Fishing enthusiasts will undoubtedly want to cast their lines further after catching small fish inshore. This means making the leap from shallow waters to deep sea fishing. Fishing in deep waters of at least one hundred feet in depth takes a certain set of skills and special preparation to do correctly. For your initial offshore fishing trip, you might benefit from boarding a deep sea fishing charter boat where experienced fishermen will take care of operating the boat and ensuring that all safety precautions are heeded first or you may want to jump right on your own boat and head out on the open water with your friends.
We’ve got a great selection of center consoles for fishing for you to check out and all of the information you need to have a successful deep sea fishing adventure!
Leave Shore Prepared
Since you’re going to be out on the water miles from land, you should do your best to ensure your boat is well-equipped for a day and even a night on the ocean. Hot sun or windy rains can be challenging to navigate, but if you’re prepared for any type of weather, you’ll have a more successful journey. Even on cloudy days, the sun can reflect off of the water and give you a wicked sunburn, so make sure to wear protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen. Even in the middle of summer, the open ocean is colder than shore and inland, so dress accordingly by bringing waterproof layers to protect yourself from spray and a change of clothes in case a rogue wave leaves you drenched on deck. Don’t forget to stay hydrated and bring food to prevent fatigue – it’s going to be a LONG day!
Your boat should always be equipped with the standard safety gear such as a radio, flares life jackets, flashlights and a first aid kit with burn cream, medications and bandages. Remember, just because you prepare for emergencies, doesn’t mean they’ll happen. You can just rest easier knowing that you’re properly equipped for any eventuality.
Rods and Tackle
Deep sea fishing requires different gear than your average small catches will on inland waters. Six-foot heavy-bottom fishing rods and bait caster reels are good for reeling in big fish. You should be using the appropriate bait for the types of fish you wish to catch. A mix of live and artificial shrimp, minnows and squid should help you out! Circle hooks are great for catching large fish and knives and pliers are perfect for allowing you to release those you don’t want.
How to Find Fish
One of the easiest and best ways to find fish is to use a fish finder or a depth finder to navigate the seafloor and the fish above it. Certain kinds of fish will congregate in certain areas and it’s not always easy to see where they are from the surface, so you’ll have to look for other ways to spot them. For example, tuna frequently swim with dolphins so if you see a pod of dolphins, you can follow them and cast your line to possibly catch yourself a tuna fish. Some fish may gather around shipwrecks or large rocks in the water, looking for places to burrow. You may have to coast around for a bit to find a good place where the fish are biting so don’t get discouraged if you don’t immediately land a catch.
Staying Safe
Offshore fishing is not without its risks, although doing the appropriate prep work can minimize these. You’ll be on the open oceans with nothing around for miles but water so pay attention to weather patterns that bring unexpected storms and bring another person in case you injury yourself through a bite or hook catching your skin so they can take over navigating towards land.
When you’re ready to purchase your first deep sea fishing boat, come down to our Charleston dealership to see our options and have your questions answered! We can help you find your way to snaring all those big catches you want out on the ocean!
