Real or artificial bait depends on the conditions, environment and target species of interest. Live bait poses environmental concerns due to potential escapees that become invasive species, spread disease or act as vectors for parasites.

Fishing tackle is composed of rods, lines and hooks plus terminal tackle such as bobbers. Here is a selection of popular items.

Live Bait

Live bait is the cornerstone of most fishing trips. From worms and squid to bloodworms and grubs to fresh mullet and herring, it’s used in 90% of IGFA all-tackle world record attempts as well as getting newcomers hooked.

Reason being: it closely mimics its natural prey in appearance, smell and movement – plus it can be fished in various ways such as trolling, drifting, casting or jigging.

Bottomfishers often employ rigs with pyramid weights to bring bait down quickly to the bottom and reel it back up again for two opportunities to strike. A throat hook allows bait to swim deeper for targeting pelagics from stationary positions like jetties and seawalls; stress-free handling of live bait should also be prioritized since stressed baitfish will become less active and appealing to predators.

Lures

Artificial bait that attracts fish through movement, vibration, color or other characteristics that imitate natural prey species is known as lure. Many lures come equipped with hooks so anglers can catch them when they strike them; some lures are designed to be thrown while others trolled behind boats; they’re usually purchased online or from tackle shops but handmade fishing flies can also be made at home!

Metal sinkers are an integral component of terminal tackle, used to help lures float or sink at specific depths. Most commonly shaped like an “J”, with one end having an eye through which lines may be tied and another with a sharp point at which fish can be caught; circle, double and treble hook options are also available.

Trolling lures in an imitation of injured or fleeing baitfish movements is an effective technique used most commonly by trolling rods and can be particularly successful when fishing deep water or near piers.

Bobbers

Bobbers (also referred to as floats, quills and bobsters) serve several essential purposes in fishing: they keep bait off of the bottom while suspended at an easily visible level; they indicate activity by bobbing up and down; they signal bites by submerging when struck by fish; they even serve as indicators when there is action on your line by diving beneath when one strikes! Available in various shapes – round to pencil quill shaped spring bobbers may work best depending on your circumstances – however often simple standard spring spring bobbers work best when dealing with multiple fishing situations!

Some bobbers feature a stop knot (or bobber stop) larger than the hole in their interior line channel, to prevent their line from running too far out. You can add an additional security measure by adding a bead at the end of your line before sliding on your bobber; this helps stop accidental slipover of its stop knot and offers further security from hooks that might get pulled from beneath water.

Terminal Tackle

Terminal tackle refers to all the items attached to a line at its end, such as hooks, floats, sinkers/feeders and swivels.

Hooks come in various shapes and sizes to best meet the species you’re fishing for and the techniques employed. For instance, wide gap hooks work great for targeting larger fish; however, they may not work well when used with smaller bait.

Other terminal tackle includes bobbers that keep bait suspended in the water while serving as strike indicators when fishing with live bait, making them especially helpful when working in shallow or clear conditions.

Relying on quality terminal tackle will increase your success at fishing. A well-stocked tackle box should contain an assortment of this gear that’s easily identifiable. KastKing provides all-inclusive terminal tackle kits perfect for novice or veteran anglers looking to expand their tackle box.