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Over the past few years, saltwater fishing has become one of my favorite things to do. There are so many ways to access saltwater as an angler: a boat, kayak, or paddleboard. From the beach, the pier, or from a bridge over the salty inshore waters. But coming from Pennsylvania, it did take some time to figure out. Everything is bigger and faster, and with that comes the excitement of saltwater fishing! For me, it wasn’t as intuitive as reading water on a river or stream, but there are a few general basic principles that I’ve come to realize, and that’s what I’m here to share with you. So, let’s get right into it.
Gear
A good beginner setup for the beach and inshore fishing will start with a 7-foot medium/heavy rod paired with a 3500 or 4000-sized reel. I like to fill my reels with 15-lb. braid as the main line, then add a leader between 20-40 lbs., depending on what I’m fishing for. Monofilament will work fine in most situations, but in very clear water or with fish that seem picky, I’ll go with fluorocarbon. When fishing with live bait, circle hooks are my go-to, but I also like to use topwater poppers, spoons, jigs, and other lures with this setup. One last thing to remember is that saltwater is very corrosive, so you’ll want to clean your gear after every use and maintain a lubrication process as needed.
Bait
Certain fish will definitely prefer specific baits, but as a general rule of thumb, you can’t go wrong with shrimp, crabs, squid, and small bait fish such as pilchards. And the great part about it is you can usually get your hands on one of the above without much of a problem. Live is always better, but frozen works as well. Similarly, jerk baits, top water baits, jigs, and most lures you can catch freshwater fish with, you’ll also be able to use in saltwater. They’re typically just larger and work faster.
Tides
Saltwater fishing is greatly affected by tides, the moon, and the weather. Generally speaking, when the change of the tide is at its strongest point, that is when fishing is the best. So if you start fishing at high tide, about halfway through the change of the tide on its way to low tide, when the water is flowing well, the fish will be most active. They sit against the current and use the flow as a conveyor belt for food. Moon phases and weather patterns also affect fish activity either positively or negatively, depending on the situation. This is also something you’ll want to key in on and utilize in your favor.
Details
Attention to detail is imperative. Little things like tying proper knots and taking notes can have a huge impact on your success. Pay attention to where the fish like to congregate and ask yourself why. Is it because of the cover or structure? Are there usually bait fish in the area? Are you catching them in the morning, evening, or cloudy days? Which direction is the wind blowing? Those characteristics and tendencies can be replicated from place to place. Constant adjustments are needed, and making the right decision is based upon the attention to detail.
Saltwater fishing is a great way to land trophy fish as well as dinner. Truth be told, most saltwater fish have white, flaky flesh that is mild and delicious! And while it is always a great experience, you don’t need to hire a guide or have an expensive boat to get on the water. The learning curve may seem steep at first, but there’s only one way to figure it out. Grab your gear and get out there!
--Outdoors Allie
