Saltwater Fishing Basics
There are many types of saltwater fishing tackle, and a lot of things can fall into factor. See saltwater fishing is much different than fly or freshwater fishing, because the demand, and places to fish, are much greater. Lets face it, there is a whole lot more ocean than there are streams and lakes, therefore the amount of tackle will be a lot greater. So if you are fishing from a pier, and then deep sea fishing, obviously the saltwater fishing tackle is going to differ greatly. Here I will explain the very basics of saltwater fishing tackle.
The Rod and Reel
We will start with the rod and reel, there are many kinds of rods and reels in saltwater fishing, baitcast reels, spinning reels, and trolling reels for the big fish. If you are just a beginner and are looking to get a saltwater fishing reel, make sure that it is made for saltwater, if you are using a freshwater reel in saltwater, the reel will corrode pretty quickly. The spinning rod and reel is the most common for small to medium sized fish, the rod has great flexibility and the reels have great drag systems on them. You more than likely wont be able to go for any big game fish though when using a spinning rod and reel, because the spool on the reel can only handle light line, going over the spool capacity limit in line isn’t recommended, it will just tangle and you wont be able to reel in that good. The trolling rod and reels are used for big game fish, these reels hold thick line, and the rods aren’t as flexible compared to the spinning rods and reels, but they can take a lot more abuse from big angry fish trying to make a run for their lives. Trolling rod and reels are much more expensive, but then again you will be bringing up way bigger fish on them, they are really only necessary if you are deep sea fishing on a boat.
Terminal Tackle
Terminal tackle is anything that is from the leader and above, including the swivel, which is used to connect the line and the leader. This can consist of fishing bobbers, swivels, sinkers, weights, lures, hooks, etc. Most all terminal tackle is stored in a tackle box, which is used for holding, you guessed it, fishing tackle! A good tool for the saltwater angler to have is a cast net, which is a net that spans into a circle and is used to catch bait or small fish. Cast nets can range from 3-12 feet, there are bigger ones out there, but these are the ones that are designed to be thrown by just one person. The cast net is basically a bunch of fishing line neatly tied together with weights surrounding the perimeter of the net, when the net is thrown, the weights quickly sink to the bottom and the net catches the fish that the net falls on, most of the time anyway.
Other Saltwater Tackle
Other things you might need for saltwater fishing is a regular old net, if you are a pier fisherman, you might need a long net, or maybe even a long gaff to bring the fish up out of the water. Bait buckets are used to keep your bait fresh and alive for a short time, some types can be thrown in the water to extend the life of the bait, the yellow bait buckets are popular for this and are commonly used when fishing off of docks and piers. Some other handy tools you should have when saltwater fishing are a pair of pliers, making it easier to de-hook the fish, a fillet knife for cleaning the fish, and a rag or towel to grip the fish once it is caught.