How to Use an Ocean Baitcast Reel

Ocean baitcast reels are designed to allow live bait to attract bigger fish. To succeed with a baitcast reel, an angler needs to understand how to use the reel's levers that, on one setting, allow your tiny baitfish to swim free, and on another, make a big fish fight against resistance. There is a bit of finesse, and ultimately a lot of muscle involved with effectively using an ocean baitcast reel. Big fish are always difficult to catch, but the proper use of the right equipment can improve your chances of catching a trophy-sized fish.

Instructions

    • 1

      Understand your baitcast reel. A baitcast reel designed for deep-sea fishing has a lever that engages the reel, adding resistance to the line, or disengages the reel, letting it spool out freely. The disengaged state allows any fish on the line to swim away without resistance. The engaged state causes the line to be released slowly with resistance. The engaged line is designed to tire a fish you've hooked.

    • 2

      Bait your line. In deep-sea fishing, you begin by hooking a smaller live fish on your hook. Often herring or anchovies are used for this purpose.

    • 3

      Put your bait in the water. Once your bait fish is on the line, drop him into the ocean and set the lever on your reel to disengage. The bait fish will then swim away from your boat and hopefully attract the attention of a bigger fish.

    • 4

      Wait for the big fish. You will know when a big fish is on your line because the reel will suddenly start rapidly spooling. The bigger fish is much heavier and swims much faster than your bait.

    • 5

      Wait at least three seconds before reacting, once a big fish has grabbed your line. Big fish generally grab your bait fish from behind and then turn them in their mouths before chewing and swallowing. You want to make sure the big fish has ingested the bait before you start trying to reel him in. When you have waited, throw the lever on your reel to the engaged position and grab onto your pole with both hands. When the lever engages, the force of the big fish meeting resistance will pull hard on your pole.

    • 6

      Reel in your big fish. With your reel on the engaged setting, line will still spool out, but the fish will be working against resistance to take your line. Eventually this will tire your fish. Now it's your turn to work hard: you've got to reel in that big fish. He won't come without a fight. Approximately one out of three hooked deep-sea fish are actually reeled in successfully--even by the most experienced fishermen and women.