Sea fishing tackle

What Sea Fishing Tackle Do You Need?

For shore fishing, the basics are a rod and reel, line with a shock leader, a few ready-made rigs, leads, hooks and bait. A rod rest or tripod, a headtorch and a bucket or bag for your kit make a session much easier.

Where you fish decides the rest, as a sandy beach, a rocky mark, a pier and a boat all ask for slightly different tackle. You don't need a rod licence for sea fishing, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to get into angling.

Beachcasters, Bass Rods and Boat Rods

A beachcaster of 12ft to 14ft, rated for leads of around 4oz to 6oz, is the standard rod for casting from the shore. That length helps you cast further and keep the line above the surf.

Lighter 9ft to 10ft rods are a good shout for piers, rocks and estuaries, and they're ideal for spinning for bass and mackerel. Boat rods are much shorter and rated by line class, such as 12lb, 20lb or 30lb, to match the depth and the fish.

Fixed Spool or Multiplier Reels

So, fixed spool or multiplier? A large fixed spool reel, usually 6000 to 8000 size, is the easier choice for beginners, as it casts well and rarely tangles.

Multiplier reels can cast further and have more winching power, but they take practice to avoid overruns. For boat fishing, a multiplier with a lever or star drag is the usual pick.

Line and Shock Leaders

A mainline of around 15lb to 18lb mono suits most beach fishing, while braid is popular for boat and lure fishing. Bright line is easier to see against the waves, which helps you spot bites and avoid tangles with other anglers.

Here's the thing about casting a heavy lead: without a shock leader, your mainline can snap on the cast. The rule of thumb is 10lb of leader for every ounce of lead, so a 5oz lead needs a 50lb leader.

Rigs, Leads and Terminal Tackle

Ready-made rigs are a simple way to start, and a few patterns cover most fishing. Flapper rigs with two or three hooks suit flatfish, whiting and dabs, while pulley rigs are better for bigger fish over rough ground.

Grip leads have wires that hold the bottom in a strong tide, while plain leads let the bait roll around and are better for rough ground. Feathers are the classic way to catch mackerel in summer, and you'll get through plenty of hooks, swivels and beads.

Hooks around size 1 or 2 suit smaller fish, while bigger baits for cod, bass and rays need something from 2/0 to 4/0.

Bait and Lures

Lugworm and ragworm are the most popular sea baits, and they'll catch most species around the UK coast. Squid, mackerel strip, peeler crab and sandeel are all worth trying, especially for bass, cod and rays.

Lure fishing is growing fast, with metal lures, soft plastics and surface lures all catching bass, pollack and mackerel. It's a mobile way to fish, so you only need a rod, a reel and a small bag of lures.

Looking After Your Sea Tackle

Saltwater is hard on tackle, so rinse your rod, reel and terminal tackle in fresh water after every session. Let it all dry before you put it away, and a drop of reel oil now and then keeps things running smoothly.

Why does this matter? A reel left salty for a few weeks can seize, and rusty hooks are weak hooks.

Sea Fishing Tackle Prices and Reviews

There are 279 sea fishing products here, and 46 of them have a full eTackle review. Every listing shows the lowest in-stock price from reputable UK online retailers, with prices checked every day.

Our reviews look at how sea tackle copes with the real thing, from casting heavy leads to standing up to saltwater. If you're starting with a rod, the best sea fishing rods guide covers beach, bass and boat rods.