If you have a deep love for fishing but are looking for an experience that will take you to new heights, then you might want to try deep sea fishing! Sure, it takes a little more skill but you’ll catch bigger fish and have fun while you’re doing it. Deep sea fishing is where the water is at least 100 feet deep, which is where you’ll find much bigger fish that aren’t usually close to shore. Get ready to feast your eyes on some beautiful fish such as tuna, halibut, marlin, and even sharks.

If you’re a beginner, you might want to try using a deep sea fishing charter for your first couple trips. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you might consider getting your own boat and applying the techniques below for a fun, safe, and successful fishing experience. We’re here to answer all your deep sea fishing questions before you head out for your big vacation, so come on down to Water Werks today! We proudly serve Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois, and Gary, Michigan City, Valparaiso, Indiana, as well as Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Important Gear

A good place to start preparing for a deep sea fishing trip is with the gear. It’s always good practice to prepare for the worst, as ominous as that may sound. You want to be prepared should the worst case scenario occur while out on the water. First and foremost, it’s pretty much inevitable that you’re going to get wet. Bring along some extra layers to keep warm in case the weather changes. In the event that you get totally soaked, you’ll want to have a change of clothes available. Some other basic necessities include sunscreen, a first aid kit, and drinking water. You definitely don’t want to be heading home with a nasty sunburn, so it’s important to remember the sunscreen. In the spirit of preparing for the worst, a first aid kit will come in handy should you or anyone else get hurt. When you’re fishing and having fun in the sun, your body will dehydrate quickly so plenty of drinking water is always a must.

Tackle & Rods

You definitely won’t be using a trout rod to reel in a massive tuna, so if you don’t already have some, you may need to buy tackle that is specifically suited for deep sea fishing. A six-foot medium-heavy bottom fishing rod is great for bottom fishing in certain areas. You’ll also need to slap a heavy-duty baitcaster reel onto the rod if you want to control any of the larger fish you manage to catch. The bait that’s used for deep sea fishing is also different than what is used closer to shore. Worms aren’t going to do the trick. You should stock up on live and artificial bait like squid, shrimp, and minnows in order to reel in some of those bigger fish. When it comes to hooks, we recommend using a circle hook because they tend to catch more fish. These hook into the lip instead of the gut, which also makes it easier to release unwanted fish.

Best Places to Fish

Once you’ve got your gear and tackle, the last important step is finding the best place to fish. Where you choose to go deep sea fishing could make or break your experience. For example, tuna usually like to hang around the dolphins. Dolphins are easier to see than tuna, so if you look for a group of dolphins, you’re likely to find some tuna as well. For other fish species, try fishing close to lighthouses, towers, rock formations, or wrecks. All of these objects and markers have little nooks and crannies that fish enjoy hiding in. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have a big haul right away. If you’re not finding the fish in one area after a while, try another spot instead.

Deep sea fishing isn’t easy, but with a little practice and patience, you’ll have the hang of it in no time! If after you’ve returned and you’re ready to do some fishing on our incredible Great Lakes and are in need of some gear or even a new boat, visit us at Water Werks near Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois, and Gary, Michigan City, Valparaiso, Indiana, as well as Milwaukee, Wisconsin.