Any strategic fisherman worth his, her, or their salt knows that you can’t just repurpose your freshwater lures for saltwater fishing.
You need the best saltwater fishing gear if you want any chance of actually catching fish!
Saltwater can seriously erode gear that is not made to withstand its abrasive elements, so you want items specifically made to withstand the wear and tear typical of the high seas. We’ve highlighted 7 must-haves to ensure your tackle box is primed for saltwater fishing success and not disappointment. After all, no one likes to come home without a catch, or even more so with eroded fishing gear.
Rapala Saltwater X-Rap
The Rapala Saltwater X-Rap lures are versatile – they can be cast or trolled – and have a very natural looking erratic slashing action that is incredibly tempting to predatory fish. Bright colours mimic baitfish and anti-corrosion hooks expertly handle the harsh saltwater.
Live Target Herring Swimbait
Swimbaits are gaining a stellar reputation thanks to extremely accurate mimicry of the actions of baitfish. Add to that, herring are a diet staple of many types of fish in the ocean, and there’s no doubts about its success. Seek out a school of herring that are in the midst of being fed on and drop in a live target herring swimbait. You’ll be shocked at how quickly you get some action on your line.
Berkley Gulp Alive Shrimp
If humans and fish share any trait, it is our mutual love of shrimp. Shrimp is a significant food source for many types of saltwater fish, and the Berkley Gulp Shrimp Alive bait do an excellent job of acting like a live shrimp while still being easy to use. This bait leaves a scent trail (so crucial in fishing) 2x as long as real shrimp, making it an indispensable part of any saltwater tackle box.
Trolling Lures
A good trolling lure, jerking across the water behind a boat, can be irresistible to big game fish like marlin or swordfish. The unpredictable movements of the trolling lures do an excellent job of imitating baitfish, through cupped front bubbles and noises, that these large game fish go crazy for.
Gamakatsu Mooching Rigs
Mooching is a technique born on the west coast as a way to catch salmon. Even if you’re not out west and you’re after another kind of catch, mooching can still be effective. There are two kinds of mooching — motor mooching and drift mooching. Though they each differ a bit, both are all about sinking the rig and then pulling it back up over and over again, imitating a school of bait and catching the attention of predator fish.
VMC Nemesis Circle Hooks
Circle hooks, shaped in such a way to set in the corner of a fish’s mouth on strike, are standard in saltwater fishing. VMC Nemesis Hooks stand out for both their extreme sharpness and resilient Vanadium steel, 25% stronger than carbon steel.
Swivels: SPRO Power Swivels
The purpose of a swivel is to keep your lines from getting all twisted and tangled. This is especially important when running heavy line. SPRO Power Swivels are 2x as sturdy as barrel swivels and are crafted from stainless steel.
