big island fishing

The Right Equipment for Deep Sea Fishing 

Fishing, just like any other sport, requires certain equipment in order to be successful. That means you’ll need a rod, a reel, fishing line and some type of lure or bait. So far, everything is simple. Then you walk into the fishing store, and are faced rows and rows and rows of different makes, models, shapes and sizes of equipment. How do you know which reel goes with which rod and which ones are appropriate for deep sea fishing?

Doing Your Homework

You won’t know unless you do a little investigating before you buy. The deep blue sea is home to many, many different types of fish. Some of them are big, others are even bigger. Some will fight the hook a little, others will run, jump, twist and do things to your fishing rod you never knew it could do. It’s important, then, to know what you want to catch, and to match the equipment to those conditions.

How the fish feeds is important, too. Your fish of choice may be a bottom feeder. It might like to eat in shallow water, or it may cling to reefs and other underwater formations. You must match the fishing gear with the way the fish feeds.

Selecting Fishing Rods and Reels

Okay, you know what fish you want to catch, where it lives and how it feeds. Now you need to choose the right rod. Rods come in different materials and in different lengths and weights. If you’re going to be casting, you may want a longer rod. If you plan on standing up while you fish, you may want a shorter rod, which will give you more strength to land the fish. Since ocean fish are usually large, most deep sea fishing rods are thick, durable and made of extremely resilient materials.

Next, it’s time to choose a compatible fishing reel. Like rods, reels come in different shapes and sizes depending on the type of fish and the type of fishing. If you use a bait casting rod, you’ll need a bait casting reel. Likewise with a spinning reel, fly fishing reel, etc.

Bait, Tackle and Accessories

Live bait, particularly the small fish your “big one” likes to eat, are very effective in deep sea fishing. Depending on the fish, you might want to use worms, mackerel, sardines or even small herring. If you’re fishing in saltwater, you’ll need to make sure your tackle is made from corrosion and rust resistant materials. That means you shouldn’t use any equipment made from iron, steel or aluminum.

Once you have your basic equipment, take a look at some of the accessories. There are fish finders, navigation devices and depth sounding gear. Also available are add-ons, like a belt and harness. Wearing these accessories allows you to use your entire body to land a fish, instead of relying on just the strength in your arms.

Consider Renting

If you’re a beginner, consider renting equipment instead of buying. That way you can try out different gear and find out what works best for you.

Don’t get duped by fly by night operators who sell deep sea tackle without even knowing what elements go into providing a full gear and the specific parameters that need to be used to evaluate fishing rods. Research this information on your own at www.fishingrodstips.com and ensure that you make the right purchase.