Inshore Saltwater Fishing Gear for Beginners
- Inshore Saltwater Fishing Rod. For most situations, the best and most versatile inshore saltwater fishing rod will be a medium power rod that is between 6.5 and 7-feet long.
- Inshore Saltwater Fishing Reel.
- Fishing Line & Leader Material.
- Circle Hooks & Popping Corks.
What is difference between inshore and offshore?
In very broad terms: Inshore fishing is closer to the coast, while offshore coast is farther away from the coast. Depending on where you’re fishing determines exactly where that line is. For the Gulf of Mexico, the line is generally 9 miles from the coast.
What is the best bait for inshore saltwater fishing?
Shrimp is a go to bait for saltwater anglers. This all-purpose bait works because shrimp are common in saltwater environments and fish are attracted to the scent and movement. Dead or alive shrimp can be used to catch fish onshore or offshore.
What can I use for inshore fishing?
Use live or natural baits. Natural baits, such as shrimp or baitfish, offer you the best opportunity for consistent action. Natural baits can easily be rigged on a circle hook underneath a popping cork. As a general guideline, you should match your hook size to the size of the bait that you plan to use.
What do I need for inshore saltwater fishing? – Related Questions
Is it better to fish inshore or offshore?
Offshore fishing requires strong tackle to catch huge fish and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Inshore fishing is great for beginners because the tackle and fish have a shorter learning curve. Inshore waters also tend to be calm while offshore conditions can get pretty rough.
What is the best time for inshore fishing?
Night time is the right time to catch your personal best fish inshore. The large fish that will usually ignore your baits and lures during the day will often greedily devour the same baits and lures at night.
What type of rod is best for inshore fishing?
In most cases, a medium power rod will be your best choice for inshore saltwater fishing. Heavier power rods handle heavy line weights and lighter power rods are better suited for lighter lines. Rod action (fast, medium, slow) tells you how much of the rod bends when pressure is applied to the tip.
What pound test is best for inshore fishing?
You want a 15-pound tested braided line. This is a good choice when you’re fishing inshore in backwaters or on flats since the line has a thinner diameter and it will let you cast much further, getting more line on the reel.
What weight should I use for inshore fishing?
Inshore Live Bait
It’s best to use the following tackle for this technique: Rod: Spinning 7′ medium-heavy. Reel: Spinning 3000-4000 or 30-40 size reel. Line: Braid 15lb test with a 20lb fluorocarbon leader.
What makes a rod an inshore rod?
Inshore rods need to be able to cast soft live bait such as shrimp and minnows while still having the strength to fight really big fish when they come along. Inshore rods face a wide range of challenges from smaller fish on light lures in shallow water.
Can I use my freshwater rod in saltwater?
Light tackle saltwater rods can be used in freshwater, but you would not want to use a freshwater rod in a saltwater environment because freshwater rods and fishing gear may not be made with the corrosion-resistant guides or components that saltwater rods are.
What size reel is best for saltwater fishing?
For the saltwater angler, a 3000 will cover you for the lion’s share of inshore work. But you’re underpowered for a larger class of fish. You can hedge your bets with a 4000 or a 5000. You can still have plenty of fun with smaller panfish, but you also have access to a much larger class of fish up to 30 pounds.
Can you use freshwater reels in saltwater?
Materials. The best saltwater fishing reels are made of corrosion resistant materials, such anodized aluminum. Freshwater reels will work in saltwater in a pinch, but I learned the hard way that even if you rinse and oil the reel after it gets wet from the surf, it may never work the same.
Can any fishing rod be used in saltwater?
Yes, you can use saltwater rods for freshwater and vice versa, but just make sure to rinse and dry your rods off after every trip (especially saltwater trips).
Can you use a baitcaster rod in saltwater?
So we have baitcasters: hard to cast, hard to control, and generally designed for smaller saltwater fish. When the fish you target are over 20 pounds, your gear will generally change to larger, conventional reels and rods, specifically designed for larger fish.
Can you use bass gear in saltwater?
No need to buy saltwater-specific baits for a single trip; these proven, well-known bass lures will work in salt too.
Does fake bait work in saltwater?
A popular artificial that came from the bass fishing world, lipless crank baits quickly found a home in saltwater fishing. Small beads on the inside of these hard baits rattle to attract, and their action screams “easy meal.” They are simple to work and are especially deadly in off-color water.
Do you need special line for saltwater?
BRAIDED SALTWATER FISHING LINE
Another advantage braided line has over mono is that it won’t break down in the sun and salt so it lasts longer. Braid also has very low stretch and is very sensitive, making it the best saltwater fishing line for bottom fishing.
Can you use fake bait in saltwater?
Soft Plastic Fluke (Jerkbait)
Freshwater, Saltwater, Brackishwater… the Fluke can attract a fish strike almost anywhere! In fact, the fluke is probably one of the best overall artificial lures for both freshwater and saltwater fishing (and the company Zoom Bait does make them for both freshwater and saltwater anglers).
What colors attract saltwater fish?
In either freshwater or saltwater, colors are mostly dictated by the time of day and the condition of the water. In saltwater, red, orange, blue and black work best early in the day. When the sun is bright, switch to white, green and chartreuse. Red, orange and blue are best when the water isn’t clear.