Secrets for Successful Fishing

Today, the chief trend in salt-water fishing issalt water is the same as that used for bass in
toward the use of lighter tackle. Although thefresh water. You pick a likely target, cast, and
time-honored heavy outfits still have a place,start your retrieve slowly, just in case a
great numbers of salt-water anglers are findingwide-awake fish happens to be there. Play the
that they have more fun - and catch as manylure very slowly, let it sit quietly for half a minute,
fish - with outfits no heavier and little differentthen give it a slight twitch by lifting the rod tip.
from those used in fresh water.After about six hitless casts, start increasing the
Actually, most fresh-water gear can be used forspeed of the retrieve. Sometimes you will get a
light-tackle salt-water fishing. On light tackle, manystrike on the fifteenth cast and sometimes it
small- to medium-size inshore game fish, such astakes forty. But if the fish is there, you'll almost
striped bass, bluefish, sea bass, shad, yellowtail,certainly get action eventually.
mackerel, and croakers, provide thrills rivalingPlugs of various designs, spoons, spinners, metal
those of the big-game species. While you can usesquids, and feathered jigs are all good underwater
still lighter conventional tackle, the term "lightlures. But I don't want to leave the impression
tackle" generally means the use of bait-casting,that top-water artificials should be ignored.
fly, push-button, or spinning tackle.Surface plugs such as darters, injured minnows,
Part of the fun of light-tackle fishing is theand plunkers are sometimes more valuable in salt
element of surprise; in salt water nearly anythingwater than the underwater types.
can happen. You may be fishing for weakfish,Most salt-water species seem to prefer a
expecting fish of around a pound or two, and astraight, darting action rather than the wiggles and
25-pound channel bass may decide to take yourwobbles to which many fresh-water fish respond.
bait. Snook of around 5 to 10 pounds are greatBe that as it may, remember that salt-water fish
sport on light tackle, and it takes all the skill youare very unpredictable and are apt to take almost
possess to handle them; but when a tarpon of 60any cast-and-retrieved artificial lure - that is, when
to 70 pounds decides it likes the same lure -they're in the mood.
brother, you've got thrills, and plenty of them.Casting techniques, whether employed in fresh or
The first type of light tackle used in salt watersalt water, are the same. But since the way of
was the bait-casting outfit; it is still very popularplaying a lure varies somewhat according to the
today, and with good reason. Of all light tackle,species of the fish, only experience will teach you
bait-casting gear is best able to cope with largewhich retrieve to use for which salt-water fish at
game fish; the short rod (about 5 feet, 2 inches inwhich time - and even then you can often count
length) and relatively heavy lines are suitableon coming a cropper.
weapons for big fish.If you are after bottom live-bait feeders such as
This form of salt-water fishing may be done fromsea bass, tautog, tomcod, porgies, halibut,
rowboats, from the shores of inlets, bays, andcabezon, sheepshead, corbina, bocaccio, pompano,
lagoons, and from bridges and piers. Whereverand kingfish, you will need the right terminal tackle,
fish congregate along the inshore waterways -the proper live or cut bait, and the right weight to
and there are thousands of these spots dottingget down where the fish live. One general rule to
the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific and Atlantic coastsfollow is that the bottom-feeding fish that live
- plugs, spinners, spoons, or bait hurled out by themainly on shellfish will not take artificial lures very
fresh-water (or special salt-water) casting rod willreadily.
bring a sizable catch.With time and experience you will have great
The procedure for awakening a drowsy fish insuccess in this type of fishing. Good luck!