Article by Capt. Mark Sampson
Even when we're trying to catch the same fish, it's amazing how different we fishermen can sometimes be in our tackle and tactics. This diversity among fishermen might be just a matter of personal preferences to do things "this way" rather than "that way" and very often the different approach still has the desired result of catching fish.
But many times the differences come not so much by design as by a lack of experience, and along the way anglers sometimes pick up bad habits that just don't go away even after they've made the transition from rank beginner to somewhat experienced fisherman.
Mistakes made by anglers are many, but after 23-years of running a charter boat and fishing alongside of how-ever-many-thousands of different anglers, I've definitely noticed a few bad habits that frequently seem to pop up among our ranks.
A common mistake I see anglers make is using terminal tackle (everything from the end of the line to the hook) that is too big and bulky. Either fish these days are getting smarter, or we've caught all the dummies and only the clever ones are left. Whatever the case may be, on the average I'd say that it's more difficult these days to fool a fish into hitting a bait or lure than it was a bunch of years ago. That's why so many anglers have switched to using invisible fluorocarbon leaders and thin braided lines. But making a stealthy presentation to a fish is obviously not something every fisherman is concerned about as there are still a lot of anglers who insist on using much more terminal gear than they need.
Perhaps the best example of this is when folks are bottom fishing. Sure there are times when anglers can tie on a big-old wire top-and-bottom rig adorned with two snelled hooks and a pyramid sinker and still catch a seabass or flounder, but all that extra "jewelry" at the end of the line is not only a waste of money, it's also not going to do the angler any favors on the all too common days when the fish are being persnickety. Both offshore and inshore anglers need to keep it simple and show the fish no more terminal tackle than they must to get the job done, and the "job" is to put a bait or lure in front of the fish that it will eat and that will hold up to the struggle until the fish is to the boat. If a wire leader is needed, then use as light a wire as possible. If sinkers are needed then use no more weight than necessary, and if some kind of two hook bottom rig is required then learn how to tie one up using dropper loops and as light a monofilament line as possible. Anglers will always catch more fish if they KEEP TERMINAL TACKLE LIGHT AND SIMPLE!
Speaking of terminal tackle, regardless of what type of fishing they're doing, some anglers will always have a snap swivel tied to the end of their line to which they then snap whatever kind of rig or leader they'll be using. In many cases this practice is 100% necessary as it allows anglers to quickly and easily make changes to what's on the end of their line without having to cut and retie. But swivels themselves can be quite visible to fish and particularly when anglers are casting lures or jigging, having an ugly inch-long snap swivel bouncing around at the end of the leader and in front of the lure can sometimes prove to be too much for a fish to accept. Anglers will have a better chance for success if they tie their leaders directly to lines and lures straight to their leaders. ONLY USE SWIVELS WHEN NECESSARY!
By the way, when swivels are needed, anglers should opt for a good quality black swivel that is no larger than necessary. Way too often I see anglers with great big shiny gold color swivels tied to the end of their line. I don't wish to hurt anyone's feeling here but those gold snap swivels are usually the cheapest ones in the tackle shop and only someone who doesn't know what they're doing would consider tying one on their line and having it be a link between them and whatever fish they hope to catch! ONLY USE QUALITY SWIVELS!
Another problem I see a lot is when bottom fishermen allow their rods to rest on the gunwale or railing of a boat. Bottom fishing is all about "feeling the bite" so that you know just the right time to set the hook. Even when using super-sensitive braided line, if you're holding the rod, but somewhere between your hands and the tip the rod is resting on the boat, then much of the feel is going to be lost and you simply will not catch as many fish as the guy next to you who is properly holding his rod and "in tune" with what's happening down below. DON'T LET YOUR ROD TOUCH ANYTHING BUT YOU!
Everyone knows that fresh bait is better than old bait, fresh bait is also better than "washed-out" bait which has been in the water so long that much of the scent has left it. Most anglers have probably experienced times when one person on the boat seems to be catching all the fish even though everyone aboard is using the same type of rig and bait. This can be because every time they bring in a fish they have to put on a new bait, therefore, they're constantly sending down a fresh bait while everyone else is fishing with baits that have been soaking untouched so long that they have lost much of their effectiveness. Too often anglers make the mistake of checking their bait and concluding that as long as it "looks good" there's no need to replace it, particularly if someone else aboard is catching fish and you aren't. DON'T GET LAZY -CHANGE YOUR BAIT!
Last but certainly not least is the mistake anglers often make when they crank the handle of the reel while the drag is slipping and a fish is pulling out line. This usually occurs with anglers who have little or no experience catching fish large enough to pull drag. When fighting larger fish anglers must stay calm, pay attention to their spool of line, and always know if line is coming in or going out. It might seem silly to even have to say that, but it is so common to watch someone hooked up to a big fish and cranking for all they're worth, while line is steadily streaming out from the reel. If line is going out there is NEVER a reason to be turning the handle of the reel, at best it will just help to wear out the angler faster than the fish, at worst (if a spinning reel is being used) it will twist the line up so badly that the reel will not be able to be used again until all the line is untwisted by dragging it behind the boat. If line is going out DON'T CRANK!
Mark Sampson is an outdoor writer and Captain of the charter boat “Fish Finder”, docked at the Ocean City Fishing Center.
