, other days a slow chug with long pauses. Start aggressive and slow down if you're getting follows without commits.
• Check your split rings and hooks after every fish — big-game topwater strikes are violent. Inspect your hardware after each hookup and replace anything that looks bent or fatigued before the next cast.

FAQ

What's the difference between the LI Clear Mint and Full Clear colors?
LI Clear Mint has a translucent light blue-green tint that mimics small glass baitfish or anchovies in clear water. Full Clear is completely transparent, which can be highly effective when fish are keyed in on very small or clear baitfish. Both are designed for clear offshore conditions where translucent finishes outperform opaque painted lures.

What rod and reel setup pairs well with the Frother 170F?
A medium-heavy to heavy popping rod in the 7–8ft range rated for 40–80lb braid pairs well with this lure. Match it with a high-speed conventional or spinning reel capable of handling the fast retrieves and sudden runs of big-game pelagics.

Can this lure be used for inshore fishing?
The Frother 170F is sized and built for offshore big-game targets. While it could technically be used inshore for large stripers or snook, it's optimized for offshore pelagics and may be oversized for most inshore applications.