Do You Use Hard Plastic Baits?

I grew up in N Texas bass fishing....used mostly plastics and jigs but it's common to catch a lot of fish throwing hardbaits.... crankbaits, etc. Trying to learn the saltwater world and it seems that 90% of those using artificial baits are throwing some kind of a plastic on a jig head. I know there are lots of options...Mirr O Lure, etc. Just curious if you use hard baits, how often, what conditions, and which ones.