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Sea fishing is a rewarding, relaxing, and sometimes adrenaline-filled way to connect with nature. Whether you’re standing on a windswept beach or casting off a quiet pier, there’s something timeless about chasing fish from the sea. For beginners, the world of sea fishing can seem complicated at first — with different gear, tides, rigs, and species to learn. But getting started doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. This page covers the essentials to help you make your first casts with confidence.

What Is Sea Fishing?

Sea fishing, or saltwater fishing, means catching fish from the sea rather than rivers or lakes. It can be done from shore (beach, pier, rocks) or from boats (inshore or offshore). Sea fishing is more dynamic than freshwater fishing — tides, weather, and seabed conditions change constantly, and fish often move in response.

Unlike many freshwater spots, most sea fishing locations are free and public, with no licences required for recreational fishing in most of the UK. However, certain protected species and by-laws still apply.

What You’ll Need

You don’t need much to start sea fishing — just some basic gear, some bait, and the right spot. Here’s what you’ll need:

Rod and Reel

  • A 9–12 foot rod and a 5000–8000 size reel is a good starting point.

  • For beach fishing: use a beachcaster.

  • For piers or harbours: a medium spinning rod is more manageable.

Line

  • 15–20 lb monofilament line is ideal to start.

  • Add a shock leader (60 lb mono) if you’re casting leads heavier than 3 oz.

Rigs

  • Buy ready-made rigs like two-hook flappers or pulley rigs.

  • Learn to tie your own later for better control and customisation.

Hooks

  • Use size 1–3/0 hooks depending on your target fish and bait size.

Weights

  • Grip leads (3–5 oz) for beaches or surf.

  • Plain leads (2–4 oz) for calmer spots like harbours or piers.

Bait

  • Start with lugworm, ragworm, squid, or mackerel strips — they cover most common species.

Safety First

The sea is unpredictable, so safety should always come first.

  • Check the tide times before heading out. Avoid fishing marks that may cut off behind you on a rising tide.

  • Wear proper non-slip footwear, especially on rocks or piers.

  • Bring a headlamp and extra batteries if fishing at night.

  • Keep a phone in a waterproof pouch and let someone know where you’re going.

Respect the sea. It’s easy to get caught out by rising water, rough swell, or slippery surfaces.

Where to Fish

For your first few trips, choose safe, easy-access spots where you can practice without too much hassle.

Good Beginner Locations:

  • Piers and harbours: usually safe, easy to reach, and productive.

  • Clean beaches: great for species like flounder, bass, and whiting.

  • Estuaries: calmer waters, often good for light tackle and smaller fish.

Avoid remote rock marks or high cliffs until you’ve gained experience and confidence.

When to Fish

Tide and time of day can make or break a sea fishing session.

  • Best tides: Around high tide is generally best for shore fishing. The last 2 hours of the flood and first hour of the ebb are often most productive.

  • Spring tides (biggest range) tend to fish better than neap tides.

  • Dawn and dusk are prime times, especially for bass and mackerel.

Always check a local tide table and plan accordingly.

What to Expect

At first, you might not catch much — and that’s normal. Sea fishing has a learning curve. Expect tangles, lost gear, missed bites, and the odd blank session. But also expect the satisfaction of improving over time and the buzz of catching your first fish.

Fish you’re likely to catch early on:

  • Whiting

  • Flounder

  • Dogfish

  • Pouting

  • Mackerel (in summer)

These species are common and forgiving — perfect for building skill and confidence.

Basic Techniques

There are a few main ways to present bait when sea fishing:

Bottom Fishing

  • The most common method.

  • Cast your rig out and let it settle on the seabed.

  • Wait for bites, watch the rod tip, or hold the rod for sensitivity.

Float Fishing

  • Suspends bait off the bottom.

  • Great for harbours, piers, and targeting species like wrasse or mackerel.

Spinning

  • Active lure fishing using spinners or soft plastics.

  • Best for species like bass and pollock.

Start with bottom fishing — it’s the easiest and most consistent method for beginners.

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