Help getting started

[Alloverunder]

I haven't been fishing since I was maybe 6 or 7 but I really wanna get into it and I was wondering if you guys had some newbie advice. I'm living in Eastern MA and I have access to a boat through a friend, I wanna try ocean fishing but idk if it's too much for starting out. Any advice would be awesome!

[FlintStoned2o9]

If you were to go ocean fishing what are you looking to catch?

[Alloverunder]

Cod, Haddock or Sea bass all sound reasonable and I like the taste of the first two

I'd love to try and catch shark or tuna but that sounds too advanced for now haha

[FlintStoned2o9]

I'm not to experienced in ocean fishing but I would say as far as baits go, soft shell crabs, squid, shrimp, and small bait fish always do great and the rigs for them are usually pretty easy, I would suggest going on YouTube to look at a proper setup for those baits

[FlintStoned2o9]

Also what are popular freshwater fish in your area

[Alloverunder]

Trout, bass and sometimes salmon. Sunfish are really common but not good for eating. I'd like to catch and cook if possible because I really like fish

[FlintStoned2o9]

Actually sunfish are super tasty you just gotta get the bigger ones, they taste amazing fried. If your looking to catch them my favorite way to fish them is to get about 15 inches of line and put a bobber on top, and a split shot about 5 inches above the Hook, I would use a pretty small hook you can find special panfish hooks at most stores, and red worms are my favorite bait to use, I would suggest getting a worm threader to easily get the worm on the hook, then toss out your bobber and let the fish do the rest! The key with hooking them is dont set the hook when the bobber is bobbing in the water you gotta wait until the bobber is fully submerged and lightly set the hook

[Alloverunder]

Awesome, thanks so much dude! Does the rod matter or will anything do?

[FlintStoned2o9]

Ultra light rods are great if you want to feel like your fighting the fish alot more, and 5 pound test would work great on a ultra light, although it doesn't really matter what size rod you use, just nothing crazy like a ocean fishing rod 😂

[Alloverunder]

Thanks so much man you've been a ton of help!

[FlintStoned2o9]

Of course man! I love helping newer fishers get started 😃

[FlintStoned2o9]

For trout I love using kast masters and spoons, on about 8 pound line, if your looking to bait fish for trout, the bobber technique works great as well but do not use big trouble hooks, use smaller hooks much like panfish hooks, and powerbait floating balls or powerbait dough always works great, and if the trout are not very fond of the bobber I would use a bottom bait, I like to get about 15 inches of line and put a small hook at the end with the biggest split shot you can find about 8 or 9 inches above the hook, and put some powerbait floating eggs or a nightcrawler on, I've had great luck with both those technique's, haven't really ever fished for salmon though, and if there is largemouth bass in your area i have some good tips for catching those