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A Beginner's Guide to Sportfishing

by Karen Doyle (RSS feed) — Mar 14th 2010 8:01AM

On warm weather spring getaways fishing can be a great way to get out on the water and do a little something different. Sportfishing can be a very rewarding activity if it is done correctly the first time. After the first outing on the high seas, the rest is normally smooth sailing. First, find a local saltwater fishing club or a lodge. You can typically find ads for these in a phonebook, by word of mouth, or on some forums online. However, be prepared to cough up a fair amount of money, as charters can cost up to $150 per person. Next, call the company and find out what kind of boats they have available for day or half day rental. When fishing in a group, a 35-foot boat should do just fine.

Depending on the target species, types of bait can vary greatly. Try your luck with cut mackerel or pogies, available at most local bait shops. If going fishing without a guide, you will definitely have to get your hands dirty preparing bait. The preparation of cut bait is fairly simple. All you have to do is cut a baitfish into three or four pieces depending on the size of the target species. Next, put a hook into the piece of bait so that the hook goes around the spine of the fish. Remember to put a weight of about 1 ounce on the line about 2 feet closer to the rod tip than the bait. Recommended line strength is about 30 pound test.