5 Saltwater Fishing Hacks You Should Be Using

When you want to maximize your saltwater fishing time, it helps to find clever ways of making your angling life easier. Use a few handy saltwater fishing hacks so that you can spend more time catching fish, and less time prepping or rigging.

Before you put these saltwater fishing hacks to the test, be sure to check the saltwater fishing regulations for your state and buy your fishing license online.
 

1. Keep leader material on the spools and organized using elastic hair bands. While most plastic spools come with a notch at the top to secure the loose end, it's faster to simply wrap a hair band around the end of the line on the spool. Soft elastic hair bands won't scuff up your leader material either.
2. When using sinkers to keep shrimp or other saltwater baits on the bottom, slide a 6 to 8 millimeter plastic bead onto your leader after you slide on the sinker, but before tying a loop knot to attach your hook. This fishing hack will prevent your sinker from sliding down over the knot, and allows your bait to retain enough movement.
3. If you live in a condominium or apartment and don't have easy access to a hose or freshwater rinse, use your showerhead to rinse your rods and reels. Or, just make sure all hooks and lures are removed from your rods and bring them right into the shower with you after a day of fishing. This may sound like one of the funniest fishing tips you've heard in awhile, but your rods and reels will last a great deal longer if you thoroughly rinse them after every saltwater outing.
4. Bring a bucket of freshwater on your boat to rinse your hooks and lures. As soon as you change out your lures or hooks, drop them into the bucket. Just be sure to dry your hooks or lures off thoroughly before placing them back into your tackle trays.
5. Use a thin strip of brightly colored electrical or duct tape to mark pre-determined lengths on your saltwater fishing rods. This fishing hack gives you a quick and easy way to measure any fish you plan to release.