Introduction: Z-Man always goes big at ICAST and this year the company expands their portfolio with a range of new baits including a heavy metal tungsten Chatterbait EVO, realistic Shadtron swimbaits, and even a few products for BFS and inshore anglers.

Z-Man's newest Chatterbait is a smaller tungsten headed heavy metal EVO

Tungsten Chatterbait EVO: Last season Jose Chavez at Z-Man walked us through a number of new products and arguably the most exciting was the introduction of the more feature-rich EVO Chatterbait, which has since become a hot seller for the brand. This year the company is taking it one step further with a new tungsten version which features a lower profile head constructed from high-density 96 percent tungsten that is designed to get down quickly and hunt just as you would expect from an original Chatterbait. The heavy metal Tungsten ChatterBait Elite EVO is set to arrive at retailers in August and will be available in two sizes, a 3/8- or 1/2-ounce and in twelve color patterns that Jose developed with the company's prostaff and retail for a MSRP of $15.99 each.

Z-Man's new realistic Shadtron swimbait features photo printed finishes and hand painted finishing

Shadtron LT Line-Through Swimbait: Z-Man's entry into freshwater soft lures this year is a new swimbait called the Shadtron. This shad profile swimbait features a versatile over/under line-through harness that allows for both top hook rigging with an included single hook or belly rigging with a treble hook (not included.) The Shadtron features a rounded, wedge-shaped tail which is designed to quiver at a wide range of speeds, including extra slow retrieves and even on the descent. The Shadtron will be available in two sizes and rates of fall (ROF)4.5 and 6-inch sizes in both Slow Sink (ROF 5) and Fast Sink (ROF 12). There will be eight photo-printed and hand-painted colorways available with MSRPs of $12.99 (4.5") and $15.99 (6").

The Z-Man PrawnstarZ are ultra-realistic with hand painted finishes

PrawnstarZ: Z-Man always makes sure to provide something for the salt crowd and the new inshore PrawnstarZ (awesome name for the bait) is a realistic looking prawn/shrimp bait that is weighted and balanced to maintain an authentic horizontal posture as the lure freefalls, and also when it sits on bottom. The pre-rigged PrawnstarZ is designed for an array of inshore applications: shallow sight-casting to redfish, drifting and free lining for seatrout, dragging bottom for flounder, plying oyster bars, docks and mangroves for snook or simply hovering under a popping cork. Each PrawnstarZ lure comes armed with 2X Strong 2/0 (3.5") or 5/0 (5") Mustad UltraPoint hooks. There will be a total of twelve hand-painted colorways to match varying water clarity conditions and shrimp color phases, coast to coast. The PrawnstarZ will be available in 3.5", 3/16-ounce (2 per pack) and 5", 1/2-ounce (1 per pack) sizes and retail for a MSRP $8.99.

The Trout Eye jighead is made in the USA by Z-Man and Eye Strike Fishing

Trout Eye X Jighead: When most people think of Z-Man the first thing that comes to mind are the brand's wide range of plastic options but over the last few seasons the brand has vastly expanded their terminal tackle offerings to provide the ideal pairing with their plastics. The new Z-Man Trout Eye X Jighead is made in the USA by Z-Man Fishing Products & Eye Strike Fishing and designed to be a versatile finesse jighead and employs a custom-made 2X strong Mustad 2/0 hook with AlphaPoint 4.8 technology for extreme sharpness, instant penetration and 10X durability over standard needlepoint hooks. Titan Steel coating is designed to offer 10 times more saltwater corrosion resistance over standard black nickel finishes. The Trout Eye X Jigheads feature oversized 3D eyes, designed to create a discernible strike target and are finished with durable powder coated finishes and color matched eyes. Molded conical keeper barbs grip and hold ElaZtech and standard soft plastic baits tight to jighead. These new jigheads will be available in 1/8-, 3/16- and 1/4-ounce weights with a MSRP of $6.99 per 3 pack.

Designed for BFS and Ice-Fishing the Micro WormZ are built with the company's durable ElaZtech material

Micro WormZ: Rounding things out are the Micro WormZ which are designed for baitfinesse and ice-fishing. Manufactured in the USA with Z-Man's exclusive ElaZtech, the new Micro WormZ represents the latest critter in the company's Micro Finesse system. A lively little annelid imitation, the Micro WormZ is designed to appeal equally to trout, crappie, perch and sunfish, ice and openwater. Delivering strong action in a small profile, soft texture, lifelike buoyancy and the toughness to withstand countless bites, the versatile Z-Man Micro WormZ will be offered in ten choice color patterns, from Hot Chartreuse and Bubble Gum to natural Green Pumpkin and Yoga Pants, and will be offered with a MSRP $4.99 per 8-pack.

Our Quick Take: I always look forward to seeing what Z-Man rolls out each ICAST and this year they went big in freshwater with the launch of the Tungsten Chatterbait EVO and Shadtron swimbait. With the proven design of the Chatterbait the EVO now gets an even more refined variation with a smaller more dense head that will not only get down quick but also put out a unique sound. For big bait anglers the Shadtron looks like a compelling swimbait that offers a realistic finish and creative rigging option at a very aggressive price.