Keep Your Tackle Clean

When you get water spray on your tackle or have done a long fishing session down at the local beach, make sure you give your reel and rod a wash in clean water to remove the corrosive salt and sand.

When you get home, dunk your tackle in a bucket of tapwater or run a hose or shower over them. Then allow them to dry in a warm spot. At this stage you can re-oil all the moving parts ready for your next fishing session. They can come to no harm and will give you years more service by doing so.

Checking your Mainline

You never know if your next cast could hook up with that fish of a life time that will take your line to its limits. Checking the mainline can be done by simply running your thumb and index finger along the line were it is subject to damage at the end of your line caused from rocks, shells or rough sand. If you feel any roughness you should change the line. View our range of sea fishing lines

Sea Fishing Tackle Night Time

Starting with the basics.

A good quality waterproof led head torch or lantern.
Rod Tip light or Chemical lights. Reccomend Delta Tip Lights
A sealed plastic bag to place a mobile phone or items that you dont wish to get wet.

Reccomended Items

Floatation suit
Spare battery's
SOS Whistle
Mobile phone (Best to let people know where you are)

Luxurys

Flask of Hot Coffee or Tea
Glow in the dark lures and Rig beads
Food
Wooly Hat
Waterproof Gloves

Buy night fishing items on our Online shop

Sea Fishing Shockleader

What Shockleader Strength?

Your leader strength needs to be judged against the weight of lead that you are casting. A safe guide is to factor by ten. For 2oz use a 20lb leader, for 4oz leads a 40lb leader, and for 5oz a 50lb leader etc.

Why do I need shockleader?

It is for two reasons. One saftey! stops your lead flying off and hurting someone near by. Two stops you loosing all your gear "Snap off" whilst casting.

Attaching Shockleader to my mainline?

Use a Albright Knot!

The Albright Knot is most commonly used for joining monofilament lines of unequal diameters, for creating shock leaders and when a Bimini Twist is tied in the end of the lighter casting line. It is also used for connecting monofilament to wire.

Heres How to!

1. Bend a loop in the tag end of the heavier monofilament and hold between thumb and forefinger of left hand. Insert the tag end of the lighter monofilament through loop from the top.
Pull the standing part of the heavy mono and the standing part of the light mono.

2. Slip tag end of lighter monofilament under your left thumb and pinch it tightly against the heavier strands of the loop. Wrap the first turn of the lighter monofilament over itself and continue wrapping toward the round end of the loop. Take at least 12 turns with the lighter monofilament around all three strands

3. Insert tag end of the lighter monofilament through end of the loop from the bottom. It must enter and leave the loop on the same side.

4. With the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, slide the coils of the lighter monofilament toward the end of the loop, stop 1/8" from end of loop. Using pliers, pull the tag end of the lighter mono tight to keep the coils from the slipping off the loop.

5. With your left hand still holding the heavier mono, pull on the standing part of the lighter mono. Pull the tag end of the lighter mono and the standing part a second time.

6. Trim both tag ends.


How much leader to put on my spool?

The best way to measure the required length of leader for casting over cleanish ground is to tie the main line to the leader material outside the top tip ring, wind on the leader counting it around the reel spool 8 times.

Visit our online shop for Shockleader

Sea Fishing Ground Baiting

• Ground bait can be added into a sack and hung over a harbour wall, rockmark or jeti.

• Add ground bait to a sack and peg it in the sand at low tide mark. Add a bit of rope with a floating marker so that when the tide comes in you know where to cast to.

• Feeders are just as popular for sea fishing as they are for freshwater. Pack a feeder full of groun bait and attach i to your rig above the lead.

Ground bait types and uses

• For a quick release mixture for close range fishing for flounder and other Flatfish use dry white bread crumb mixed with finely chopped bits of worm or crab. For added attraction add Peeler or Rag oil.

• For oily baits like mackerel, Sprat, Pilchard when targeting bream, rays and huss and large eels, then use a fine bran. This helps soaks up the oil & juices better. For added attraction add Pilchard or Sardine oil.

Bait Digging & Collecting

Fork

The more usual garden fork with it's narrow three or four prong construction is the one to choose for turning over mixed mud and stone when searching out individual king ragworm.

Bait Pump

These are stainless steel and pump a core of sand out up to 20ins (50cm) long. Used at an angle at first to establish the angle of the worms hole, they then pump out the sand surrounding the burrow until the worm is located. There is a knack to using these, but in the right hands they prove very effective.

Lug Spade

These are usually made from a standard ladies size garden spade that, instead of being square, taper to half width at their cutting edge.


Drop Nets

These are very handy as it requires very little effort. Use a baited drop net over the side of a pier or Harbour at night or daytime to catch Prawns to Peelers. Mackerel is a good bait to use in the center of the net. Leave the net out for 5mins then check. You can buy good value drop nets in our online shop Click here

Sea Fishing Baits Guide

Sandeels
Sandeels are a terrific all-round bait. Sandeels can be used live by hooking through the upper lip or through the base of the eye socket using a fine wire hook. There is a space here so little damage is done. Dead sandeels are hooked by sliding them mouth first on to the hook and turning so the hook comes out just behind the gills. The quality of frozen sandeels varies from bait shop to bait shop. Sandeels are best fished with a light rig with a long snood that moves around giving the impression that the sandeel is struggling in the surf. Live Sandeels cast poorly, ripping lose if any real power is applied.

Ragworm
Large king ragworms should be threaded up the shank of the hook by passing the point of the hook through the centre of the ragworm. The head of the worm is pushed up over the eye of the hook and up on to the line above it. The lower body is held in place on the shank of the hook, and the tail is left hanging from the bend.

Razors
For best results, small razors can be hooked in a similar fashion to worm baits. This will involve taking the whole razor from the shell. To prise the meat out, insert a knife carefully into the hinge of the shell. Don't force the shell apart as all this will do is tear the meat inside. The main attraction as a bait is the meaty foot, which, when placed on a hook will support the rest of the body. Thread the hook down through the centre of the flesh. As most razors are around 3-4in long it is advisable to present maybe more than one on the hook.

Squid
For bigger species, such as bass and cod, a whole calamari squid mounted up on a double-hook pennell rig is the best method. The squid can be mounted in such a way that it seems alive. If using a single hook with a whole calamari, it is advisable to bind the body section to the line above the eye of the hook. This will stop it slipping down on to the shank of the hook. Also you can cut the squid into long strips which is great for tipping off baits that might otherwise slip off the hook.

Mackerel
Whole mackerel are a good bottom fishing bait for conger eels. They can be prepared for the hook as follows and should be fished on a large hook and wire trace. Take a sharp knife and cut the mackerel in half from the gill cover near the head to the tail end. Make sure you keep the knife flat against the backbone. Then most widely way of preparing mackerel for shore fishing is to cut it in to strips. Cut at an angle with the strips tapering downwards. This is a good bait for most fish,eg cod, whiting, dogfish etc.

Peeler Crab
It is advisable to peel the body completely and remove the gills and legs. The legs should also be peeled. Lay the peeled crab on its back and cut the body in half long-ways, down through the centre with a knife. Take half the body and thread the point of the hook through the leg sockets, starting at one end and working up through the sockets to the other. The crab should be quite secure at this stage. To help keep the body on the hook you can impale the legs on the hook below the body. Using the legs like this will give the impression of a live crab. For added security use bait elastic or cotton thread to bind the bait in position on the hook.

Raw Prawns
These are a great Ray bait and also catch a whole host of other species. Alot of sea anglers swear by raw tiger prawns etc to out fish alot of other baits. Thread the King prawn onto your hook as if you where preparing a sandeel.

Sea Fishing Tackle Sizes Chart

Sea Hook Sizes
This is just a general guideline

10/0 Large Game Boat Hook
9/0 Conger or ling Boat
8/0 Shore Conger or large Huss
7/0 General Boat
6/0 Up-tiding and Boat work
5/0 Large Codling or Boat work
4/0 Standard Hook Size for most sea fishing tactics
3/0 Polack, Bass, Whiting, Codling
2/0 Mackerel, Wrasse and Polack
1/0 Small Flatfish, Mackerel or Wrasse bashing
1 or below great for Mullet2 Mullet & smaller fish

Sea Swivels
This is just a general guideline
10 Light snoods & Rigs
6 Heavy Snoods and Float
4 For Beach Traces2 Rock Marks
1/0 Boat
2/0+ Heavy Traces and Rigs

Sea Fishing Beads
This is just a general guideline
8mm Great for Float, Ledger and Attractors
5mm Beach Traces
Oval Streamline for ultimate distance

Conversions
This is just a general guideline
1 inches = 2.54 centimetres
1 ounce = 28.35 grams
1 lb = 0.45359237 kilograms

Setting up for Sea Fishing

Beach fishing - Main reel line of 20lb bs some prefer less but 20lb is a good start, shock leader of 40lb bs and weights of between 3oz and 5oz depending on current, surf and wind. A 4oz lead is a good place to start.

Harbour & Estuary fishing - Use a 12 -15lb bs main reel line, 30lb bs shock leader and upto 3oz of lead.

Pier fishing - Use 15lb bs main reel line, 30lb bs shock leader and upto 2oz of lead.

Rock fishing - Use 20+lb bs main reel line, 50lb bs shock leader and about 1 - 3oz of lead.

UK Sea Fishing Species List

Bass

Description
A silver fish with a dull grey/blue colour on its back and a silver belly. Has raised gill plates and a protruding spinney dorsal fin.

Season
The best time in the UK is from April to October, evening, dusk, dawn or night.

Natural Diet
Young bass are normally found feeding on small invertebrates in estuaries and close to the shore. Molluscs are generally the major part of the diet, although other seasonally available prey, such as peeler crabs can make up the bulk of the diet for a time. Large bass become much more piscivorous, feeding upon young mackerel and sand eels when close to shore.
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Best Baits
Lugworm, Squid, Mackerel, Peeler, Lure fishing with wedges and other latex lures. Visit our shop for lures.

Best marks to fishFrom the shore over sand banks, estuaries and storm beaches at the points where food collects e.g. in weeds, around rocks. From the beach cast into the breakers. Rule of thumb, start at 50yards and work your way out.

Dogfish

Description
The greater spotted Dogfish or Nursehound is more similar, but there is an easy way to tell the two species apart. Look closely at the underside of the fish's head. If there is a single flap of skin between the nostrils and the mouth then the fish is a Lesser Spotted Dogfish. If there are two lobed flaps then the fish is a greater spotted dogfish.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is from April to October, evening, dusk, dawn or night.

Natural Diet
Dogfish are mainly scavengers, relying upon their exceptional sense of smell to locate prey. Although they can take live fish, they very rarely chase down other moving fish.
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Best Baits
Mackerel Fillets, Sandeel, Squid, Peeler

Best marks to fish
From the shore over sand banks, estuaries beaches at the points where food collects e.g. in weeds, around rocks, piers and jetty’s

Conger Eel

Description
The greater spotted Dogfish or Nursehound is more similar, but there is an easy way to tell the two species apart. Look closely at the underside of the fish's head. If there is a single flap of skin between the nostrils and the mouth then the fish is a Lesser Spotted Dogfish. If there are two lobed flaps then the fish is a greater spotted dogfish.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is from March to September, Fish after light.

Natural Diet
Conger will eat Crabs, Worms, small Rockling although as the Eels get larger they have a mainly fish diet of species such as Mackerel, Pouting, Whiting and Pollack.

Best Baits
Whole Mackerel Fillets, Small Rockling, Squid, Visit our shop for conger traces

Best marks to fish Eels can be very common over rough ground in relatively shallow water and as these fish are incredibly adept at making the most of their environment, they can often be found hanging around docks and marinas where scraps of food get washed into the water.


Mackerel

Description
A streamlined fish, the mackerel is designed for fast swimming in large shoals. The fins are short and tend to be positioned well back on the body giving the fish greater straight line speed. The tail is deeply forked, again giving good acceleration and manoeuvrability.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is from May to September

Natural Diet
Sandeel, Whitebait

Best Baits
Sandeel, Use Feather traces and most lures. Visit our shop for lures and feather traces

Best marks to fish Mackerel are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, although not in the huge numbers that existed before commercial fishing intensified. Still, mackerel can be found in decent numbers right around the British coast in the warmer months around rock marks and piers.

Pollack

Description
The Pollack is a typical member of the cod family. The eyes are large and forward pointing, perfect eyesight for hunting active prey even at night. Colour varies from dark brown on the back to off white under the belly. Pollack also have three dorsal fins.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is from April to November

Natural Diet
Their diet is made up of crustaceans and molluscs, larger fish become more piscivorous, feeding upon herring and sand eels.

Best Baits
Deep spin Sandeel, Whitebait, Herring, Lugworm, Ragworm, Feathers
and most lures. Visit our shop for lures

Best marks to fish Rock marks are the most reliable with Pollack moving into very shallow water around weeded areas to feed. Spinning from the shore early on a Summers morning has to be amongst the most enjoyable forms of sea fishing and one that is particularly effective around the coasts of Devon and Cornwall.


Plaice

Description
The body is a dark brown to grey colour with a large number of pink or orange spots covering the body and extending into the margins of the fins.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is from April to November however Plaice spawn in shallow water between December and April.

Natural Diet
Their diet is made up of crustaceans, shrimp and polycheate worms.

Best Baits
Lugworm, Ragworm, Harbour Rag, Peeler, Prawn, Attractor spoons and Beads. Visit our shop for beads and attractors.

Best marks to fish The best plaice marks are now found on shallow wide sandy beaches and near estuaries, larger fish tend to be found in deeper water further off-shore.



Thornback Ray

Description
The upper body is covered with sharp spikes along the spine and fanning out along the wings. The males have four rows of spines, whilst the females have even more spines, even on the underside of the body. The upper surface is a mottled brown appearance with grey patches. The lower surface is un-pigmented.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is from April to November.

Natural Diet
Small thornbacks feed primarily on crustaceans, such as brown shrimps and small crabs. As the fish grow they become more piscivorous, switching to a diet dominated by sand-eels and sprats.

Best Baits
Lugworm, Ragworm, Sandeel, Sprats, Peeler, Prawn

Best marks to fish Thornbacks are found in relatively shallow water close to the shore, preferring water of between 10m to 50m deep. Best sport in clean sandy water where the current is not pulling too strong. Beaches can be a very good hotspot in the summer.


Cod

Description
Cod has a large single barbule extending from the centre of the lower jaw. Cod have three dorsal fins and two ventral fins for increased manoeuvrability. The dark mottled brown back, fading to a cream underbelly is also very conspicuous on cod

SeasonThe best time in the UK is from April to November.

Natural Diet
Small Cod eat Shrimps mainly but as they get larger will take Lugworm, Ragworm, Sandeel, Squid, Mussel, Peeler Crab, Razor fish

Bait
Lugworm, Ragworm, Sandeel, Sprats, Peeler, Prawn, Squid

Best marks to fish Cod are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere from the North Sea to the Arctic Ocean. Cod can be found in water down to 600m, although in the Spring they move into shallower water of less than 100m deep to spawn. Codling can be had in the winter months in large estuaries around our coastline.


Rockling

Description
Looks very similar to a catfish with their barbules. Colour ranges from brown to deep shades of red. They tend to be the colour of there surroundings. There are different types of Rockling ranging from 3 beards (barbules) 5 beards and also come in a variety of sizes. The largest tend to be caught in the South West of England.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is all year round. Night time is best.

Natural Diet
Rockling eat Shrimps and also feed on Lugworm, Ragworm, Mussel, and Peeler Crab around their rocky and weedy habitat.

Bait
Lugworm, Ragworm, Sandeel, Sprats, Peeler, Prawn, Squid and Mackerel in some cases.

Best marks to fish Rock marks where there are deep gully’s and weeded areas. Also they are found feeding off beaches in the colder months. Caught usually in the hour of darkness off the bottom.


Whiting

Description
Sandy-green on the back with silver sides and a distinctive black spot at the base of the pectorals. Normally less than 60cm in length and more slender than cod. The whiting lacks the single barbell of other members of the cod family.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is September to March. When the water is cold

Natural Diet
Feed on Lugworm, Ragworm, Mussel, and Peeler Crab, Prawns and small squid.

Bait
Lugworm, Ragworm, Sprats, Peeler, Prawn, Squid and Mackerel in some cases.

Best marks to fish Rock marks where there are deep gully’s and weeded areas. Also they are found feeding off beaches in the colder months. Caught usually in the hour of darkness off the bottom.
Does not appreciate warm water, so tends to be found in deeper, cooler water in the south of it's range. In cooler areas the whiting differs from other members of the cod family in preferring water less than 50m deep even as adults. Often found inshore and a very common shore catch in many parts of the British Isles during the Winter months.


Flounder

Description
Flounder are well camouflaged against a light coloured sandy bottom and can alter their tone substantially to match the tone of the sea bed. Pinkish spots are found randomly over the body.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is all year round

Natural Diet
Feed on Lugworm, Ragworm, Mussel, Hermits and Prawns.

Bait
Lugworm, Ragworm, Peeler, Prawn, Squid and Sandeel in some cases. Visit our shop for Flatfish Rigs

Best marks to fish Flounder can even be found many miles from the sea, high up in rivers where the water is completely fresh. Beaches and Estuaries would be your best bet.


Mullet

Description
Three species of mullet are common around the British coast; the grey mullet is the smallest species, reaching only around 30cm. The first dorsal fin has four rays, the lips are smooth and are roughly the same thickness as the diameter of the eye. The thin-lipped mullet is larger reaching 50cm, has lips thinner than the diameter of the eye and the lips are smooth. The thick-lipped mullet has much thicker lips and these are covered with 2 rows of small wart-like lumps.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is April until the end of the summer months.

Natural Diet
Plant life and plankton which lives on the bottom in shallower waters. They also like to feed on Insect larvae

Bait
Lugworm, Ragworm, Maggots, Bread, Bacon Rind and Casters

Best marks to fish Found around the South coast of England extending up to the Wash and South Wales. Often found in Estuaries, often several miles from the sea.


Dab

Description
Sandy brown colouration closely matches the sea bed in which it half buries itself when resting. The upper surface is often covered in dark spots, but their number and pattern vary from location to location. The lateral line has a very distinct curve where is makes a detour around the pectoral fin.
SeasonThe best time in the UK is from November until the water warms up.

Natural Diet
Their diet is made up of crustaceans, shrimp and polycheate worms.

Best Baits
Lugworm, Ragworm, Harbour Rag, Peeler, Prawn

Best marks to fish Found throughout the waters of Europe, particularly in shallow inshore waters. Often caught by shore anglers during the winter months and early spring when the fish move inshore to spawn. Most common in the South and East of the British Isles.


Bream

Description
These small fish are deep bodied with a long spined dorsal fin. The black bream is actually more silver on the flanks, with a dark back. The red bream has a red back with a large black spot above the pectoral fin.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is from June until the water cools. Hot months with plenty of dry weather.

Natural Diet
Their diet is made up of crustaceans, shrimp and polycheate worms.

Best Baits
Sandeel, Lugworm, Ragworm, Squid, Cuttlefish and Mackerel cut into strips.

Best marks to fish Sea bream tend to be summer visitors to the British Isles. These principally warm water fish can be found off the South and West coasts when the weather is warm. This is because the British Isles is right on the outermost fringe of the bream's range with them being much more abundant towards the Mediterranean. Piers and rock marks are all good starting points in the height of the summer.


Weaver Fish

Description
They are long (up to 37 cm), mainly brown and have poisonous spines on their first dorsal fin and gills. During the day, weavers bury themselves in sand, just showing their eyes, and snatch prey as it comes past, which consists of shrimps and small fish. Weavers are unusual in not having a swim bladder as do most bony fishes and as a result sink as soon as they stop actively swimming.

SeasonThe best time in the UK is in the summer months

Natural Diet
Their diet is made up of crustaceans, shrimp and polycheate worms and other small prey.

Best Baits
You should not really attempt to catch these guys unless you are desperate to add it to your species list! These fish are venomous. However Mackerel is a good choice for bait if you wish to target them.

Best marks to fish They can be found on most British Isle Beaches at low tide.

For all your tackle needs why not visit our Online Store. Sea fishing tackle here.

Sea Fishing for Beginners

So you're going to give sea angling ago!
Or you are an old timer with years of experience, sea fishing is all about challenging yourself and pushing the envelope and not to forget enjoyment, Sea fishing is no means easy however there are a few ways to improve your fishing.

Other sea anglers around you!
You will probably pick up new tips and advice from sea anglers alike, this information is invaluable to both beginners and experienced anglers remember sea fishing knowledge reverts to a better chance of that once of a life time monster fish.

Quality of my sea fishing tackle!
Making sure you have the right tools for the job is paramount; you wouldn't want that big fish to get away because of a cheap hook or a poorly made swivel. That's why here a Monster Fishing we insure that you get the very best quality for your money by stocking high end professional brands such as Mustad, Hiro, Breakaway, Gemini, Shakespeare, Penn and more.Selecting the right sea fishing tackle gear! Everyone has a personal preference when it comes to sea rods through to sea rigs; the important thing is find something that suits you not everyone else. Set yourself a target and try and stick to it, as you gain experience you can then progress onto more advanced tactics.

Sea Rigs made easy!
Just because you cant tie a rig doesn't mean you're a bad sea angler! There are lots of Ready made Rigs available such as Gemini, Mustad and Sakuma. See our range of sea rigs for a good selection.There are so many sea tackle products to choose from! That's what we are here for! Feel free to email us from our site any sea fishing tackle questions or product enquires to http://www.monsterfishing.co.uk/

Reliable Service & Tackle Choice.
Now you may be thinking what this has to do with sea fishing, well getting the right product is critical, to be able to have a large choice in sea fishing tackle and gear all under one roof at a great price is a advantage which some local tackle shops cannot provide.

Lure Fishing from the shore.
Latex and other imitation sea fishing lures attract a large variety of species such as Bass, Pollock, and Mackerel all lures have different methods on how they should be fished, some are a copy of a real bait fish and some just spoons or rubber strips. We recommend the following lures, Bass Bandit, Sidewinder, Skaliwags Mackerel Stripe and the famous Dexter Wedge. They can all be found in our extensive lures section. However there is something for everyone and a lot boils down to the venue and success rate. Catching a Big Bass off a lure on the shoreline is very rewarding which is why so many sea anglers become totally addicted.

Safety whilst fishing.
Remember your sea fishing tackle can be replaced but your life cannot, beware of tides and dangerous rock marks! Always plan, best advice is to purchase a Floatation suit from a reputable source. We stock a selection of high quality floatation suits in our clothing section.

Top range of sea fishing tackle supplies for UK sea angling.
Visit our Online Sea Fishing Tackle Shop
http://www.monsterfishing.co.uk/