Introduction: When Bill Siemantel of BBZ fame joined the Fishlab team we all knew it was just a matter of time before the company would be introducing hard bodied BBZ swimbaits. This ICAST the company launched the FishLab BBZ Hard and took home a category award in the Best of ICAST event. 

FishLab's newest swimbait is the BBZ Hard swimbait

Going Hard: FishLab's BBZ Hard Swimbait is a four piece hard-bodied swimbait specifically designed to lure in hungry gamefish from far distances using a combination of action, realistic styling, and sound.

The BBZ is available in two sizes, 4.5" and 6", and weighs 5/8oz. and 1.5oz. respectively

The BBZ Hard Swimbait was designed by a trio of  product developers at FishLab including Mike Bennett, Bill Siemantel, and Hide Iwasaki. Between them, they have amassed an impressive total of 16 Best of Category awards at ICAST.

There are both translucent and opaque patterns

The BBZ Hard is designed to mimic the swimming action of minnows and other baitfish, creating a lifelike and irresistible allure when retrieved. This new BBZ will come in seven tournament-inspired colors and comes equipped with premium BKK treble hooks, so no swapping of the hooks is necessary to use them right out of the package.

A look at the BBZ carp. This definitely looks like a BBZ bait

The BBZ features a super slow sink/suspending action allows the bait to hang in the water column near structure, making it versatile for various fishing techniques. It also features a hybrid tail design that is designed to deliver a lifelike swimming action while mimicking a wide range of prey.

One of the reasons why this bait is exciting for saltwater anglers is the mullet pattern

"This bait is the result of dedication and hard work from our team," said Lure Designer, Bill Siemantel. "The realistic swimming action and high-quality components make this lure incredibly effective, and we can't wait for our customers to experience the thrill of catching big fish with it."

One of our favorite patterns is the versatile Wakasagi. We also like how FishLab uses durable BKK hooks on each bait

Our Quick Take: The BBZ Hard was a popular item at this year's ICAST and won a category award for Hard Saltwater Lure. There are a lot of great saltwater patterns available and the hardware is designed to stand up to bigger species, but they are also designed to address the bass market.

The Fishlab Sexy Bone features a reflective gill plate. Awesome details in a swimbait under 20 dollars

The profile of the bait is clever as it has a wide range of appeal and can effectively mimic multiple fin-fish including shad, carp, mullet, trout and so much more. The patterns on these baits also are also a step up from what we have seen from Fishlab, and details like texture, paint all the way through the tail, and more dimension on gill plates all add to the appeal. Best of all? These BBZ Hard Swimbaits are less than $20 each.

Looking for the Fishlab BBZ Hard Swimbait? Try Tackle Warehouse