Tips for Sight Fishing

You want to catch more cobia like this? You enjoy sight fishing more than any other form of angling? We’re with ya – and these five tips will help make you a more effective sight-caster.

Sight casting to fish like this cobia is an absolute blast!

1. Stay on top of tackle maintenance, particularly when it comes to fishing line and reels. Making sure your reel is fully spooled up, has no knots, and that your reel is functioning at optimum performance levels will help you make those long, accurate casts that lead to striking fish.
2. Don’t go too light. We all like to minimize the weight of jig heads, cast light wobbling spoons, and offer lure sizes that match the hatch. But when sight casting if you choose an offering that’s too light you won’t be able to reach your targets. This is uber-important when casting into a breeze, which can cut your effective casting distance significantly.
3. Gain some elevation. The higher you are, the better you’ll see fish. If you have a half-tower, you’re all set. If not, consider stepping up on a gunwale and holding the T-top for support, or getting up onto an elevated casting deck. Every extra foot counts.
4. Don’t cheap-out when it comes to your sunglasses. Polarization is a must, and the clearer your gaze, the more you’ll be able to pick out subtle color changes and bronze backs.
5. Keep multiple rods rigged with different offerings handy at all times. When you spot a fish, you’ll rarely have it in sight for long. Certainly not long enough to clip off a lure, re-tie, and try something else. But if you can just reach for a different rod, you may get another shot at fooling that fish.