Offshore Fishing: The Tips That Will Lead to Success

Offshore fishing can be a great pleasure for both the experienced and the newly initiated. Whether you’ve been hunting for that elusive underwater prey for a lifetime or are just along for the ride, you can believe that it will be an experience that you won’t soon forget. Even if you never catch a thing, the memories are certain to last. Of course, catching fish is the name of the game, so if you do want to make your trip that much more memorable, then here are some tips you can use to ensure you don’t come home empty handed.

Timing

Offshore fishing can be a blast no matter when you go, but there’s no doubt that there are certain times when you are more likely to catch your limit. When the sun is bright and hot, fish prefer to dive deeper, escaping the heat and sunshine to the cool depths of the ocean. This doesn’t make it impossible to catch them, but it certainly adds to the difficulty. It is usually much easier to catch fish during the twilight and dawn hours, when there is a nice mixture of sunlight and darkness. As stated, though, if you are under the guide of an experienced angler, you should have few problems catching a nice haul at any time of the day.

Lures

Every offshore fishing expert will have their own opinions regarding which lures are most effective for catching which fish. Some of the pleasures of a lifetime of fishing come with learning these things on your own through trial and error. Still, there are some hints you can use to experience success from the very beginning. If you’re hitting the waters on an overcast day, consider using darker colored lures. Keep these closer to the boat. On sunnier days, you can introduce brighter colors in to the mix.

The Locals

Don’t leave expertise back on land. Consult with some of the local fisherman and see what they have to say. Don’t bother with the commercial career fishermen, of course, as they may not be willing to share their secrets (and likely have various methods that you wouldn’t consider using anyway). Talk to the people who do this for sport or hobby. Ask them if they have any tips for you as you embark on your expedition. You might be surprised at how willing they are to open up and share some of their collective expertise.

Charters

You don’t need a charter to go offshore fishing, but it can make the trip a great deal more productive. A professional charter will know just where to go for the best catches, will have the right equipment to bring in the appropriate fish, and can simply make your experience that much more enjoyable.