Saltwater fishing hacks that will help all anglers have great fishing trips. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’re going to find something new in this article!
Saltwater Fishing Hacks
Saltwater fishing can be a lot of fun. Anglers have many opportunities to catch big trophy fish. There are also many different fish species.
Fish at the snook
In many places, snook has been overfished because of its delicious flavor and high price per pound on the market. These rules apply to all types of fish.
If there aren’t any fish, don’t expect to catch anything. Fishing around popular fishing spots like bridges, jetties, docks, rocks, and seawalls are good places to find fish.
If you’re in an area that floods when the tide is high, there will be “flooded” vegetation that’s easy for fish to hide in; these areas can be excellent spots for snook fishing.
Use a wire leader.
Fish won’t bite a hook if it’s not baited, but they can damage your line as you reel it in. In saltwater, this is especially true with bigger fish like sharks and sailfish.
You can use wire to make a leader for your line by tying weightless string or fishing wire from the eye of the hook down to a swivel.
For a bait fishing rig, use a loop knot to attach your weights and leader. This will give you the best chance of not catching any of the lines while you fight against big catches.
Use live bait for bigger fish.
Live bait works exceptionally well for saltwater fish because they’re used to eating them in their natural habitat. Bigger fish, like red snapper and grouper, will be more likely to bite if they think the bait is alive.
Using a slow-moving type of artificial bait might even trick these predators into thinking the bait is still moving.
Look for food sources before you go fishing.
Before you get on your boat or jump on your boat and start fishing, you need to know where the food sources will be.
Food attracts fish, so look for seaweed or birds diving into the water as you’re on your way back from dropping your line.
Sometimes, you can also find some baitfish that didn’t get away as easily as others; these can set up a great fishing spot for you.
Use circle hooks when catching smaller fish.
Circle hooks are great because they hook the fish in the mouth instead of its internal organs, which means less damage to the meat.
These hooks also allow you to release your catch back into the water without worrying about it being hooked somewhere that can hurt or even kill it.
Freeze your leftover bait for the next trip.
If you’re a fisherman, then odds are good that you’re going to have some leftover bait from your previous fishing trip. Instead of throwing it away or leaving it on the boat, put the leftovers in a plastic bag and freeze it so it will last longer without spoiling.
Use a drift fishing rig to catch bigger fish.
If you’re not having any luck with the other techniques in this article, then try drifting because this is one of the most effective techniques out there. As your boat floats downstream, put out at least three or four lines.
Cast out your line and hook a live bait on one side of the boat and a weightless type of artificial bait on the other. As you drift downstream, your live bait will attract bigger fish from both sides of the boat!
Use a bobber to help you catch more fish.
If you’d rather use artificial bait, then use a bobber that will help you get more fish. The bobber’s purpose is to suspend your bait off the bottom of the water so it looks like there’s something on the line for bigger fish to bite.
Fish can often be caught by simply casting out and slowly reeling in an artificial lure attached to a bobber.
Use a casting net to catch baitfish.
If you’re looking for live bait, then cast your net into the water and scoop up as many of those pesky fish as possible.
If you’re wanting bigger fish like sharks or marlin, look for seaweed and other marine vegetation that might attract these types of predators. When you cast out your net, you might not catch anything—but it’s always worth a shot!
Fish at night for different species.
Different species of fish are attracted to different types of bait, so try fishing at night if the other techniques aren’t working. For example, tuna feed primarily during the day, but marlin will be at their hungriest during the night.
Look for flocks of birds diving into the water to find fish. When you find these flocks, drop your line and hope to hook something other than baitfish!
Use a fishing pole so small fish can’t steal it.
It’s common knowledge that bigger fish are harder to catch, but it’s also true that smaller fish feed on your bait or lure when they get the chance.
To stop this from happening, use a fishing pole with a lighter line so it’s easier to pull in when you catch something.
This way, smaller fish won’t be able to steal your line because they won’t be able to pull it down into the water.
Cut up your food into tiny pieces
If you don’t have a fishing pole, then use another way to stop smaller fish from stealing your bait or lure. Cut your food into little cubes so small fish won’t be able to eat them whole—the small chunks of food are big enough that bigger fish will still be interested.
Use a special knot to pull in your catch.
If you want to make it easier for yourself to pull in your catch, then learn how to tie an improved clinch knot.
This is an easy way to tie together two ends of the fishing line so they won’t come apart, and it’s especially good because no matter how much pressure is on the line, you can pull your catch right in.
Use little amounts of bait on a circle hook
Another way to make your life easier while fishing is to tie up some circle hooks so you’ll be able to use less bait.
The idea of a circle hook is that it catches the fish in the lip and keeps them from wiggling off. If you’re lucky, this will mean less struggling and more time to reel in your catch!
Keep fish alive with a fish bucket.
If you don’t want live bait or another way to keep fish alive, then you can always use a fish bucket. Put some air into the bottom of your pail using an air pump or bicycle tire pump, then drop in your fish and put them on ice when you get back to land. This will keep them alive for quite a while if done right.
Use yarn to attach your flies.
If you’re using bait or artificial lures, then try tying them on with some yarn instead of the usual fishing line. This will make it easier for fish to swallow and won’t be as sharp around their mouths.
Saltwater Fishing Hacks
Perfecting your saltwater fishing hacks can help you enjoy your fishing trips time and again. As always, being patient is important especially when it comes to fishing.
I hope this post on saltwater fishing tips has given you some ideas you can try. Don’t forget to follow fishbasics for more fishing posts.
