“Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it.” ‑ Harry Middleton
It’s always a great day to be fishing on the water off the shore of Sanibel Island. The fishing opportunities are plentiful off the coast while you enjoy amazing sunsets, sunrises and beautiful scenery in the Gulf of Mexico or the Intracoastal Waterway. Here are 8 saltwater fishing tips to get the most out of your next fishing adventure.
Find Out Which Fish Are Biting
The best part of saltwater fishing is the variety of fish you can catch at any given time in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s always a good time of year to catch mammoth grouper or go shark hunting.
This time of year, the 2016 recreational red snapper fishing season in Gulf of Mexico waters is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October. The daily limit is two fish per person and the minimum size is 16 inches in total length.
Pick Your Fishing Activity
What kind of fishing do you feel like doing on your next saltwater adventure? Here are some saltwater fishing tips for fishing opportunities to help you plan your fishing day:
- Deep sea fishing
- Snorkel fishing
- Charter boat fishing
- Surf fishing
- Pier fishing
Pack Shiny Lures
Saltwater fish bite best on lures that are shiny and bright. Keep a variety of shiny lures handy in your tackle box.
What kind of fishing do you feel like doing on your next saltwater fishing adventure? There is a variety of options to choose from in the Gulf of Mexico.
Keep Live Bait Alive
Are you using live bait? You can keep crabs, shrimp and other crustacean bait alive for hours by wrapping them in wet newspaper and placing them in a cooler filled with ice and water.
Tie the Tough Knot
Saltwater fish are strong fighters. You want to make sure you use a fishing line knot that is strong under all types of conditions. The Bimini Twist, also known as the 20-Times-Around Knot, is one of the best saltwater fishing tips out there to strengthen the line for a strong leader connection.
Learn how to tie a Bimini Twist knot like a pro.
Follow Marine Charts
The mouths of inlets and channels are great places to find fish feeding spots that are ripe for catching fish. Marine charts and maps are great tools to discover fish hangouts.
Charter boat fishing at local marinas is a great way to get saltwater fishing tips from local charter boat captains.
Chumming Attracts Fish
Chumming before you fish is the best way to attract live fish to your area. The process involves throwing fresh or frozen live bait into a current, creating a line of food that draws hungry fish from far away right to your boat.
Don’t toss in too much food or the fish will eat far away and not follow the food to your location. If you don’t toss in enough bait, the fish may not follow you. A happy medium is to start slowly and increase the bait you toss in until you start to see results, which come in the form of fish grabbing your fishing lines.
Plan a Saltwater Fishing Trip Near Sanibel Island
Now that you have your saltwater fishing tips, it’s time to schedule your Port Sanibel Marina water activities. Rent a boat or schedule a fishing charter at Port Sanibel Marina. If you need a place to stay for a fishing trip with friends and family, be sure to book a fully furnished condo at Royal Shell Vacation Rentals. Give us a call at (239) 437-1660 to plan your boating trip and water sports activities today!
