Best Saltwater Fishing Knots

Best Saltwater Knots

Before worrying about how to tie a basic fishing knot for use in saltwater, first consider the type of fishing gear you plan to use, the type of fishing line, and whether you intend to use natural bait or lures most often. These factors often help new anglers determine the best saltwater knots to learn first.

Basic knowledge of fishing knots is a must for all anglers. While freshwater anglers have a recommended total of four basic fishing knots to master, new anglers learning how to fish in saltwater have only three basic knots to know: a knot to tie the line to the reel, a line to leader knot (to tie the leader to your fishing line), and terminal knot (to tie the hook or lure to your leader). Once you know how to tie these three knots with confidence, you can build on your knot tying skills and learn how to tie others while still having the ability to enjoy saltwater fishing.

Learning how to tie basic fishing knots for saltwater fishing should begin by considering the saltwater environment. If you plan to go inshore fishing, you can try tying and using this series of three knots (line to reel, line to leader, and a terminal knot).

Arbor Knot: Line To Reel

One of the best saltwater knots to know is the arbor knot. Not only is it the best choice for attaching fishing line to the saltwater reel, you can also use an arbor knot to respool your reel if your fishing line gets old or frayed and you need to replace it with new line. You can learn how to tie an arbor knot by watching a video or by following step-by-step instructions.

Double Uni Knot: Line To Leader

Another at the top of the list of best saltwater fishing knots to know is the double uni knot. Nothing beats the double uni knot when you need to connect two lines of different types or diameters, like for example, when you want to tie your braided main line to a fluorocarbon leader line. You can find step-by-step instructions on how to tie this knot in the section that explains line joining knots.

Non-Slip Loop Knot: Terminal Knot

The final group of “best saltwater knots to know” are terminal knots. These knots attach your hook or lure to your leader line. There are also many different types of terminal knots, such as the Palomar knot, clinch knot, etc. The non-slip loop knot is often preferred when you want your bait or lure to have natural movement in the water. You can learn how to tie a non-slip loop knot by watching a video that walks you through each of the steps.