Free Salt Water Fishing Tips Sitemap

Foreword - Success in salt-water fishing depends on many factors which all play a part in the final result. Fishing tackle, lures, baits and other equipment used all have a bearing on the ultimate success or failure of a fishing trip. The author feels that the methods and techniques used in salt-water fishing are also very important, yet they are often neglected, overlooked or unknown to many salt-water anglers. After all, it's a simple matter to go into a well-equipped fishing-tackle store and get a rod, reel, line, lure or bait which will catch fish. But the secret of using this equipment is the key to successful salt-water fishing.

01. Fishing Tackle - The average person who first takes up salt-water fishing seriously is usually a pretty confused individual. He sees so many rods, reels, lures and lines in a fishing-tackle store that he becomes bewildered. Which salt-water fishing outfit is the best and which one should he choose for the fishing he wants to do?

02. Salt-Water Lures - When I first started fishing in salt water about twenty-five years ago, very few anglers used artificial lures. Most of them depended on natural baits when they went fishing in the ocean. The handful of anglers who used artificial lures at that time didn't have many to choose from. They used mostly metal squids, cedar and bone jigs and feather lures.

03. Fish in the Surf - One of the toughest problems confronting the novice in surf fishing is the one of locating the fish that venture inshore to feed. As the beginner glances up and down the miles of beach, he is likely to scratch his head and wonder where he should cast his lure or bait. To him, one section of breaking waves and water looks very much like any other, and he finds it difficult to choose the best spot for fishing.

04. Right Rig - Every angler who fishes in salt water should be familiar with the various rigs used for casting, trolling and bottom fishing. This terminal tackle has evolved through years and years of experimentation in presenting lures and baits to fish. The rigs vary according to the area being fished, the fish being sought, the tackle being used and the fishing method in use at the time. Rigs play a big part in successful fishing or the lack of it, and the smart anglers soon learn when, where and how to use each rig.

05. Natural Baits - Although each year more and more salt-water anglers are using artificial lures, the great majority still depend on natural baits for their fishing. Indeed, many salt-water fish will not take artificial lures, except on rare occasions, and must be tempted with live bait. This is especially true with respect to bottom fishing, which is the most popular form of salt-water angling, where many so-called game fish will often ignore artificial lures and can be taken only on natural bait. Even fish which strike on artificial lures readily have certain periods and conditions when they prefer live bait.

06. Tides-The Key - We had been fishing from a boat for porgies, and these pan fish of the sea were providing fast action. The minute the sinker hit bottom, the clam bait would be grabbed and a quick lift of the rod tip would set the hook. Then the porgies would be reeled to the top—we had many "double-headers," two porgies at the same time on one line. Most of the boats around us were also catching them. Then suddenly, as if on a given signal, they stopped biting and our baited hooks stayed in the water without so much as a nibble. I noticed that the other boats in the area weren't doing anything either.

07. Deadly Art - The basic idea behind chumming is to encourage fish to eat something with no hooks attached in the hope that they will later take something with a hook. Chumming also attracts fish in large numbers to a certain spot. Instead of the angler moving about in search of fish, he can stay in one spot and wait for the fish to come to him. Mainly, however, the idea is to fool the fish with a free handout and dispel his suspicions so that he will more readily take a baited hook.

08. Drift-Fish - We had spent most of the morning cruising around in my friend's 22-ft. boat, searching for bluefish. We were off Rockaway Point, New York, where schools of small blue-fish had been seen a couple of days earlier. My friend, Jack, suddenly pointed inshore and yelled, "Look—birds working!" I peered toward the spot and saw a big flock of gulls wheeling and diving about a half a mile away. Jack pulled on the gas throttle and the boat shot forward at full speed.

09. Night - The great majority of salt-water anglers go out during the daytime and rarely venture forth at night. But today more and more anglers are discovering that plenty of fish and good sport can also be had at night. In fact, if you are interested in big fish which are found near shore, your chances are much better fishing at night than during the daytime.

10. Party-Boat - In fishing, as in everything else, tastes differ and each salt-water angler prefers one type of fishing above all others. Some guys like to seek big game in offshore waters. Others like the surf and spend their time trying for stripers, channel bass and weakfish. Many go for bottom fishing from boats, shore piers and bridges. Still others, like myself, believe every kind of fishing has something to offer. I enjoy any type of salt-water fishing just so long as it offers some kind of action, fun and a chance of catching a few fish.

11. Jetty Fishing - With the popularity of salt-water fishing increasing, one big problem is how to accommodate the growing army of anglers. With more and more hotels, apartments, bathing beaches and private homes being built along our shores, fishing space is at a premium. One way this problem is being solved is by building fishing piers into bays, sounds and the ocean. This is being done on a grand scale in some states, such as North Carolina and Florida.

12. Trolling - Trolling looks deceptively simple and easy, but there is much more to it than just running a boat with a lure trailing behind. Like most methods of fishing there are certain skills to master and tricks to learn before you can get consistent results.

13. Big Striped Bass - When a salt-water angler first sets out to catch striped bass he's satisfied with fish of any size. Small or large—it doesn't matter, so long as it's a striper. Then after he's caught some small ones he sets his sights on a bigger striped bass. Even if he is lucky enough to catch a big striper at the start he is somewhat dismayed to find that it isn't always easy to repeat. Big striped bass don't come easy, at least not until you acquire considerable skill and know-how. You also have to concentrate all your efforts and make it your particular business to go after big striped bass.

14. Pan Fish - What is the most popular kind of salt-water fishing? Which type of angling is practiced by most of the people who wet a line in the ocean? Trolling for sailfish in the Gulf Stream is fine sport and makes the headlines. Casting for tarpon in the Florida Keys or the Everglades offers plenty of excitement and if you boat one of these leaping, silver fish you also can take a bow. In northern waters the angler who catches a big striped bass also makes like a hero.

15. Channel Bass - The surf angler heaved his chunk of mullet bait into the ocean and it landed with a splash about 200 feet from shore. Then he backed up the sand beach and put his rod into the rod holder attached below his waist. He didn't wait too long, because a few minutes later something grabbed his bait and took off for Diamond Shoals, way out at sea off Cape Hat-teras, North Carolina. The line peeled off the conventional reel at an alarming rate. The angler grew panicky and clamped his thumbs on the revolving spool.

16. Sea Trout Fishing - One day I was casting from a big breakwater on Long Island, New York, using a fairly large double-jointed plug. Suddenly I got a hard rap and hooked into a fish which tore off 40 or 50 ft. of line against the fairly tight drag before it was stopped. When I had gained back a few yards it took another run and took off the line I had recovered and a few feet extra. This seesaw battle continued until the fish had made several runs. Finally I worked it close to the rocks and when I saw the fish lying on the surface I realized I had hooked a weakfish. The fish was gaffed and landed and when I weighed it later it went exactly 7 lbs. All during the fight I had been certain I had a striped bass weighting at least 10 or 12 lbs.

17. Cod and Whiting - If you have never tried cod fishing you may well wonder why any angler would leave a warm, comfortable room to venture forth on rough, cold and wintry seas. Yet anglers do go out in the winter, arid they are likely to continue doing so. Cod fishing has several appeals for salt-water anglers. First, of course, codfish provide the opportunity to do some fishing in the winter. Most other fish have gone south or into the deeper waters along the northern section of the Atlantic Coast.

18. Your Fish - Locating and hooking a fish on a lure or on natural bait is usually the toughest problem in fishing, but after the fish is hooked there's also the important job of boating or landing it. In doing this, experience is the best teacher; the best way to learn how to play and land a fish is by hooking many of them. However, there are some tips and hints which can be studied in advance so that you won't be fumbling and groping in the dark. After all, why take the chance of losing a good-sized fish when you can learn the correct procedure ahead of time?

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