Offshore Fishing Guide: Gear, Techniques, Target Species & More

Man is not built for life on the water; nonetheless, countless numbers among us have been drawn to leave land behind and make such a life possible. Early man took to the sea to survive, either by fishing for food or searching for new lands to call their own. This soon gave way to trade and travel. Today, many of us travel far from home for recreation and the ability to catch fish few others ever see, never mind seeing on the end of their line. This is the adventure we call offshore fishing.

• Overview of Offshore Fishing
• Boat Requirements and Safety
• Essential Equipment and Gear
• Target Species
• Where to go
• Core Techniques and Methods
• The Shortcut
• FAQs About Offshore Fishing

Overview of Offshore Fishing

Offshore fishing is a unique way to experience angling: the environment, species, techniques, equipment, and even the potential dangers all change when you leave the shore and venture into one of the least explored areas of our planet.

What is the difference between offshore and inshore fishing?

There is some overlap between the two types of fishing, especially when it comes to some of the species you will be targeting. After all, many species travel long distances as they migrate or chase potential food sources, and this can include periods in both the offshore and inshore environments. However, the main difference is where you fish. Offshore fishing occurs in deeper water, typically over 90 feet, and farther from land, more than 3 miles from the coast or near the continental shelf.

Boat Requirements and Safety

Before you can wet a line offshore, you need to get there, and you also need to get back safely at the end of your trip. Obviously, this requires a boat, but not just any boat. This is no place for your runabout or kayak. Fishing offshore requires a boat designed for long voyages and rough conditions.

Although experienced anglers can make do with a smaller boat in ideal conditions, the recommended boat to reach the shelf or canyons should be 30-40 ft long. You will also need a deep-V hull to cut through waves, prevent being capsized in heavy waves, and provide a ride that is enjoyable rather than dangerous. Most of these boats have twin inboard engines, providing the speed needed for long trips and a way home if one engine fails. Two large engines also require an equally large fuel capacity, which you can calculate by determining what you need to reach the fishing grounds, fish & return home, plus 1/3^rd as an insurance policy. Finally, you will want a self-bailing cockpit and deck. Water will inevitably come inside the boat, either due to weather, waves, or maneuvering while fishing, so it needs to drain on its own just as fast as it came in.

Of course, your boat needs to handle wide-open areas away from shore in a variety of water and weather conditions. On today’s boats, this means electronics such as GPS, radar, fish finders, and satellite-equipped communications are standard. Knowing how to use this equipment will help you find your way to the fishing grounds, identify likely structure, and see what is there. It will also let you communicate with authorities and other boaters in an emergency. If an emergency does occur, you should also have required Coast Guard safety equipment, such as personal flotation devices (PFDs), a rescue raft, an EPIR, visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, and sound-producing devices.

Depending on what type of fishing you will be doing, you will also want to consider having rod holders, outriggers, or a fighting chair available. If you plan to keep fish, you will also need coolers or a hold large enough for your catch, plus plenty of ice.

Essential Equipment and Gear

Offshore is not an environment where you can take your inshore or surf gear and expect it to survive your first battle. Some of the species you encounter far from the beach are too big, too strong, and too fast to battle without specialized gear.

Much of the gear used for offshore fishing needs to be built for heavy-duty fishing, deep-water fishing with heavy lures or weights, and extended battles with big fish. It is not uncommon to catch species that weigh in at or exceed triple digits.

Whatever you select also needs to withstand salt spray, abuse during the voyage and the fight, and multiple abuses per trip. Reels should be designed for saltwater use, with corrosion-resistant components and appropriate protection against water intrusion. Rods should be constructed of the advanced composite materials, have guides that look like they are designed for a ship’s mooring lines, and handles that provide a solid grip for an hour-long fight even when soaked with water. Because of their shorter length and thick diameter, the rods often resemble broom handles rather than precision tools, but that size is necessary for the strength needed in a package that can be maneuvered on a crowded deck.

The following are examples of conventional offshore setups; exact tackle should be matched to the target species, technique, and local conditions.

Explore heavy-duty gear for offshore fishing=>

Offshore Fishing Gear Recommended

For deep-water and big-game fishing, the Piscifun AtlantiX 12000 and Kraken electric reels can provide the power needed to retrieve heavy rigs from depth and handle demanding fights. Paired with Saltflow High-Tech offshore rods, they form a purpose-built setup for anglers targeting larger species where strength and endurance are essential.

For lighter conventional offshore boat fishing and trolling, the Piscifun AlinoX 400 and AlinoX Line Counter 400 offer a more traditional reel setup, with the capacity and retrieve options needed for a range of offshore applications. Paired with a Saltflow Bent Butt offshore rod, it provides a solid combination for anglers who prefer conventional tackle for trolling, bait fishing, or other boat-based techniques.

Target Species

The list of species you might catch offshore is almost endless, and that is one of the aspects that draws anglers to it. However, as with any fishing, anglers target some species more than others. A few of these species are unique to the deep, deep water only found far from land. Others are species you will also encounter inshore, drawn to the reefs and structures you will encounter in an otherwise vast blue openness; the difference is they will be much bigger!

The reef and structure, which can include anything from a sunken wreck to an offshore oil rig, are hotbeds of fish life. Whenever you find a reef or structure, stop, cast a line, mark it on your GPS, and plan to revisit. Depending on the structure, you will encounter large numbers of baitfish, and anywhere there are baitfish, there are predators looking for a meal, including grouper, triggerfish, barracuda, snapper, and amberjack.

Although some of these fish may be at or near the surface, your best action is going to be deeper. Bottom fishing usually provides the best results, but more on that later.

Tuna is one of the premier offshore species. Not only do they fight hard and are a lot of fun to catch, but they also taste delicious! Almost every offshore destination is home to yellowfin, bigeye, blackfin, or albacore tuna at some point during the season, and each will test your gear as well as your abilities. Plus, some self-caught sashimi, sushi, or tuna steaks are an excellent way to relive the experience with friends and family.

Mention offshore fishing, and it is almost impossible not to immediately have your thoughts turn to sailfish. Its long, muscular body, large dorsal fin, and sword-like bill make it frightening to some. Its awe-inspiring speed, dazzling color scheme, and ability to fight like a bull seeing red are what make the sailfish legendary among those who have ever hooked one.

Marlin, including blue, black, or striped subspecies, and swordfish are among the most popular billfish among recreational anglers. All share similar features, including their ability to shred tackle, but the marlin has a less prominent dorsal fin, or sail. Catching sailfish requires heavy tackle, a good boat with an experienced captain, and lots of patience.

Dorado, or Mahi Mahi, is one of the species you can find inshore, but the biggest ones like deep, open water where they can feed on large schools of baitfish. While reefs and structure will attract quality dorado, it is not uncommon to find some following floating patches of vegetation or even trash that baitfish use for cover and concealment in otherwise open water.

Even an average dorado will display a fierce fighting spirit and a color scheme that will switch between brilliant blues, yellows, and greens, with some white thrown in for good measure. Like tuna, dorado is excellent table fare and sought after by anglers who want a once-in-a-lifetime battle followed by an equally impressive meal.

Striped bass and redfish are often associated with spring migrations that bring them close to shore, but their travels also make them easily accessible to the offshore angler as well. The ones you find miles from shore are the big bulls that every surf caster wishes to encounter and are often found near the bait-filled structure that makes offshore fishing so productive.

This brings us to the king of the deep, and of many people's nightmares, the shark. Most beachgoers see sharks as a terrifying demon that shuts down beaches and makes youngsters flee the water, but offshore they mean an action-filled opportunity.  While some anglers set out to catch sharks, most offshore anglers encounter them and target them as a secondary catch after they attempt to steal something you have already hooked. When this happens, you have two choices: move on or switch gear and make the best of it.

Where to go

As a general rule, offshore fishing means being several miles offshore. But that doesn’t mean leaving the marina and sailing until you can't see land anymore. You need a destination, and that destination needs to be possible fish habitat. This means looking for a change in topography. That's where depth finders and detailed charts come into play.

Locate canyons, ledges, and shelves that indicate not only deep water but drastic changes in depth. This lets you target both deep and even deeper water in the same area, increasing your chances of finding where fish are cruising. On the way to your destination, identify structures such as reefs, sunken wrecks, or offshore platforms that draw both baitfish and predators in concentrated numbers. Finally, when traveling through open water, look for birds diving or floating weeds or debris that provide shelter for small fish. If you spot such areas, get ready for some potential topwater action.

Core Techniques and Methods

Inshore and surf fishing often relies on swimbaits or topwater lures in shallow water. Not so when you go offshore. Although there is the possibility you will encounter fish at or near the surface, you should have a rod rigged for just such a case; most of the action will take place deep. Plus, finding fish in an area that looks like a blue desert from the surface takes plenty of searching. This means the prime techniques will involve trolling and then getting bait down below what you can see.

Trolling allows you to cover plenty of water quickly. It is also a primary way to target species such as sailfish and dorado. Outriggers let you deploy as many rods as possible, increasing coverage. Downriggers and planers will let you vary depth when searching for fish and keep your bait in front of fish when you find them.

When you locate fish, but they are scattered in the same general area, drifting is a technique that may put fish on the deck many times. By letting the boat drift with the current, you get movement at a slower rate than when you are trolling. This is a great opportunity to try suspending bait near fish you locate on the finder, or to use vertical jigging to kick off some action.

If fish are cruising or lingering near reefs or structures, bottom fishing is a consistent and productive method for several species, including grouper and snapper. Getting fresh or cut bait near the bottom is also an excellent way to find out what else may be in the area, including some species you might never have expected to catch.

As mentioned earlier, blind casting and retrieving to find fish is rarely successful offshore. But when the action heats up and fish are working the surface, the game plan changes, and that’s why you should always have a rod rigged to take advantage of such opportunities. When you see baitfish or birds crashing the surface, something is just below it. Cast into the area or near any swirls you see, and there is a good chance tight lines will follow.

Many of the fish you encounter offshore will be stronger, faster, and bigger than what you have been catching onshore or from the beach. This requires heavier, stronger equipment to be successful.

The Shortcut

There is no doubt that getting started offshore or deep-sea fishing is complicated and expensive. For these reasons, many anglers, even those who enjoy this type of fishing regularly, never invest in their own equipment or boat. Instead, they rely on charters. This is a great way to get offshore and onto some fish, but it comes with its own learning curve.

Before booking a charter, do your research and learn about your captain and crew. You will be relying on the captain to put you in the right place at the right time, and although this takes a bit of luck, much of your success will depend on local knowledge.

Chartering an offshore trip will not be cheap; fuel costs alone can run several hundred dollars per trip. These trips are often longer in duration than inshore trips, especially since you might spend 2-3 hours transiting to and from the fishing grounds. But considering the cost of offshore gear, a boat, and the years needed to build the necessary knowledge, it's still much cheaper than trying to go it alone.

FAQs About Offshore Fishing

1. Do I need a license to fish offshore?

It depends on where you fish. In much of the United States, fishing within 3 miles of shore falls under the jurisdiction of the adjacent state(s), which may or may not require a fishing license or special permits. Outside the 3-mile limit, recreational fishing is subject to federal jurisdiction, and no fishing license is needed although some species such as tuna, billfish, or sharks may require a species permit. Regardless of jurisdiction, gamefish are likely subject to season, size, and creel limits. Some foreign nations require a license for offshore fishing, as well as special permits for specific species.

2. Will I get seasick?

Many people get seasick the minute their feet leave terra firma, even seasoned seafarers. If you are prone to motion sickness or have experienced seasickness before, it is best to prepare for the worst. If you will be relying on medication or medicated patches to prevent seasickness, remember to start it at least 24 hrs. before your trip to ensure maximum effectiveness.

3. Can I eat offshore fish?

Plenty of anglers are concerned about consuming fish, even those they have personally caught. Much of this caution stems from heavy metals or pollutants that lead to consumption advisories for inshore or inland species. However, fish that spend much of their life cycle offshore are less likely to be affected by these issues. Some reef species, such as amberjacks, may contain a neurotoxin called ciguatera, which can be harmful and is not removed by cooking.

As with any fish, vulnerable groups, including pregnant or nursing women and young children, should avoid large predators, as these species are more likely to contain mercury, a substance that builds up over time.