The concept of fly fishing generally brings up images of running mountain creeks or gentle rivers and streams as the fisher waits for that first strike. But one of the last thinks most people visualize is when they hear about fly fishing is the ocean.

However, saltwater fly fishing has become highly popular over the past two decades, and is now a favorite of many fishers.

Saltwater fly fishing is done with heavier harness and generally with moist flies that will look like a local bait fish. Another common technique is to fish utilizing surface lures, which are just like the same type of lures utilized for bass fishing, though these are much bigger to entice the bigger saltwater fish.

There are different kinds of fish that saltwater fly anglers can go after, including tuna, bonefish, sailfish, striped bass, tarpon, salmon and also marlin. Moreover, saltwater fly fishing looks a bit different than regular freshwater fly fishing.

Saltwater fishing does look quite different than other types of fly fishing, and anyone trying this for the first time should be aware of it. The equipment is different, also, adjusting accordingly with the fish that are being coveted. Freshwater fly rods and reel won’t hold up against a marlin or tuna. Saltwater reels should be bigger, heavier and more resistant to corrosion due to salt.  Some of the best saltwater reels may cost hundreds of dollars or even more for the leading line models.

To go for saltwater fishing, smaller species like striped bass or bonefish can be caught from the shore, while fishing for bigger saltwater prizes will need a boat. Going deeper with a boat is also addressed as deep water flies fishing, and is the less popular of the two techniques of saltwater fishing. The other conventional method is to fish from the shore, which looks much like the freshwater version, is technically referred to as inshore fly fishing.

Although saltwater fishing hasn’t come close to the popularity of its freshwater version, the popularity of this sport has exploded over the last two decades and keeps on growing as more and more fishers love the joy in this type of fishing. As more and more people keep on moving to the coasts, this sport will keep on continuing the catch and keep gaining popularity.

Saltwater and freshwater fly fishing start by covering the hook area of the fly fishing combo with feathers and animal fur to make it look like a water insect, such as a caddis fly, stonefly, or mayfly.  Flies are generally quite light and due to this, they can’t be cast in the standard fishing style. With saltwater fishing, the fly rod casts a heavy line and not a heavy sinker. The heavy line forcibly pulls the fly to its destination. Regardless of the reason, an afternoon saltwater fishing can be entertaining and unwinding also.