Getting Started Fishing: A Beginners Guide to Fishing Rods & Gear
Whether you’re in it for the thrill of reeling in the catch, or for the tranquillity of being out in the water on a beautiful day, fishing is a great way to experience the outdoors. But if you’re just starting out, you might not be sure what you need before you get started. What kind of rod do I need? What about the bait? Does it matter what hook I use?
If you’re asking yourself questions like this then this guide is for you! At The Warehouse, we’ve put together some recommendations for products to get you started on your fishing journey, along with some general tips and tricks that will have you angling with confidence in no time.
What Fishing Equipment do I need?
Fishing from the outside seems pretty simple, grab a rod and cast your line and wait for the fish to bite. But there are a few questions you need to ask yourself before you set out. The main one is: are you going to go beach fishing or inland fishing?
This one question will decide what type of equipment you need to be on the lookout for. We will discuss fishing gear needed for both of these types of fishing so no matter which you're aiming to do, you will have a curated list of fishing gear at the Warehouse just for you! fishing gear
Beach Fishing vs Inland Fishing
So, what’s the difference between beach fishing and inland fishing? Let’s discuss.
Beach Fishing
Beach fishing is when you fish in saltwater, particularly on the coast or beach (hence the name). When you’re beach fishing, you’ll be dealing with tides, waves, and strong currents of the ocean, which is why you will need to consider heavier gear to offset these conditions. Saltwater fish are also typically larger than freshwater fish, which will also need heaver fishing equipment.
Inland Fishing
Inland fishing is the opposite of beach fishing, where you cast your line in freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. With calmer waters and smaller fish, your fishing gear typically won’t need to be too big or bulky. Inland fishing is a great way to practice core angling skills because of this.
So, which one do I choose?
If you don't have a fishing destination in mind, it can be challenging to decide which type of fishing you want to do, since one isn't inherently better than the other.
If you're looking for the thrill of the catch and want to be out in an ocean environment, then beach fishing will be your choice. However, if you're looking for a more calm day on the water or want to focus more on learning how to fish and improve core angling techniques, then you'll want to go inland fishing.
Now that you have an idea of what type of fishing you're going to be doing, let's get into the gear!
Fishing Rods
One of the key components of fishing, the fishing rod will be the starting point of your fishing journey. As mentioned previously, you will want to consider different rods between beach and inland fishing.
Beach Fishing Rods
Beach fishing means you'll be out in the ocean, where you need to consider ocean currents, tides, and waves while you're casting your line. Ocean fish are also typically bigger than those found in freshwater. Because of this, you will want a larger rod to better handle these conditions.
Here are some rods that you might want to consider picking up:
Maxi strike Combo Surf 12ft
Price: $100.00
The Maxistrike Combo Surf 12ft is a durable rod made of fibreglass and is an easy to use rod for beginner fishers. It also comes with two ball-bearing reels spooled with a line for convenient use. The weight, durability, and length make it the perfect rod for beach fishing for beginners and pros alike.
Shakespeare Catch More Fish Beach/Surf Combo Kit 10ft
Price: $100.00
The Shakespeare Catch more Fish Beach/Surf Combo Kit 10ft comes with everything you need for your fishing rod. Featuring 1 stainless steel ball bearing, pre-spooled with 14lb mono and a robust tubular carbon glass rod blank with solid tip for better sensitivity fitted with quality stainless steel guides with ceramic inserts. It also comes with a complete tackle tray kit with everything needed for beach fishing.
Inland Fishing Rods
Inland fishing means you'll be fishing in lakes and rivers, which are calmer waters than if you were beach fishing. This means that your gear can be smaller and lighter since you won't be fighting against waves and currents and freshwater fish are typically smaller than saltwater.
Here are some rods that you might want to consider picking up:
Maxistrike Combo Boat Spin 6ft
Price: $47.98
If you're looking for a smaller lightweight fishing rod, then the Maxistrike Combo Boat Spin 6ft is a great choice. Made from a durable fibreglass material with a spinning reel and featuring a comfortable handle that ensures a good grip, it's the perfect rod for a beginner fisher.
Shakespeare Pro Touch 6500 6ft 6 inch 4-8kg Medium 2 Piece Boat Combo
Price: $60.00
The Shakespeare Pro Touch 6500 6ft 6 inch 4-8kg Medium 2 Piece Boat Combo is perfect if you're looking for a smaller but durable inland fishing rod. Featuring power glass blank construction, Pro Touch 1 bearing reel, and a modern matt cosmetic finish. It even comes pre spooled with quality mono line so you can get started fishing faster!
Fishing Line
If your fishing rod doesn't come with fishing line, then that's the next step on your fishing journey! Depending on what type of fishing you're going to be doing, you will want to consider aspects such as stretchiness, sensitivity, thickness, and strength of the line.
Beach Fishing Lines
For beach fishing, a braided line is the most common choice. This is because braided lines typically have almost no stretch, which makes it easier to feel when you've got a bite. Braid is also much thinner than monofilament line, which means you can pack more line onto a reel and it cuts through wind and water so your casts can go further out into the ocean.
Berkley Braid 30lb 150m
Price: $18.00
The Berkley Braid 30lb 150m line is a great choice for beach fishing. With a thinner diameter for a higher breaking strain and enhanced sensitivity, you will not only be able to feel the fish biting through the ocean currents and waves but reel them in without the worry of your line breaking. Coloured in a high visibility fluorescent yellow, it's a great choice for beginners to keep track of where their line is cast and to notice any tugs or pulls.
Inland Fishing Lines
Inland fishing allows for a bit more flexibility when it comes to what line you use. Fluorocarbon, monofilament, and even braided line are all valid choices. But for simplicity, we'll recommend using a monofilament line for its versatility and ease of handling. It's also less visible to fish.
Maxistrike Fishing Nylon 40lb 283m
Price:$10.00
The Maxistrike Fishing Nylon 40lb 283m line is a great choice for inland fishing. The high quality nylon material offers great abrasion resistant for better handling. Available in clear pigment for better camouflage or in a hi-vis green pigment to ensure you don't lose track of your line.
Fishing Hooks
One of the most important parts of your fishing rode aside from the line and the rod itself, the hook! You can be a little more general when it comes to the hook as beach fishing and inland fishing don't require a specific type of hook. If you do want to go more granular, look for a bigger and heaver hook for beach fishing and a smaller lighter one for inland fishing.
Maxistrike Fishing Hooks Mutsu 70 Piece
Price: $25.00
The Maxistrike Fishing Hooks Mutsu 70 Piece set has everything you need to get started. Containing an assortment of hooks of different sizes and weights, made from high quality carbon steel and coming with its own plastic tackle box, it's a great pick up for a first timer.
Fishing Bait & Lures
The final thing that you absolutely need before heading out fishing is knowing what type of bait or lure you are going to be using. For beach fishing, it's best to use a salty bait, typically shrimp or squid. For inland fishing, you can use colourful lures that are designed to look like natural prey for the fish you're looking to catch. Fortunately, we stock both at the Warehouse!
Berkley Gulp! Soft Bait Squid New Penny 6 Inch
Price: $15.00
If you're looking for a squid based bait for beach fishing then the Berkly Gulp! Soft Bait Squid New Penny 6 Inch is a great choice! An environmentally friendly choice, due to not containing any plastic, this bait has an extreme scent dispersion, increasing the range at which fish can detect your bait. It's a solid pick up for any beach fishing.
Maxistrike Toby Lure Value Pack
Price: $30.00
Toby lures are some of the best-selling lures worldwide due to their effectiveness when targeting fresh and saltwater species. That's why the Maxistrike Toby Lure Value Pack is a great pick up if you're looking for some lures to go inland fishing with. Each lure in this 5 pack is fitted with a swivel, split ring, and hook, providing versatility in how you can manipulate the lure to attract the most catches.
Wrap Up
When you're just starting out fishing, it can be overwhelming looking at all the different choices of rods, lines, hooks, and baits. Fortunately, you can ask yourself if you're looking to go beach fishing or inland fishing to refine your choices.
For beach fishing, you will want bigger and stronger rods, braid lines for better strength and sensitivity, bigger hooks for more strength catching saltwater fish, and salty squid or shrimp based bait. bait , tackle, & accessories. fish smokers.
For inland fishing, you will want a smaller rod, a monofilament nylon line for better control and camouflage, smaller hooks, and a colourful lure to imitate prey of freshwater fish. reels & rods. fishing & hunting clothing.
Get your fishing journey started at the Warehouse! We have a wide range of bait, tackle & accessories, fish smokers, reels & rods, and fishing & hunting clothing to make sure you're covered on the water!