Bait
The simplest of saltwater fishing techniques, casters present a fresh bait in an area they hope is holding fish. Whether you use a sandworm, chunk of mullet, shrimp, live eel or clam, put your bait on the hook with a sinker tied 18 inches up the line. Make your cast and wait for a bite.
Artificial Lures
Cast and retrieve artificial lures to catch fish. For the lures to work, you must make them move through the water. Anglers experiment by varying the speed and style of their retrieve until they find the action that provokes a strike from the fish. Contrary to bait fishing, you work your lures over an area until you have covered all the water you can from that position, then move along to the next location and repeat the process.
Fly Casting
Saltwater fly fishing requires none of the finesse needed by trout anglers. Saltwater fish are usually aggressive and care little about how well you cast. Best done from a boat, saltwater fly casting often requires large-profile flies that are bulky and difficult to cast.
Spinning Gear
The spinning rod and reel is well-suited for most casters. Designed with ease of use in mind, spinning equipment is good for casting light lures or medium weight baits such as clams or sandworms.
Conventional Gear
Conventional, or casting, rods and reels require a moderate level of skill. With a few hours of practice, you can get a handle on its use. Conventional gear is best used when delivering heavy payloads to the fish. Chunk baits and heavy lures are easier to cast with stout conventional tackle.
