Sea Fishing Tackle

A guide to getting the most from your sea or beach fishing outing by choosing the right tackle.


The tools can consist of the very basic and simple equipment to the more high tech and complex.

But breaking down this increasingly popular outdoor pursuit into its basic form is that we are trying to outwit the fish by tempting it to take food (the bait) attached to a form of hook which hopefully will catch inside the fish’s mouth and be retrieved to the surface.

It is worth bearing in mind that fish aren’t completely stupid and the three second memory of a fish is a myth. They can, in fact, remember things for several months with the goldfish streets or rivers ahead of the trout.

• Beach casting from a sandy cove or rocky coastline means you avoid the cost of chartering a boat but are limited somewhat to the area you can fish compared to the open sea.

Ask at your local tackle shop for any tips on good spots around the coastline or go on the web and do a little research. Check the tide times before you set off as there is nothing worse than getting to your chosen venue finding there is little or no water.

The basic sea fishing tackle needed here is a rod, reel, line, hooks, lead weights, a good sharp knife, bait and a bucket or poly bag to bring home the catch.

Shopping list:

1. Preferably a 2 piece 10’ or 12’ Beach caster rod with a casting weight of 5-6oz
Telescopic rods are available if space is a premium or if travelling.
2. A fixed spool sea fishing reel. There are reels called multipliers but require a good deal of practice to use when beach casting.
3. A spool of 50 lb shock leader line and a spool of 15 lb reel line.
4. A packet of size 3/0 or 4/0 Aberdeen Hooks.
5. Some packets of swivels, beads and clips.
6. A couple of clip down pennel pulley rigs.
7. Impact shields.
8. Lead weights: 3 and 6 oz bombs and breakaways.
9. Optional rod rest and a something to sit on.
10. A sharp knife.
11. Bait such as rag worm, mackerel, lugworm, squid or sand eel. Live bait is better than preserved or frozen but not as convenient.

Items 1 to 3 can often be bought as a starter kit which could cost around £50-£60. Purchased individually you may pay more.

Practice your half blood knot for the hook and the blood knot for tying the shock leader to the main line.



• Fishing from a boat.

Shopping list:

1. The tackle needed for fishing from a boat is similar to the above and in fact beach casting tackle can be used although the rod length may be too cumbersome. The ideal rod length would be around 6’ to 8’ long. Look for a spinning rod or a boat rod.
2. Again a fixed spool reel can be used and better for spinning but a multiplier is a good choice for dropping the bait over the side of the boat.
3. 15lb line, you don’t need a 50lb shock leader.
4. Pennel pulleys rigs or if you want to catch mackerel then buy mackerel feathers as your rig, you don’t need bait to catch these fish.
5. Hooks as above.
6. Some packets of swivels, beads and clips.
7. A selection of lures for spinning.
8. Lead weights as above.
9. A sharp knife.
10. Bait as above.

Alternatively you can save yourself the cost of boat fishing tackle and book yourself on a day fishing trip. Search one of the sea fishing charter companies featured on our website as they will supply their own sea fishing tackle for you.


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