Deep sea or offshore fishing involves fishing out on the open ocean, far from shore where weather conditions and navigational charts should be carefully monitored and evaluated to ensure a safe trip. The deep sea can be dangerous at times because the weather can get extreme in the ocean and assistance during emergency situations will take some time to arrive.

Big ships and fishing boats are usually the water vessels one can find in the ocean because this is where you can catch various fish species and sometimes, as with the case of cruise ships, coast along these waters to get from one place to another.

What is Deep Sea Fishing?

Knowing what exactly counts as deep-sea fishing can be pretty confusing, especially for novice anglers. For many sport fishers, it tends to be synonymous with sport fishing or big game fishing.

The term is also sometimes used interchangeably with the term offshore fishing as well. Now the question lies, are they the same thing? Well, in a sense, not technically. The main difference between the two terms is the depths of the water anglers will be fishing in. Offshore describes the distance from land, while deep sea refers to the distance from the seafloor. Also, when talking about deep sea fishing, generally takes place in open blue waters with no visible shoreline with the water reaching more than 100 feet below. These fishing grounds often hold structures such as reefs, wrecks, and oil rigs, which big fish like to swarm around.

Tackle for Deep Sea Fishing

Due to the number of deep-sea game fish species and fishing techniques for catching them, there are many different types of deep-sea fishing rods, tackles, and gears that can be used. Offshore fishing may include trolling with deep sea lures or live baits, jigging with lures, or bottom fishing with baits. The usual tackles used in deep sea fishing include a large bait caster reel with high line capacity, 20-pound and above monofilament lines and leader lines, live baits, and big hooks. You’re also going to need boating equipment as well such as a fish finder and depth finder.

What Fish Species Will I be Targeting?

For many anglers, deep-sea fishing is all about big game species. These are large saltwater fish that are aggressive and fight hard when hooked at the end of a line. The main aim of targeting them is purely recreational and to feel the adrenaline rush that comes with battling a deep-sea creature. Deep sea fishing can also mean plumbing the depths of the ocean for bottom fish, as well as testing your skills against brutish reef fish.

Here’s a brief rundown of some of the most popular targets:

• Billfish: This is one of the most popular deep-sea fish species around. This family of fish can be found scattered around the deep ocean waters all across the world. They’re the ultimate target for ambitious sport anglers, thanks to their iconic appearance and tough-fighting spirit.
•  Tuna:  When it comes to deep-sea fishing for Tuna, it’s really all about Yellowfins and Bluefins. Bluefins can grow up to big sizes and are prone to aggressive deep dives. Yellowfin are pound for pound, some of the strongest fighters in the ocean. They’re also seriously tasty.
•  Sharks. These toothy predators are notorious around the globe but tend to get overlooked when it comes to deep-sea fishing. This is due to the strict rules and regulations around them.
•  Reef species: Amberjack, cobia, barracuda… these are just some examples of fish species you can find swimming around in reefs. They are also excellent fish to catch and can put up a good fight.
•  Snappers: These are great to catch because they are tasty not to mention you can catch a school of these species during the peak fishing season.

Fishing Techniques to Do in Deep Sea

Trolling

This is the go-to deep-sea fishing technique for big game species such as Billfish and Tunas. Trolling essentially involves dragging hooked lures or bait through your chosen fishery using a moving boat. Depending on the vessel you’re fishing from, you’ll typically set up anywhere from two to six rods, which means you’ll be trolling at least two to six lines, usually weighted. This allows you to cover plenty of ground and, crucially, to target different water depths.

Bottom Fishing

If you want to target big delicious fish that lurk around deep-water reefs and wrecks, bottom fishing is the way to go. Bottom fishing usually takes place when your boat is anchored or drifting over spots where fish are known to lurk. It’s a versatile technique that is basically all about getting your lure or bait close to the sea floor or even right on top of it, then waiting for the fish to bite.

Deep Dropping

Deep dropping is pretty much exactly what it sounds like – dropping baits very, very deep! You’ll use this technique in waters at least 300 feet deep, where you’ll encounter deep-sea species such as swordfish.