Established anglers and newcomers alike all have seen the expensively outfitted huge boats that are competing for inshore saltwater fishing. These boats are almost always outfitted with the latest gadgets including depth finders, GPS units, electronic fish finders and nearly any other piece of equipment geared towards providing an edge while angling. However, you need not worry about this, you may be electronically challenged or simply not willing to invest that kind of money in your hobby. There are other alternatives to these high-tech options that anyone can take advantage of. You simply need to adapt to what you have available to you and make the most of it. Here are some tips for inshore saltwater fish-finding for the less than affluent fisher.

Using online resources

The internet has become a great source of information. Do a quick search of your favorite shore areas and it’s quite possible that you will be able to locate a discussion group that is set up for anglers. These discussion groups often contain hints about not only great fishing spots but the best bait, lures and other helpful information. Don’t forget to share your experiences, as you may be able to help out other anglers with what you learn on your trip.

Local Tackle Shops

Your local area is no doubt a wealth of great information about fishing holes that anglers have found worth spending time at. Simply make a trip to your local bait and tackle shop, and you can pick up all types of tips. Just remember that information sharing is a two way street, and you’ll get a far better reception if you are a “buyer” rather than an information seeker. If you indicate that you’re a beginner and in need of help and guidance you’ll more than likely get some help, especially from more established anglers.

Local Fishing Clubs

Where there are fishermen and hunters you’ll often find a local fish and game club. These clubs provide an area where the locals get to hang out in a purely casual setting and share their stories. Another thing is that they all share a passion for their sports. It’s not unusual to find fisherman hanging around a fishing club after they’ve just returned from a day of fishing to extol their tales with the other members. Remember, that these clubs are supported by the membership so the more vital the club, the more vital the fishing in the area probably is.

Charter Cruises

Although some people may consider it a waste of funds, if you hire a fishing captain to take you on a chartered fishing cruise, you might be surprised at how much information you can garner from one of these trips. Remember, these charters make their money by taking anglers to the most populated areas for fishing. If you listen while you’re on board, you can glean great information from not only the captain, but other anglers. This is all information that you can use later when fishing on your own.

Check out the Wildlife

You are not the only one who is interested in the baitfish needed for landing striper and blues. There are a number of birds who are just as interested in them and they are far better at identifying them than you are. Typically, birds are more interested in bait fish than larger fish, but since the predators are also looking for baitfish, the birds are a give-away.

These ocean birds are far quicker at identifying a school of baitfish than the humans that are searching for them. You can tell by the noise they are making as well as their flying patters exactly where the baitfish are located. Stripers and blues tend towards top-feeding meaning that the presence of these baitfish are a good sign that their predators are in the area.

Area Anglers

As you walk along the beach, you may see a few things that tip you off to a good fishing area. One of these of course is a group of happy anglers. These fisherman are generally in small groups and are easily identified by loud whoops and bent rods. Another good sign that an area is going to produce a decent fishing trip is blood and scales along docks, jetties and the beach. This means that in the not too distant past, someone has been very successful fishing that area.

You can spend some extra time in getting to know the area that you’re interested in fishing to find out the right time of day and the right bait for inshore saltwater fishing, or you can spend thousands of dollars on a big expensive boat and all the toys that you need to be successful. You make the decision about which method you prefer.

When you are preparing to undergo a saltwater fishing experience, it is important that you have the proper fishing gear. Some of the most popular gear include Shimano Saltwater Reels, Okuma Fishing Reels, and Van Staal Reel.