So what do you need in your equipment for sea fishing from a boat? Let’s take a look at the basics:
Hook Lengths and Leaders: A 9 to 18-pound reel would be a good starting point, is reasonably priced and is better at avoiding tangles than the cheap one. The 18-pound one works best if you use braid on your reel, as well as making a good hook length for fishing.
Hooks: A 1, 1/0, 2/0, 4/0, 6/0, and 8/0 size box will cover the vast majority of situations. Mustad Vikings is a good choice as a general-purpose boat fishing hook.
Pens: Single-function plastic pens 10 to 12 inches long are ideal for most situations.
Pearls: some 8mm pearls are needed to sit between the feather and the pivot to help protect the knot. They are also used above the hook as an added attraction on some flatfish rigs and the like. A bag with assorted colours is ideal for this purpose.
Conductors: a selection of cables from 300 gr to 1 kilo will be needed depending on the depth and the tide. If you are wearing a braid, it will have less weight than with overalls. Some lighter cables will also be needed for the Verdel.
Verdel’s Feathers – A selection of Mackerel Feathers or Lures should be in your box to catch bait on the way out.
Lures: If you are looking for a fish like Cod, you will need some lures. For Haddock or Chickadee, the humble worm is hard to beat. They are also very good for sea bass.
Other equipment: a pair of pliers are useful for unhooking fish and many other jobs. Nail clippers are good for cutting the line. You will also need to consider a fillet knife or bait.
Lures or live bait?
Live bait can be tricky and difficult to keep on board, but it’s good for boat fishing.
For trolling (trolling involves pulling a lure from a boat) lures are better able to withstand the rapid flow of water, while the bait is generally better for drifting or anchoring. There are different coloured lures available, depending on how offshore you are fishing.
Trolling
The easiest way to catch mackerel on a sailing yacht is with a downrigger.
You can throw it over the stern and forget about it. You should move at 2-4 knots, faster and the movement of the lures becomes unnatural. The line is forced downward, dragging the lures. It’s perfect for relaxing on the stern and works better at speed than stationary. For lures, use brilliants or feathers.
Drift
Use a 100 to 200-gram weight rig with feathers or bait, and squid on hooks. Let it sink to the bottom and immediately roll it back up. Repeat the exercise as you go with the tide.
Upwellings, ledges, and sandbars are good places for drift fishing, as are areas near banks and other large obstructions.
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