CNBNews

By: Mark Spencer

About the Author:

Mark is the owner and director of True Blue Fishing company and a passionate deep sea fisher. He has a  wealth of experience about the wonders of fishing. He aims to share his years of expertise to enhance the experience of those seeking fun and knowledge in this type of adventure.

While fishing for species like snapper, grouper, or marlin can be an exhilarating experience, deep-sea fishing can sometimes be a tricky business. Knowing where certain species tend to hang out and what types of bait each prefers can help you improve your odds tremendously. In order to maximize your chances, here are five tips to help you go deep-sea fishing like a pro:

1) Picking the Right Bait and Lures

Except under some very specific circumstances, live bait is typically the best choice. Live bait doesn’t just mimic the fish’s prey, it is their natural food source. You will need to do a little research on the target species to learn what their preferred food sources are. Then go a little further to find out what the fish in the area you are planning to catch are eating. Having the right fishing gear is a necessary. 

Knowing the species of baitfish your quarry will be feeding on will change based on availability. For example, tuna love feeding on mackerel, but will eat other species when mackerel aren’t plentiful. There are websites that have up-to-date fishing reports or you can ask at the bait shop.

Live bait can be purchased at local bait shops or you can catch your own with a casting net. You will need some type of live well to keep the baitfish lively. If fishing with lures, try to pick artificial bait that closely resembles what the fish are feeding on. Use weighted diving plugs and lures for fishing deep.

2) Reefs, Wrecks, and Buoys

Fishing offshore is all about finding the structure where the baitfish hangout. Smaller fish look for places like reefs and sunken ships as these areas provide the smaller fish with food as well as protection from predators. These types of underwater structures provide the fish you want to target, like snapper, a rich hunting ground. Rock formations and underwater valleys also offer smaller fish a place to congregate. Don’t overlook towers and buoys as these structures will also attract baitfish.

3) Keep an eye out for animals that feed on fish.

The presence of dolphins often indicate schools of tuna nearby and birds like seagulls and osprey are a great indication there are smaller fish in the area, and larger fish will be there looking for lunch.

4) Sea, or motion, sickness can ruin your fishing trip faster than a leaky boat.

About one in nine people will experience motion sickness and only people who spend a lot of time on the water seem to become immune. Motion sickness is caused by the brain receiving mixed signals about the relationship, or spatial orientation, of the body to its surroundings. The confusion comes from the brain not being able to tell what direction the body is moving in, as when rocking up and down on the ocean on a boat.

The most used remedy for seasickness is patches that go behind the ear and work best if applied before you leave shore rather than waiting until you start feeling sick. Tricks to use if you start feeling sick are looking out at the horizon as this allows your brain to coordinate the messages from your inner ear and your eyes. Wrist bands are available that place pressure on the Nei Kuan acupressure point, but these are not effective for everyone. Another preventative treatment that has varying degrees of success is placing an earplug in just the opposite ear from your dominant hand.

5) Drop an Anchor

Many novice fishermen make the mistake of letting the boat drift on the ocean. However, this allows the boat to move off a hot spot. Just a few feet in either direction can take you off a place where the fish are feeding aggressively and you will waste a lot of time having to continually move the boat back into position, trying to relocate the spot where the fish were hitting.

Keeping these five tips in mind on your next deep sea fishing trip will greatly increase your odds for success. If you don’t have much experience fishing an area, hiring a day charter, like Gold Coast Fishing Charters, will get you into the fish more quickly than going it on your own