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| Sea Fishing for Beginners |
Sea fishing can seem complicated and confusing from the outside. With our advice and guidance in this article we can show you that with a well-chosen rod, a few rigs and a variety of bait we can help you successfully master it. You’ll be casting and catching in no time at all.
There’s a huge range of different
sea fishing rods available, which cover every imaginable type of sea fishing. Have a think about what type of fishing you'd like to do before you go and make your purchases. Even visit us in store to see what you are comfortable with. Shore rods come in many sizes from 6ft to 15ft and depending on where and what you fish depends on the size of the rod you need to buy. If you are going to be mostly spinning and float fishing then a 7-9ft
spinning rod will be perfectly fine for both. However, a good quality all-round 12 to 14ft
beachcaster will get you started and cover a wide range of fishing situations.
Most sea anglers start off this way and then move on to more specialist equipment (such as
LRF) once they’ve learned the basics of sea fishing.
There are two main types of
sea reel used in sea fishing,
fixed spools and
multipliers. While many anglers will claim multipliers offer the best performance, fixed spool reels are the easiest to use, and make the most sense for a beginner.
‘Terminal tackle’ is the term used for the equipment which you will tie onto the end of your line –
hooks,
links,
swivels and
beads are all terminal tackle, and go together to make your ‘rig’. There’s a huge selection of terminal tackle for anglers to choose from, which can seem overwhelming to someone new to the sport.
Many new sea anglers purchase ready-made
sea rigs. This is a great way of learning how rigs work and how to construct them, with many anglers soon progressing on to creating their own rigs using
rig making accessories.
Using a good all-round rod to begin with will allow you to fish a variety of venues and locations. We’ll cover a couple of places that are ideal for beginners but feel free to find out for yourself what works.
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| Beach Fishing |
Beaches are a great place to start as they can offer snag-free fishing, which is a bonus as you will learn. It is always best to visit a beach at low tide and look for features which will attract fish such as gullies, structures or depressions in the sand. When the tide comes in, natural food sources such as dislodged shellfish, marine worms and small fish gather in these places, making them an excellent area to cast near to.
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| Pier Fishing |
Piers are a popular angling spot due to their easy access, and the ability to place a baited hook into deep water without a large cast. This may be an attractive proposition if you haven’t mastered casting yet.
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| Two Hook Flapper Rig |
Two hook flapping rigs are a good choice when fishing from piers, but it can pay to use size 1/0 or 2/0 hooks in a strong pattern. This size allows smaller fish to be caught while retaining the strength to handle a larger fish if ones takes the bait.
Ragworm is one of the most effective baits for sea fishing and can catch everything from small Flatfish to specimen sized Bass, Cod and Rays. Indeed, pretty much every fish species in the UK can be caught on Ragworm. Another advantage is that Ragworm is easy to present on the hook and stands up well to casting.
Artificial Baits deserve real consideration and are a superb addition to any sea angler's arsenal. Isome Worm is a versatile bait which comes in a variety of colours and sizes and works extremely well with simple bait rigs. The realistic worm shape and natural movement makes it look alive and attractive to the target fish. The fish also can't resist the unique flavor and smell.
Mackerel is another top bait. Strips of Mackerel are rich in fish-attracting oils and many species around the UK can be caught on them.
The more you fish the more you will learn about what bait works best for you.
If bait isn't for you then
lure fishing is the way to go. A lure is the generic term for anything designed to look like prey for the fish. It is intended to tempt the larger fish to attack. Many anglers find lure fishing exciting as they are constantly active, casting and retrieving, knowing a fish could take the lure at any moment. It also allows you to go fishing at short notice without having to buy or catch fresh bait.
The need for deeper water means that piers, jetties and rock marks are the places where lure anglers will most often be found. Using lures for sea fishing goes hand in hand with lighter tackle, and hooking a Pollock, Coalfish or Wrasse on light gear is one of the most exciting types of fishing to be found. Even a single Mackerel is tremendous fun if hooked on the right tackle.
There are numerous lures types to choose from. Metal, plastic, rubber and feathers means there is a lure for every situation.
Spinners may be your first port of call. Spinners are so called because they spin, wobble or revolve as they are reeled in which mimics the movement of a small fish. Spinners for mackerel are easily affordable. Heavier spinners, and the more realistic ones designed for catch Bass, are a little more expensive. Traditionally, most spinners are silver, a colour which resembles prey fish such as sandeel or sprats, although these days spinners come in a range of colours which are just as effective as traditional silver spinners.
While spinners used with light rod and reels provide great sport for summer mackerel many people choose another method and instead employ
feathers or daylights. Feathers and daylights are hooks, usually sized 1 – 2/0 dressed with feathers or plastic to resemble small fish. There are a huge range of feathers and daylights available on the market today, and as Mackerel are unfussy predators they can be caught on pretty much any of the different types of feather/daylights which are available.
Plugs can be sinking or floating and are available in a wide variety of designs. There are many different types of plug available to anglers today, and sea fishing with this type of lure is increasing in popularity. Some plugs are designed to float on or near to the surface of the water, whereas others are designed to go under the water, with the size and angle of the diving vane dictating how deep the plug will go as it is retrieved.
Soft and rubber lures are extremely effective for a range of predatory fish. These types of lures are made from rubber or soft plastic and have an extremely realistic and life-like action making them ideal for targeting large species such as Bass or Pollock.
A simple sea fishing set up can equip you with the tools to successfully catch a range of different species from several different marks. Keeping equipment, rigs, hooks and bait simple is the best bet for those new to the sport. There are more advancements in rods, reels and terminal tackle waiting for you once you master the basics.
If you would like more information about getting started with sea fishing, you can contact us on
0141 212 8880 or visit us in store at the Glasgow & Edinburgh Angling Centres where our expert staff will be happy to help you.
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