Bottom fishing is the most straight forward kind of fishing. You just need to sink your bait or lure to the bottom of the sea or the sea bed and wait for the fish to bite.
This method targets ‘ground’ fish or also known as demersal fish. Demersal fish include groupers, snappers, eels, cods and also stingrays.
It is not a good idea to march in into a tackle store and make your choice there. You may end up getting a rod that is not worth buying. If time is in your hand do lots of research first on the internet and compare the specifications and prices as well before you decide to buy.
To get the best rod for you will sometimes quite confusing because it will depend on many things. It depends of type of fish that you target and how big it is. It also depends on your budget too. But the good rule of thumb is that you should take into consideration of the basic characteristics of the rod described below.
Characteristic of a Bottom Fishing Rod
Length – Pick a relatively shorter rod as opposed to the longer one. Long rods are more suitable for casting. Get a rod from a range of 5’ 8” to 6’ 6”.
Guides - Roller guides are suitable for heavy game fish. Standard metal guides are suitable too and they are cheaper.
Action (Taper/Bend) – Taper measures the amount of bend of the rod from the butt to the tip. Get a rod that has a medium or fast taper. Medium taper indicates that the rod bends more on the top portion compared to the butt section. Fast taper mainly bends on the tip section.
Some online stores give good information on different brands and models with prices that you can compare.
Sea Isle Tackle, Tackle Direct and Tackle Bargains are examples of online stores that give out good information about all kinds of fishing gears available.
