The Best Baits for Saltwater Fish
Itching to catch some big beautiful fish from the ocean on your Sea Master boat? Saltwater fishing is the type of fishing that can be done from a pier or a fishing boat, on shorelines, in a bay or offshore areas or in the deep waters of the ocean. Saltwater fish are going to be attracted to different bait than freshwater fish, however, all fish are going to use their sense of smell to hunt their prey. Believe it or not, saltwater and freshwater fish can both smell better than dogs, but they are not attracted to the same scents. Keep this in mind when you target saltwater fish.
Anglers subscribe to the fishing mantra “Match the Hatch”, meaning that you need to match the bait to your target species’ prey. For example, sailfish love to eat flying fish and ballyhoo that swim in schools. Trolling with those will result in more billfish hookups than sitting in one place with a chunk of squid on your hook.
Here are some examples of baits that are effective in catching saltwater fish:
Shrimp
Shrimp is a go-to bait for saltwater anglers. This all-purpose bait works because shrimp are common in saltwater environments and fish are attracted to the scent and movement. Dead or alive shrimp can be used to catch fish onshore or offshore. Since shrimp can attract fish of all sizes, big fish are as likely to grab a bite as smaller ones. These fast free meals can cause shrimp to can get expensive as bait, but it does usually yield results. Snapper, redfish, and any number of fish love shrimp.
Shellfish
Lots of different species of fish eat shellfish like clams, oysters, squid, mussels, or crabs. Anglers like the versatility of shellfish as bait when trying to catch a fish since they can switch it up with other various shellfish and a lot of fish in the sea will take usually take the bait because the scent of a shellfish is attractive to them. Anglers usually harden some shellfish under the sun so they easily place them on fishing hooks. However, make sure to check with local listings beforehand since some shellfish critters, such as mussels or clams have regulations.
Pieces of Fish Meat
Cut bait has a strong aroma which is a key way to attract saltwater fish. Cut bait can be made by cutting up bait fish or smaller fish you have caught throughout the day. You can hook a plethora of fish with cut bait, like sea bass, Mahi Mahi, and bluefish. Cut bait is effective for all saltwater fishing, whether you are offshore, on shore, or surf fishing.
Bait Fish
Eels, ballyhoo, and pilchards are common small water critters that are commonly used to catch saltwater game fish. Anglers often choose this bait, since fish are naturally drawn to the movement and scent of their prey. Baitfish can be caught with a cast net and kept alive in a live well or with frozen packs available at your local boat shop or tackle stores. You might feel squirmy with the idea of using a live bait fish but keep in mind some fish will only eat a live bait. So do your research in identifying different fish species and know which bait is alluring to them. This will help you even further to find the right bait for the fish you’re targeting to catch. Don’t be afraid to switch tactics and change your baits now and then. Fish love variety so switching them up can ensure that you can catch one easily.
