Colman Muppets

Lures chosen by anglers, for anglers

Sharnbrook Tackle has been supplying anglers since the 1970s, when founder David Watts — then serving in the military — began sourcing tackle that genuinely worked for fellow service personnel who fished hard and expected their gear to perform. That same practical eye for what catches fish shapes every stocking decision we make today.

Muppet lures work because they add visual attraction and movement to natural bait without complicating the rig. The soft, flowing tentacles pulse in the water as the tide or retrieve moves them, mimicking a live squid profile at a scale that predators find irresistible. Used with a fish bait such as mackerel — whether trolled at speed behind a boat, drifted over a deep-water mark, or fished static on an anchor — a muppet consistently outperforms a plain bait presentation in most conditions.

Our Colman Muppets range is sourced through Coleman's (Colman's) Fishing Supply, a manufacturer with a proven track record in both recreational and commercial fishing. These are not budget lures that fall apart after a session. They are built to handle repeated use across the marks and conditions British anglers actually fish — North Sea wrecks, offshore tuna grounds, nearshore halibut drifts, and everything in between.

The Colman Muppets range

9 Inch (22cm) Muppet — SBK.Muppet9 — £2.10

The 9 Inch Muppet is the entry point to the range and one of the most versatile options in it. At 22cm, it sits in a useful mid-size bracket — large enough to attract cod and halibut on wreck and reef marks, compact enough not to deter fish on mixed-size grounds.

Use it over a fish bait such as mackerel, or combine mackerel and squid on the hook for an added scent dimension. It performs equally well trolled from a moving boat and fished on the drift, adding a flickering, squid-like profile to your bait that bare hooks simply cannot replicate. Available in a triple-colour combination — great value, and a straightforward way to improve your bait presentation without any complexity in the rig.

Best for: Cod, halibut, general boat fishing over wrecks and reef marks.

Full Glow Squid/Cuttlefish — SBK — £4.56

The Full Glow Squid/Cuttlefish is a different proposition from a standard muppet skirt. It is a hollow body design — meaning it has space not only for the hook, but for a proper volume of bait inside. That matters. Bait packed inside the body releases scent and taste through the water column, drawing fish in from range before they even see the lure. Add the full glow body with red tentacles, and you have a lure that works on sight and smell simultaneously.

Available in three sizes to match your target species and conditions:

• 2.5" (6.35cm) — 5 Pack — compact cuttlefish profile, ideal for inshore work and smaller species
• 8.5" (21.5cm) — 2 Pack — all-round size for general boat and shore use
• 12" (30.5cm) — 1 Piece — full-size option for targeting larger predators

The luminous body makes this an excellent after-dark option, and the hollow construction means it holds bait far more securely than a conventional skirt. A brilliant bait by any measure — and the glow body genuinely extends your fishing time into low-light conditions where fish are often at their most active.

Best for: Cuttlefish, cod, pollock, general predator fishing — particularly effective in low light and at night.

Tuna Muppet 12 Inch (30.5cm) — £6.60

The Tuna Muppet is the largest option in the range and the one to reach for when you are targeting something serious. At 30.5cm, it presents a substantial profile in the water — the kind of bulk that attracts tuna, large halibut, and other big-water predators rather than deterring them. Use it with a full mackerel bait to make a simple, effective trolling lure that can be deployed behind a boat at speed or fished static on an anchor over known fish-holding ground.

Available in twelve colours — including options with luminous eyes for low-light and deep-water work — giving you genuine flexibility to match the lure to the conditions. Squid and other large predators can be colour-selective, and having a selection of Tuna Muppets in different shades means you can adjust without changing the rig entirely. The luminous-eyed variants are particularly worth carrying for offshore sessions where the lure is working at depth.

Best for: Tuna trolling, halibut fishing, offshore big-game boat fishing.

12cm & 18cm Squid Muppets — SBK.STW — £3.12 (Packs of 5)

This range of squid muppets was specifically chosen for its durability. If you have ever had cheap muppets tear apart mid-session, you'll appreciate what a difference construction quality makes — the SBK.STW models are built with thicker-walled plastic than most alternatives, and the tentacles are long, slender, and tough enough to last across multiple sessions without degrading.

Available in 12cm and 18cm, and sold in packs of five, making them excellent value whether you're rigging up multiple droppers on a single trace or simply want a reliable stock of muppets that will last the season.

Colour options across the range:

12cm: Black, Green, Lumi Green, Lumi Orange, Orange, Red, White
18cm: Black, Lumi Green, Lumi Pink, Orange, Red, Yellow

The solid colours work well in clear water and daylight conditions. The luminous options — Lumi Green, Lumi Orange, Lumi Pink — are the ones to turn to in low light, after dark, or on deep-water marks where natural light does not reach. Use these muppets with baited hooks, or combine them with your own rigs and Perks if that is your preferred approach. Sold in packs of five, they are priced to let you build a proper selection without breaking the bank.

Best for: General boat and shore fishing — cod, pollack, coalfish, wreck fishing — wherever a squid profile will add visual attraction to a baited rig.

Getting the most from muppet lures

Muppet lures are straightforward to fish, but a few practical points make a real difference to how well they perform:

• Always pair with natural bait where possible. A muppet lure on its own is primarily a visual attractor. Add mackerel, squid, or a combination of both on the hook inside the muppet, and you add scent and taste — dramatically improving your chances, particularly when fish are feeding cautiously.
• Match size to the fish you are targeting. The 9 Inch Muppet covers cod and halibut on mixed marks without being intimidating to smaller fish. Step up to the 12 Inch Tuna Muppet when offshore targeting bigger species, and scale down to the 12cm or 18cm SBK.STW models for general boat and shore rigs.
• Use luminous colours in low light or at depth. The Lumi variants in the SBK.STW range and the luminous-eyed Tuna Muppets are worth carrying specifically for this. Charge them under a torch before lowering them down, and the glow makes a tangible difference to the number of takes.
• Trolling speed matters. When using the Tuna or 9 Inch Muppet as a trolling lure, the tentacles need water pressure to move properly. Too slow and the lure collapses; too fast and it loses its natural appearance. Experiment with boat speed on the day — the right speed is usually the one where the tentacles pulse in a natural, flowing rhythm.
• Try different colours across your rigs. Predatory fish can be colour-selective, and what attracts them on one session may not work the next. Running two or three different muppet colours on a multi-hook rig is a simple way to identify what is working on any given day.

Trusted tackle, straightforward advice

We stock the Colman Muppets range because it works — on coastal marks, offshore boat drifts, tuna grounds, and wreck fishing across the UK. These are not decorative pieces of kit. They are practical lures built to real fishing standards, priced fairly, and available from a tackle shop that has been recommending them to anglers for decades.

If you are putting together a rig for a specific trip, targeting a species you have not fished before, or simply want advice on which muppet size and colour gives you the best starting point for your local marks, get in touch. No jargon, no upselling — just honest guidance from people who have been fishing and stocking tackle since the 1970s.

Frequently asked questions

What is a muppet lure and how does it work?

A muppet lure is a soft plastic skirt — typically in a squid or cuttlefish profile — that is threaded onto the hook before baiting up. The soft tentacles move in the water as the tide or retrieve drives them, adding visual attraction and movement to a baited presentation. They work because they make a bait stand out. A plain hook and mackerel fillet is visible at close range. A muppet extends the visual range at which predators notice your bait, and the flowing tentacles suggest a live creature rather than something sitting static on the seabed.

Which muppet size should I use?

Match the muppet to the species you are targeting and the scale of bait you are using. The 12cm and 18cm SBK.STW Squid Muppets are ideal for general boat and shore fishing on cod, pollack, and mixed wreck marks. The 9 Inch (22cm) Muppet steps things up for halibut and larger cod. The 12 Inch Tuna Muppet is specifically sized for trolling and offshore work — it is a large lure designed for large fish. If you are unsure, start with the 9 Inch and scale up or down from there based on what you are finding on the marks.

What bait works best with muppet lures?

Mackerel is the standard choice, either as a fillet, a full side, or as a combination of mackerel and squid for added scent. The principle is simple: the muppet provides visual attraction and a squid-like profile, while the bait provides scent and taste. The Full Glow Squid/Cuttlefish model is particularly effective here, as its hollow body design holds bait inside — meaning the bait is presented within the lure itself rather than simply hanging from the hook below it.

Can muppet lures be used for shore fishing as well as boat fishing?

Yes. Whilst the Tuna Muppet is primarily a boat trolling and drift lure, the 12cm and 18cm SBK.STW Squid Muppets and the Full Glow Squid/Cuttlefish are well suited to shore, pier, and harbour wall fishing on a baited hook rig. They add visual attraction to a static bait presentation and are particularly effective when fished in tidal flow, where the tentacles will pulse naturally without any active retrieve required.

Do the luminous muppets need charging before use?

Yes — and it is worth doing properly. Hold the luminous muppet under a torch for two to three minutes before lowering it into the water. A UV torch is especially effective for charging luminous lures quickly and maintaining the glow throughout a session. The Lumi variants in the SBK.STW range and the luminous-eyed Tuna Muppets both benefit significantly from a proper pre-session charge, particularly when fishing at depth or after dark.

How do the SBK.STW Squid Muppets compare to cheaper alternatives?

The SBK.STW range was specifically chosen because the construction quality is higher than most budget muppets. The walls are thicker, the tentacles are longer and more durable, and they hold up across multiple sessions rather than tearing on the first run. Cheap muppets are false economy — they degrade quickly, lose their colour and shape, and ultimately need replacing more often than a quality lure. At £3.12 for a pack of five, the SBK.STW models represent genuine value without compromising on the build quality that makes a muppet fish properly.

Ready to improve your bait presentation?

Whether you are rigging up for a cod trip on a local wreck, planning an offshore tuna session, or simply want to add visual attraction to your standard sea fishing rigs, the Colman Muppets range has what you need. Straightforward to use, well made, and proven in UK sea fishing conditions.