If you are an experienced angler, you are familiar with the fact the vast majority of sea fish species live on or close to the sea bed. As such, you know that carrying an ordinary fishing rod on your deep water fishing trip sets you up for failure before leaving your house.
Nonetheless, the question most anglers ask is “what fishing rig should I use to increase my chances of getting a catch?”
To better understand which type of fishing rig to bring along, it would be best to analyze the problems you are likely to encounter when carrying out deep-sea fishing.
First, most sea beds are uneven and contain varying topographies rich in coral reefs and rubble. Adding this problem to the vast fish species to choose from, selecting the right fishing rig may prove challenging than fishing itself.
However, this article discusses some of the best fishing rigs you can use for deep water fishing. Additionally, we will discuss how and when to best use each fishing rig.
Running Sinker Rigs
Running sinker rigs, as the name suggests, are fishing rigs designed to catch fish without the fish’s awareness.
Ideally, once a fish is hooked on an ordinary fishing line, it struggles and manages to set itself free. Losing your catch and fishing tackle is not an optimal way of ensuring a successful fishing expedition.
Running sinkers utilize circular hooks and free running sinkers along the mainline. The fundamental working principle behind the running sinker is that the fish can bite and flee with the bait without feeling the lead’s weight.
The fish gains momentum before the lines strike, and once they do, there is little to nothing the fish can do to free itself.
Essentially, the sudden strike pushes the hook deeper into the fish’s flesh, securing the lines and catch. Thus, you can use the running sinker rigs when fishing in deep waters with stronger currents.
Floater Rigs
Floater rigs defy most of the ‘normal’ fishing routines. Primarily, anglers sink the bait to where the fish are. However, with floater rigs, the fish come to you.
But how do you ‘call out’ the fish towards you?
The floater rig is set up in a minimalistic design that employs a circular hook that is tied to the end of a weighted monofilament mainline.
In general, you will chop up and drop fish cubes (fish meat) in a defined trail that leads back to your boat. Most fish are ready to enjoy a meal that comes almost effortlessly.
Hence, the fish attracted to the free-falling food will scramble to reach the food source (you) first.
The floater rig is best used in low-current and moderately deep waters where the bait movement is kept at a minimal.
Therefore, take your time to set the bait and your fish cubes to make the set up appear more natural to the fish.
Single Fishing Rigs
The simplest fishing rig you can pick from any fishing tackle shops near me is the single fishing line. Unlike the paternoster fishing rig that uses multiple hooks, the single fishing rig uses a simple hook and line.
Simplistic as it may sound and look, the single fishing rig is lethal because it is natural and has no additional sinkers.
As such, experienced anglers know that the single fishing rod is less visible in the water and has no add-ons that may hinder its movement.
To achieve the best results when using the single fishing rig, fishing tackle experts recommend using swivels and tying the appropriate knots. You can use the single rig in deep or shallow water fishing.
Paternoster Rigs
Paternoster rigs are the most popular fishing rigs among many deep-sea anglers. Intrinsically, what makes the paternoster fishing rig very popular is its ability to support multiple hooks at once. Using two or three hooks at once increases your chances of success by 100 to 200%.
Paternoster rigs have sinkers that are perfectly positioned to not only prevent the mainline from drifting with in the current, but also maintain a prime strike position.
Since the sea bed has coral and sea weeds, the paternoster rig is designed to maintain your hooks and baits in a visible area where fish can conveniently ‘feed’ from.
Basically, you can use the paternoster fishing rig for bottom-bouncing—dragging your fishing lines at the bottom without really touching the seabed.
Conclusion
Fishing rigs help you increase the chances of attaining success when you are out fishing in deep sea waters. Therefore, purchasing a quality fishing rig, as discussed above, is a worthy investment.