Charter Grade Poppers

Trophy Grade Topwater Poppers

Charter Grade Poppers

The Hogy Charter Grade Classic Popper pays tribute to one of the most proven topwater lures of all time—with upgrades that make it more effective, more durable, and more conservation-minded than ever before. Designed for light tackle presentations, this popper floats high and produces a moderate splash and classic “pop” that triggers surface strikes from striped bass, bluefish, snook, tarpon, and more.

The Charter Grade Popper has been carefully tuned to present the perfect pop and sputter action with minimal effort. Available in multiple sizes and weights, through-wired for inshore and offshore applications. The Charter Grade Poppers feature multiple rattle chambers for extra sound and vibration.

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“The Classic Popper—Refined for Light Tackle. Built for Big Fish.”

Charter Grade Classic Poppers:

What sets this lure apart is its balance: it’s built with through-wired construction and 3X heavy-duty inline hooks, yet casts and swims easily on medium-power rods. It’s also optimized for single-hook catch and release fishing, aligning with Hogy’s commitment to performance without compromise.

Whether you’re fan-casting from a boat or walking the beach at sunrise, the Charter Grade Classic Popper delivers the classic surface disruption that’s turned heads for generations—now in a better-built, smarter design.

Where and When to use: The Hogy Charter Grade Classic Popper is a go-to topwater option for a wide range of species including striped bass, snook, tarpon, bluefish, and redfish. Its versatile action and durable construction make
it effective in both inshore and nearshore environments.

This popper excels in high-percentage spots like rocky shorelines, sandbars, estuary mouths, rips, and surf zones, where predatory fish ambush bait near the surface. Prime seasons run spring through fall, with low-light conditions—like dawn, dusk, or overcast days—offering the most consistent topwater opportunities.

Moderate Splash and “Pop” Sound Profile

Creates a clean, rhythmic surface commotion. Perfect for calling fish in from a distance without overwhelming them, especially in calm or pressured conditions.

Light Tackle Design with Big Fish Strength

Floats high, pops easily, and casts well even on medium rods—yet still features through-wire construction and saltwater-grade components.

Conservation-Minded Lure Design

While it comes equipped with two 3X heavy-duty treble hooks, the plug is intentionally balanced to fish with just one belly hook.

“I bought this lure for shallow water fishing and the action and build to the lure is very impressive. The hook is razor sharp and the casting distances is phenomenal. I will definitely be getting more from Hogy! - Hogy Customer Jacob M.

FAQ

Quick answers for most commonly asked questions about the Charter Grade Popper and fishing applications.

Why are you moving toward a single-hook rig?

We believe catch and release should be standard practice in topwater fishing, and single inline hooks dramatically reduce injury and foul-hooking, especially in the face and gills. We’ve tested this system extensively and found no major drop-off in landing
rates—just faster, cleaner releases and healthier fish.

What rod should I use?

Like all of our lures, the Hogy Charter Grade poppers are designed to cast and swim well on standard sized 7' medium light to medium-heavy spinning rods—the same rods most anglers already use for stripers, snook, redfish, or bluefish.

What size should I choose?

It depends on the bait, conditions, and how you like to fish. Here’s a quick breakdown:

4" Size: Ideal for skinny water, back bays, and when fish are keyed in on micro bait in current seams or rips. Perfect for light gear and subtle topwater presentations.

5.5" Size: The most versatile and popular size. It handles rougher conditions with ease but still offers a finesse presentation in calm water. Casts well on most inshore outfits. Imitates a wide range of forage including squid, herring, and
mackerel.

7" Size: The big bait imitator. Best for open water feeds where fish are chasing large herring, pogies, or squid. Despite its size, it’s lightweight and easy to cast, making it a favorite for covering water and triggering explosive surface strikes.

TIPS & TECHNIQUE

CHARTER GRADE POPPERS

Topwater Poppers For Cape Cod Bay Stripers Feeding On Squid

In this video, Capt. Mike Hogan and Capt. Cullen Lundholm fish overcast calm conditions for larger striper feeding on squid. Using the Hogy Charter Grade Popper in Amber, they are able to imitate large squid for some impressive topwater popping action!

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Topwater Albies - Charter Grade Poppers

Few fishing techniques will get the heart pumping like an aggressive Albie exploding on your popper at first light. Hogy’s 4-inch Charter Grade Popper offers an ideal weight to length ratio, perfect for long range casting with an imitative baitfish profile. A must for any Albie angler’s tackle tray.

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How To Clinic: Fishing Top Water Poppers Around Structure For Stripers

Join Capt. Mike for a few pointers in a clinic format for casting poppers on light tackle in and around structure for stripers. In this video Capt. Mike showcases how to fish structure for striped bass, the best way to approach structure, recommended tackle and lures, and what to expect.

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Topwater Stripers | Hogy Poppers | Monomoy

Capt. Mike Hogan heads out through the fog to the rips off of Monomoy. In this video Capt. Mike is using the Hogy Charter Grade Popper in pink and amber to imitate the squid these stripers are feeding on.

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SoCal Bluefin Tuna | Hogy Charter Grade Poppers

Epic Blitzes, topwater blowups, and screaming drag. What's not to like? In this video we head over to the west coast to join Hogy pro staffer, Capt. Morgan Promnitz, as he targets schoolie bluefin tuna using both clear and translucent pink Hogy Charter Grade Poppers.

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Topwater Bluefin Tuna | Hogy Charter Grade Poppers

Topwater fishing for bluefin tuna, it doesn't get much better than this! In this video, Capt. Mike is joined by Capt. Rob Lowell of Cape Cod Offshore Charters as they head offshore of Cape Cod in search of bluefin tuna. What has primarily been a jig bite going on off of Cape Cod this year has quickly turned into bluefin tuna skying out of the water on topwater plugs!

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Topwater Blackfin Tuna | Charter Grade Poppers

Capt. Ross Gallagher and Capt. Chris Britton of Grey Ghost Fishing Charters in Stuart, Florida head offshore in search of exciting fall Blackfin Tuna action around deepwater structure using the Hogy Charter Grade Popper for exciting topwater action!

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In the Field Blog

Deep Dives

What makes a good Chug Style surface popper?

The Hogy Lure Company has introduced the Micro Chug Popper, a compact and powerful fishing lure designed to replicate the effectiveness of their larger 7-inch tuna chug popper. This article explores the features, benefits, and techniques for using the Micro Chug Popper, a versatile inshore lure.

Features of the Long Range Popper

The Hogy Lure Company has introduced a new line of long-range swimming poppers, designed to enhance casting distance and provide effective topwater action. These poppers are available in two sizes, 3.5 inches and 5.5 inches, and are equipped with unique features to improve fishing performance in various conditions.

Hook Types: J Hooks vs. Treble Hooks

When choosing J hooks for your lures, it's crucial to understand the various types of J hooks and how their orientation can impact the lure's performance. Here’s a detailed guide that includes factors like hook types, number of hooks, size, wire gauge, and orientation for swimming plugs, poppers, and pencil poppers.

Hook Influence on Lure Action

Weight and Balance: Hook size can affect the weight and balance of a lure, potentially altering its action. Larger hooks might weigh down a lure, changing its swimming pattern, while smaller hooks might allow for a more natural presentation. Optimal swimming the action of the lure.

Plug Casting Rods

Built with a soft, yet sensitive blank, these rods resist accidental breakage due to high sticking but still offer high sensitivity to light bites on smaller presentations, plus they have plenty of backbone in the blank to apply added pressure for larger inshore species. Paired with an appropriately sized reel, these are a pleasure to fish for daily applications.