Saltwater fishing tackle, floats, rods and reels

Saltwater fishing tackle differs from freshwater fishing gear in many ways. Usually it is bigger, stronger and generally more robust for the simple reason that saltwater fish are often larger. There are other factors to take into account, when you’re fishing in the sea you sometimes need to cast greater distances, often to clear hazards like rocks and weed beds, or if you’re casting into the surf you want to land your bait or spinning rig where the water is deep enough and the fish are feeding. So let's take a look at the basic tackle you’ll need for saltwater.

Before you start

Fishing is big business, in the UK it’s the number 1 outdoor sport, so, unsurprisingly the internet is rich in sites for buying tackle, gaining advice and just about everything you could possibly need to know. This blog is just a summary of some of the basics but once you’ve got a flavour for saltwater fishing, I recommend you read some tackle reviews and blogs, particularly by fishing enthusiasts in your area. There is much to be learned from those who have already been out in the pouring rain or spent long hours waiting for a bite at your local beach. They’ll know what works and what doesn’t, and are usually more than willing to share their experiences. This information will save you time and aggravation. Anyway, lets take a look at the basic setup.

Shore fishing and Deep Sea fishing

Are you going to be fishing from the shore or deep sea? Both are great fun and very rewarding but the equipment differs considerably. Logically, the biggest fish tend to be out in the deeper water so if you’re going out in a boat you’ll need very strong gear.

Boat rods and reels

Boat rods perform a different task to shore rods. You don’t need to cast too far for a start because you’re already in the deep water. As a result the rods are usually shorter and less flexible, designed more for strength. However they are still light enough to manoeuvre in a good fight, and deep sea fish put up a good fight, especially the large eels like Conger, and anything from the shark family from dogfish right up to Thresher Shark, Blue Shark and beyond. If you’re fishing in warm water the kit can be massively strong if you’re going for Marlin or the bigger sharks. Here’s a standard boat rod from MTI about eight foot long, pretty tough with some flexibility, this is a good saltwater rod for cod, rays, small sharks and bass. With a boat rod you’re most likely to use a Bait Casting Reel, these aren’t the most user friendly items if you’re new to fishing but for boat work they’re essential. The power to weight ratio means that they can handle heavier tackle and stronger thicker line for the bigger fish. As you trawl through some of the fishing websites you’ll soon see there are a multitude of different boat rods and reels available, some for spinning, some for particular areas or terrain, but the basic rule is, boat rods are shorter, thicker and stronger.

Shore Rods and reels

If you though there was a wide variety of boat rods, you can double it for shore fishing. As with freshwater tackle and rods there is a massive variety including: bass rods, spinning rods, beach casters and so on. Once again, it depends where you’re going to be fishing and how experienced you are. All you really need to do is match the rod to the type of fish you’re after or the area you’re fishing in the most. If you’re going to be fishing in surf a lot then you’ll need at least 10 foot of rod to cast out to the deeper water, but beach rods can be fourteen foot long and if you’re also fishing on the rocks you probably don't’ want to be swinging a huge rod like that around as and the water will usually be fairly deep already. So, for multi-purpose, all round saltwater fishing it’s best to find a rod around ten foot, or even one that is adjustable either through being telescopic (although it’s best to steer clear of these if you can) or one that comes with interchangeable pieces so that it can be fished at two different lengths. Both are available from large distributers. The reels for shore rods are much the same as freshwater reels, only a bit larger. The spinning or fixed spool reel is the best all round reel. The casting release is easy, just hold the line with your finger, pull back the bail arm, cast, releasing your finger as you do so and then flick back the arm when the weight hits the water and reel in to the desired position. See this useful diagram for the anatomy of a fixed spool reel.

Saltwater fishing tackle

Just like river fishing gear, saltwater fishing tackle requires a hook, a weight and a line, spinners, floats and lures. Once again, everything is much larger. Because the rods and line are stronger, you use bigger weights, primarily for greater casting distances or to anchor your bottom rig against the current. Beach rods can cast a six or seven ounce weight with no problem, giving you casting distances around 60 to 100 yards and beyond depending on your ability. For boat fishing too you need a heavy weight to sink your bait in the right spot and prevent drift. Saltwater floats are much larger than their equivalent in river tackle, this is to cope with the extra weight. It is quite rewarding to use them because if the fish pulls a float like that under the water, there’s a good chance it’s quite large. As for hooks, well you can use river hooks if you like. The old adage stands, big hooks catch big fish, small hooks catch both, but if you don’t want to spend time digging around the fishes’ gullet with forceps I would recommend using a medium sized hook like a 14 for shore fishing. Many of the lures, feathers and rubber eels you by come with their own hooks already and this should give you some idea. For boat fishing, the sky is the limit. If you’re fishing for sharks and large game then it’s wire traces and large hooks. To be honest, I’m not familiar with this branch of fishing but take a look at this site which will boggle your mind with the weird and wonderful world of deep water hard-core tackle. Remember too that big tackle requires a big fishing box!

Dress appropriately

As always with fishing, you’re going to be outdoors so dress properly. The sea is unpredictable and coastal weather is just the same. If you’re out in some beautiful remote spot you’ll be utterly miserable if the weather turns. A good set of waterproofs are essential. If you’re out on a boat, this goes without saying.