Finding Saltwater Fishing Gear

For anglers fortunate enough to live near the coast, getting out on the saltwater and hooking a big one—whether going after bonefish, redfish, snapper, or sea bass—is one of the greatest thrills possible. But, as my wife pointed out the other day, fishing can be the male equivalent of scrapbooking: you can spend as much time and money looking for "just the right" lures, hooks, rod, reel, or you-name-it as you can spend actually putting the line in the water! Admittedly, the search for the elusive "perfect setup" is a very real part of the pleasure of fishing, but why spend loads of time and effort trolling the aisles at your local retailers for saltwater fishing gear when you could be trolling the estuaries and lagoons, or surf-casting for jack or roosterfish?

What Do I Need?

If you're a true saltwater novice, you need to know that saltwater fishing gear is generally heavier than freshwater equipment and is also made of materials that resist the corrosion so prevalent in environments that combine moist air and high saline content. Even saltwater fly fishing gear is heavier than the tackle favored by the guys angling for rainbows in those high mountain streams. Also, rods vary depending on the type of saltwater fishing: surfcasting rods are different than a boat rod you'd use to bottom fish from a pontoon or pier; Deepwater trolling rods are vastly different than saltwater flyfishing rods. And, as with any other type of fishing, you need to choose your line based on what you're going after: for ladyfish and other smaller inshore species, you don't need twenty-pound test line! In fact, if you know what you're doing, you can catch more fish on smaller line.

Take Care of Your Stuff

As implied by its need for corrosion resistance, your saltwater fishing gear should be regularly cleaned and maintained for maximum life and minimum down time. Every time you use your saltwater fishing gear, you should immediately clean everything with soapy water and a soft brush—nothing else will remove dried salt. Clean all the eyes on the rod, and hang everything vertically to dry. Use sparing amounts of a good quality reel lubricant to keep the reel in top working condition and to prolong its life. But be careful not to use too much—fish hate the scent of oil!

Spend Your Money Wisely

Generally, spending the most money on a rod doesn't always guarantee getting the best deal. With reels, on the other hand, the higher investment can pay real dividends, since more expensive reels usually are constructed with real bearings rather than plastic shims. Bearings will last longer and provide smoother operation throughout the life of the equipment, while the less expensively constructed reels will begin to wear and drag sooner.