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Choosing saltwater fishing tackle

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By tkoppel


Author's son with a nice Florida Red fish
Author's son with a nice Florida Red fish
Author with a Florida Snook
Author with a Florida Snook

Secrets to Catching Saltwater Fish

Salty backwater fishing is by far my favorite type of fishing. I have fished the backwaters from North Carolina around the Florida peninsula to Texas. Although there is a variety of fish to catch at each location, the right tackle is a must if you want to keep reelin’ ‘em in. Whether you’re saltwater fishing Florida for snook or reeling in red fish in the Carolinas or Texas, here’s some useful advice and secrets that will keep ‘em taking the bait.

Keep your gear light.

 

It’s best to spend a little extra money for the right gear so you can remain light while fighting a 15 pound red screaming though the grass or mangroves. A medium heavy rod with 6' to 6'6" one piece carbon and a 10lb to 12lb line weight saltwater spinning reel is plenty. You’ll be throwing your arm off if your gear is too heavy. I like a reel with at least 5 ball bearings and classified "Salt Water." I spool up with 15lb braided line. It is the size of 6lb mono and hard to cut off on the snags, and it is light to cast. I then tie a 6' length of 20lb fluorocarbon leader directly to the braid using a double uni-knot. The less visable terminal tackle the better.

Use bait that will keep ‘em biting.

To catch salt water fish you’ll need the right bait. I recently conducted a test in both South Carolina and Florida and found that Gulp Alive Shrimp work equally as well as live shrimp. Immersed in a high octane solution, this realistic-looking bait emits a powerful scent that will keep fish attracted to your bait. Unlike live bait, this bait lasts all day. And when you’re finished, you can put ‘em back in the juice and use them again the next day. While the favorite bait of most lure fishermen is the gold Johnson spoon –and some prefer jig heads with wiggly, soft plastic swimmers on them–my favorite bait is live shrimp on a 1/0 circle hook with a popping cork set just above the waters depth. Why? How does this help? Foraging fish are on or near the bottom. Setting a popping cork just short of the depth puts the bait in the range of water they are in and allows the current to carry the bait, causing it to bounce along the bottom.

Surf fishing requires heavier gear.

 

Another popular method for catching saltwater fish is surf fishing. The secret to catching fish in the surf is to keep your bait in the trenches where the game fish lie in wait. For this type of fishing you’ll need pretty heavy gear. I recommend a 10' to 12 ' medium heavy rod so you can cast out to the trench. A good heavy (about 30 size) spinning reel is the easiest to handle. I like 30lb braid because it is more than you need and only as big and heavy as 12lb mono, so it casts nicely and practically can't be broken off. I attach a 30lb fluorocarbon leader of about 6' and whatever rig I’m using. It’s best to use the pyramid shaped bottom sinkers to hold your bait in the trench. Gulp Alive will work here also but most guys prefer sand fleas or other live or cut bait. The heavier the surf the heavier your sinker needs to be. Don't forget to get a spike rod holder to stick in the sand. Those rigs are just too heavy to hold onto all day.

For video tips and tricks to catch Pompano from the surf, see Surfin Sapo's video on MyTackleSpace.com. A social fishing forum.

Check back here soon for more tips, tricks and helpful information. ‘Til next time, keep on catchin’ ‘em!

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Please visit eFishBox.Com for all your fishing electronics and boating gear needs and more how-to tips..

 

 

 

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Comments

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Linda Ruth profile image

Linda Ruth  says:
2 years ago

Useful ideas and links.

nightcats profile image

nightcats  says:
2 years ago

Great info in this well organized hub. I like the link to the Facebook page. Great idea!

Black Pearl 1 profile image

Black Pearl 1  says:
2 years ago

I am not into fishing at all, but tkoppel your enthusiasm about the subject shows through. Very to the point and precise information. Good job.

netbuilder profile image

netbuilder  says:
2 years ago

Great Hub. I'll send my brother over to check you out. I think he may be part fish, as that is all he thinks about.

DAVID BOURG profile image

DAVID BOURG  says:
8 months ago

Hey,you are so right.Having the best Tackle possible is the most important.I have seen thing's(methods)being used before,and I could never figure out why some anglers are cheap.You are not going to be successful cutting corners.I always put new line on my reels after a heavy day of Fishing.Also keeping my Reels maintenance.This is so important,because if you don't take care of your tackle,you wont have any Fish to brag about.

By the way Nice Fish!

tkoppel profile image

tkoppel  says:
8 months ago

Hi David, Thanks for the positive comment. You are right: maintaning your gear is as important as buying decent gear.

michaelchester profile image

michaelchester  says:
8 months ago

Great article. I fish the surf in and around southern NJ and while the equipment may be a little different, the basics remain the same. Whenever I get involved with new anglers looking for tips I offer pretty general advice. First, figure out what works for you. The best way to do that is to keep a log. It doesn't have to be detailed, but knowing what, where and why you caught fish will provide a roadmap for your future endeavors. The second thing I almost always recommend is to learn 2 or three knots that you can use in any conditions. Tying in the dark or rain or when a feeding frenzy can be an anglers biggest nightmare. Check out some of my other tips at

WWW.Wigix.com

Tell em Michaelchester sent you. Tight lines!

Funeral Readings Guru  says:
7 months ago

Excellent article and I really love te photos. Also thanks for the useful links.

hartonorb  says:
6 months ago

thats very usefull for me, thanks!! for more resource on choosing the right fly fishing rod, please visit: http://www.artandfishing.blogspot.com

Redfish Fishing   says:
3 months ago

Great hubpage. I really like the articles, very informative and useful.

Redfish Fishing Guru  says:
3 months ago

Excellent article. I really like the article. Links are also quite useful.

tkoppel profile image

tkoppel  says:
3 months ago

Thanks Red Fishing Guru, I checked out your blog and found it a great resource for red fishing info. Keep up the good work.

http://redfishfishingblog.com/

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Choosing saltwater fishing tackle in the News

  • Governor vetoes saltwater fishing feeWPRI Providence3 days ago

    Governor Don Carcieri has vetoed a bill that would require Rhode Islanders to purchase a $7 license for recreational saltwater fishing.

  • Governor vetoes R.I. saltwater fishing licenseThe Providence Journal3 days ago

    Governor calls proposed $7 fishing license "excessively intrusive"

  • Carcieri Vetoes Saltwater Fishing LicenseABC 6 Providence3 days ago

    PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Gov. Don Carcieri has vetoed legislation requiring a $7 license for recreational saltwater anglers in the Ocean State. The bill would have made it illegal to fish in the ocean without getting a license. The state already forces freshwater fishermen to buy an $18 license.

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