5 Tips When Catching Big Fish for Beginners
Every angler fantasizes about catching a big fish. A large fish means more meat on the table, and if it's caught and released, it's a great story to tell.
However, it would help if you employed the appropriate strategies, as a large catch entails a lengthy battle. After you've mastered fishing fundamentals, it's time to step it up a notch and go after the big fish.
Here are five tips to help you increase your chances of landing a big catch.
5 Tips for Catching Large Fish
1. Have the proper fishing equipment
Before considering your fishing location, you should first acquire the necessary equipment. Invest in a tackle that can handle large catches, from casting to where your target species lives to reel them in.
The fishing reel, fishing rod, and fishing line are the essential fishing gears to tailor for a more extensive hunt. Check the weight specifications of these types of fishing equipment to ensure that they can handle the weight of your trophy fish.
Here are some pointers for selecting the best fishing gear for big fish:
Use fluorocarbon or braided line instead of monofilament line because these fishing lines have higher tensile strength per unit of line diameter. Furthermore, they are difficult to break, and you get more fishing line for fighting large catches, which can easily pool off the line up to +100 yards.
Using braided lines, use a thick monofilament leader because the fish can see it. To keep the fish from noticing your mainline, use 4-6 feet of +80 pound monofilament line as the leader. Go with a steel leader if you're going after a species with sharp teeth.
To unhook your catch, use saltwater fishing pliers. The best saltwater fishing pliers are those that can handle large fish. Like sharks and bluefish, some large fish have sharp jaws that can easily rip your fingers off if you get too close.
When targeting large species, use hooks rated for trophy catches. High-carbon hardened steel hooks are ideal because they do not easily break or bend.
Bring a knife. If you are planning to have a so-called “catch and cook” adventure, make sure to bring some sort of fixed blade knives. They fit perfectly in your pocket, are very easy to pack, and are very handy when it comes to preparing fish.
2. Find a suitable body of water and the ideal fishing location
You may have the right equipment, but the location where you are fishing lets you down. There is no way to reel in a big catch if you can't present your lure in front of it. Look up the rivers, lakes, and ocean points where there are many big fish on the internet; when you arrive at your fishing location, cast in deep water because trophy species are found there.
Deeper waters can be found using a fish finder or estimated using watercolor because deeper waters are darker. Fish from steeper parts of the shore if fishing along the shore, as steepness disappears underwater.
Pay attention to the transition zone between shallow and deeper waters, as big fish congregate there, waiting for prey. Because big fish can cover miles in a day, try to cover as much ground as possible.
3. Go fishing during the appropriate season and time
You're not going to catch anything if you're fishing during the wrong season or at the wrong time of day. Fish are inactive and difficult to catch in northern climates, for example, at the beginning and end of the year. Furthermore, fishing during the middle of the day in July in Southern America reduces your chances of catching a large fish.
Always research peak times and seasons based on your chosen location to improve your chances of landing a trophy fish.
4. Depending on your target species, use the proper lure and presentation
Getting a fish to bite means attracting them to a hook. Big fish are attracted to live baits like worms, baitfish, and minnows because they resemble what they eat.
If live bait is prohibited, use large lures like a giant candlefish jig, a large spinner, or a large spoon.
Once you've chosen your lure or bait, you must swing with the proper action to catch the fish. The best method depends on the species you're after, but here are some general guidelines for presenting lures when fishing for big fish.
Start by slowly presenting your lure; big fish are wary, and aggressively presenting your bait can easily spook them. Start slowly and carefully, and if you don't catch anything, you can gradually present your lure faster.
Allow time for the fish to eat the lure/bait- Setting the hook immediately after you feel the bite may rip the lure out of the fish's mouth. Allow some time to pass until you are confident that the fish has adequately received the lure, and then apply immediate pressure to hook it firmly into the fish.
Keep your fishing line straight- When turning your fishing boat, take care not to cross your lines with your fellow anglers. If you hook a fish with crossed lines, you may lose the catch as you reel it in a while, removing the tangles.
Consider chumming fishing methods, which always result in larger catches. You can also try trolling or casting your current lineup.
5. Reel in the catch with caution
Hooking up and landing a catch is not the same thing, as some anglers lose them as they reel them in. Here are some general pointers to assist you in successfully landing your catch:
Set your drag appropriately- use more drag if the fish is running the line too fast and less drag if your rod is bending too much.
Fight the fish according to the conditions—pull the fish up in shallow water, reel away from underwater structures, and adjust your boat in open water to get the best angle to reel it in.
Maintain pressure by keeping your rod high and pointed towards the catch- Keeping the rod high and pointed towards the net ensures that the catch does not throw the hook.
Use a large gaff or net to bring your catch onboard and unhook your lure—if you don't have a net, you may lose the fish after you get it to the boat or, worse, become hooked while attempting to unhook it.
Kill it safely- If it is not 'catch and release,' always use a spike or a billy club to kill the fish humanely. Bleed it by throating it if you intend to eat the fish.
Jerking while reeling can cause a slackline, which can cause poorly hooked fish to pop off.
Conclusion
Apply the advice above, go fishing, and land a big catch like a pro.
Above all, practice patience and put in more time, and before you know it, you'll be sharing successful trophy fishing stories with your friends and family!
Catching a big fish should no longer be a pipe dream. Sit back, relax and enjoy the adventure.
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