Tips For Deep Sea Fishing

Fishing in the sound or in the lake is all well and good, but sometimes you want to add more adventure or catch something that only swims in salt water. Deep sea fishing off the Pacific coast can be very productive and rewarding, whether you do it professionally or simply as a hobby, but it’s important to always be prepared.

Bill Howich RV & Marine, your British Columbia fishing boat dealer, is located in Campbell River. We’ve drawn up these tips to help you succeed at all of your deep sea fishing endeavors out in the Pacific.

1. Get The Right Gear

First, you’ll want to make sure that you and your fishing boat are ready to handle the open ocean. It’s good to be prepared for the worst so that you aren’t surprised by anything.

You’ll get wet and become cold out on the water if you don’t have waterproof gear to keep you dry and warm. A poncho or raincoat over layered clothes will allow you to stay dry and remove layers as needed. Wear tall boots with wool socks to keep your feet dry, and bring extra socks and extra clothes to change into as necessary.

You should stock your boat with all the supplies you’ll need. This includes food and water, sunscreen, a first-aid kit, signal flares, a paper chart and compass (to assist you if your GPS kicks out), a hand-crank radio and anything else you think you might need. If you’ll be out overnight, you’ll need to have more food, blankets, pillows and toiletries.

2. Determine Where The Fish Are

Your next challenge is to figure out where you’ll need to go for the type of fish you want to catch. Tuna tend to swim with dolphins, so looking for groups of dolphins should help you find where the tuna will be. Lighthouses, towers and outcroppings of rock will also have larger schools of fish swimming around them and within their nooks and crannies. You can bring a fish finder along to help you with more accurately locating the fish you want to catch.

3. Use The Proper Bait & Rods

You’ll need to have the right bait for the types of fish you want to catch. Make sure you bring the proper rods, reels, tackle and bait for what you want to catch. The bait for deep sea fishing is generally going to consist of minnows, shrimp or squid. Larger fish may merit having a heavy-duty baitcaster reel on your rod to rein those catches in successfully. Circle hooks are ideal for deep sea fishing.

4. Practice Good Safety Habits

It’s important to be responsible and safe when you’re out in the open ocean. It won’t do you any good to be reckless or careless. Going out by yourself is risky, so make sure you always have at least one person with you to help in a pinch.

Check the weather before you go out to make sure that storms aren’t in the forecast. You’ll want to avoid heavy rain, thick fog, lightning, hail and very cold temperatures. If you do encounter a storm, you’ll want to try to head to shore as soon as possible. Using a radio will keep you informed about what’s going on with the weather so you can make the right decisions that will keep you safe.

Still need a boat that’s capable of handling the chop of the ocean? Come to our dealership in Campbell River to check out our stock of new and used fishing boats for sale in many styles. Bill Howich RV & Marine proudly serves the cities of Courtenay and Nanaimo in the province of British Columbia.