Freshwater Fishing Tackle
Differences between freshwater fishing gear and saltwater fishing gear?
I’m moving to texas soon, and will be pretty close to the gulf, and was wondering if it would be worth it to buy some saltwater tackle for shore fishing. Is there any huge differences in bait/rigging/tackle that i should know about? In freshwater I fish for mostly bass, catfish, and panfish, and have never fished saltwater before.
Rusty and Robert are mostly right. You can use Freshwater rods and reels to Inshore fish for Reds, Spec Trout, Flounder, Etc.
However, problems arise if your Bass tackle is of “cheap” quality. If you own higher-end Freshwater rods and reels, (like Shimano Symetre’s, Shimano Citica, Abu Revo’s, Abu C3 or C4’s, Etc) they can easily translate from Flats fishing to Bass/Catfishing.
If you own lower end freshwater tackle,($50 baitcaster’s, Walmart-branded Spinning reels & rods) the odds that it will corrode the first time you forget to wash down your outfit’s is fairly high.
Typically, saltwater-grade tackle will have stainless steel, anodized aluminum, and exotic “non-corroding” components. Those components allow you a certain degree of protection Freshwater gear doesn’t support. (Some saltwater reels even have enclosed water-proof gearing and drag systems!) If you plan to fish predominantly in the bays, bayou’s, and salt creeks, eventually, it would be a good idea to slowly start accumulating saltwater-grade reels and rods.
Huge differences in bait/rigging/tackle? Well, yeah! Of course! Live Shrimp and Mud-minnows are the most common bait, (although, at times, you CAN use cut Mullet and squid with mediocre success).
Rigging is somewhat similar- IE: Carolina Rigging is a common rig used for Flounder fishing; Crankbaiting; larger “walk the dog” Topwaters and Texas-rigged, Soft Plastic Jerk baits are all usable Redfish/Trout tactics.
Tackle should be as corrosion resistant as possible. This means stainless hooks, (not bronze!).
Hope this helps ya?
Freshwater fishing.The right fishing tackle choice.
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