The coast of the UK presents virtually endless opportunities for sea fishing. Sea fishing is attractive to many anglers because it's available year round, has an astounding variety of fish available and is free. Here's some information about the types of
sea fishing equipment you can use to maximise your success.
Types of Sea Fishing
There are two basic types of sea fishing, shore fishing and boat fishing. On the shore, there are limitless opportunities for beachcasting as well as fishing from piers and jetties. Harbours and estuaries are also great places to try out your skill and sea fishing gear. Other superior sites for shore-based sea fishing include rocky shores and beaches where you can test your sea angling equipment. For those who prefer a boat-based fishing adventure, there are plenty of charters available in practically every seaside town. Some boats provide fishing equipment as well. The savvy skippers of these boats know where the fish are and can practically assure success to their passengers.
Equipment Needed for Sea Fishing
Select general-purpose fishing rods that are less than 4 metres long. The type of reel recommended for sea fishing tackle is either multiplier or fixed spool. A multiplier reel has a spool centred between two drag plates and provides less friction than fixed spool reels. This allows greater accuracy and distance when casting. Since tangles are possible with multiplier reels, they're not as good a choice for beginners as a fixed spool reel. A fixed spool reel has a non-rotating spool, which helps avoid tangles. When casting with these types of fishing reels, a rotating ball system allows the line to run off the spool. Regardless of what type of rod and reel fishing tackle is used, sea fishermen will need brightly coloured floats that keep the bait at a constant depth. For fishing the bottom, legers (weights) are required. Legers come in various sizes and some have swivels that allow the line to run free when a fish takes the bait.
Bait for Sea Fishing
There are 2 categories of bait to complete your sea fishing gear: natural and artificial. Natural bait can either be purchased or collected along the shore or in tide pools or under the sand. Armed with just a garden fork, the enterprising angler can harvest plenty of free bait like ragworms or lugworms. Telltale holes in the sand betray their presence under the sand. Look for small crabs in tide pools and estuaries and find mussels, cockles and limpets on rocky outcrops. The less motivated fisherman may want to try artificial bait with their sea fishing tackle that's designed to resemble the prey of larger fish. Spinners, for example, are made from shiny metal. They rotate when reeled through the water, imitating an injured fish. The rotation of a spinner also causes vibrations that attract predators.
Getting started with sea fishing in the UK isn't difficult, provided you use the correct
sea fishing equipment and bait.
