3 Invaluable Tips For Saltwater Fishers
Posted on: 22 April 2016
Saltwater fishing is a totally different animal than its freshwater cousin, and as such, even those who possess a lot of experience in freshwater environments may find themselves out of their element when they're at sea. So if you're looking to go saltwater fishing for the first time, take a look below at three great tips to keep in mind -- you'll save time and energy that's better spent reeling in a big one.
Use Noisy Lures
In calm freshwater, smaller quiet lures are usually preferred, as they can catch a fish's attention without startling it. But in choppy waters like the kind you're likely to encounter in saltwater spots, lures that don't make much noise may not do the trick. Opt for larger, noisy topwater lures and you're likely to see a big difference in the number of fish you're able to catch. You can find these in most tackle stores, or you can buy saltwater tackle online.
Use Live Bait
Live bait can be used for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, but the types of bait you use will differ slightly. Shrimp is always a popular choice among saltwater fishers, as are sand fleas and mud minnows, which can be found without too much effort at a nearby beach (or purchased at a coastal tackle shop, of course). Whatever bait you choose, remember to keep the water you store it in cool, and if you must use warm water, replace it every few hours to keep oxygen levels stable.
Choose the Right Fishing Rod
When people envision saltwater fishing, they often imagine being far out off the coast in rough waters, struggling to reel in a massive catch. And while those kinds of experiences are certainly available to the avid fisherman, they don't have a monopoly on saltwater fishing. Many saltwater fishermen prefer to fish on land, throwing their line out into the surf. Others prefer to head out to the end of a pier and cast their line from there. If you're trying to catch fish from the surf, you'll need a rod with medium action; if you're fishing from the pier instead, buy one with slow action. Deep sea fishers will need a rod with heavy action made of graphite, as they're the ones most likely to put their rod through the greatest amount of stress. That said, both deep sea and pier rods can be about the same length, while surf rods should be a bit longer -- anywhere from twelve to sixteen feet in length.
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