Natural shell has been used in fishing lures for generations because it reflects light like baitfish scales. Today, two shells are common in offshore trolling lures: abalone and mother-of-pearl. Both add flash, but they look different in the water.
What is abalone?
Abalone is a sea snail with a shell lined with iridescent nacre. It shows swirling blues, greens, purples, and pinks that shift as the light changes. In New Zealand, a similar shell is known as paua. Abalone has a darker, more colorful shimmer.
What is mother-of-pearl?
Mother-of-pearl usually comes from pearl oysters and similar shellfish. It is lighter, with white, silver, and soft pastel tones. It gives a bright, clean flash.
How they look in the water
- Abalone: multicolored, shifting flash that can look like the iridescence on baitfish such as flying fish and mackerel.
- Mother-of-pearl: bright, white-silver flash that stands out like the belly of a baitfish.
When abalone works best
- Clear blue water where color shifts are visible
- Bright days, when the iridescence flashes strongly
- Low light, where darker colors still create flash. See abalone lures in low light.
When mother-of-pearl works best
- Imitating light-colored baitfish
- Off-color water where a bright flash cuts through
Durability
When sealed in resin, both shells are protected from impacts and saltwater. The resin coating is what makes shell inlays durable enough for offshore use.
Mixing them in a spread
Running both types gives fish a choice of flash patterns. Start with abalone in the riggers for color and a lighter-flash lure in the shotgun or corners, then adjust based on bites.
Learn more in the science of abalone resin lures, and shop K2Fishing's abalone resin lures.
