In freshwater, there is a saying, “wood is good.” For freshwater anglers, what this means is that structure holds fish. Now, in saltwater, we don’t have that much wood, but we do have a lot of structure. And structure holds fish just as effectively in saltwater as it does in freshwater. If you can find the structure, you will find the fish, almost without exception. With that...

Rapala’s X-Rap is one of the most successful and effective saltwater jerkbaits of all time. The realism of the plug is unparalleled, with lifelike eyes, scales, and even a lateral line, and for surfcasters, the thing casts like a bullet. And when it comes down to catching fish, the Rapala X-Rap is no slouch, either. That said, you need to know how to work it, and an X-Rap is your friend...

There are many species of grouper that are commercial and recreational targets; red grouper are among the most popular, but there are sport fishermen that also target black and gag grouper. Some anglers also love the fight of the goliath grouper, one of the most powerful of all wreck fish. Grouper jig fishing as a specific discipline, specifically slow-pitch jigging for grouper, has increased...

Purists and traditionalists will go off the deep end when they hear about electric reels. For some fishermen, electric anything is an abomination (unless, of course, it’s a trolling motor or a fish finder. Then they are strangely silent). With that said, there is a time and place for an electric fishing reel, especially in saltwater. Here are a few redeeming attributes of electric...

Black sea bass are among the Northeast’s most popular summer gamefish, but despite this, slow pitch jigging was practically unheard of in the Northeast till just a few years ago. Even though it’s new on the scene, those who have combined slow pitch tactics with their pursuit of black sea bass have been largely met with success. This short guide should help get you started on the...