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Saltwater fishing is as diverse as fishing gets. The ocean is big, filled with thousands of species and multiple environments, making fishing very challenging.
There are so many alternative techniques and tactics one needs to understand to catch multiple species that knowing where to start is challenging. But, with the right book, life will be much easier as they take you through everything you need to know.
Join me as we look at the must-read books on saltwater fishing so you can find the one that suits your skills and environment the best.
If you are looking for other categories of fishing books, check out the links below for the type of fishing book you are interested in.
Our selection of Carp Fishing Books
Our selection of Coarse Fishing Books
Our selection of Fly Fishing Books
Our selection of Bass Fishing Books
Our Best Books On Saltwater Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing Made Easy
- The Complete Book of Saltwater Fishing
- Inshore Fishing: A Guide to Baits, Lures, Tackle, and Targeting Saltwater Species
- Offshore Pursuit: A Complete Guide to Blue-water Sport Fishing
- The Complete Guide to Saltwater Fishing: How to Catch Striped Bass, Sharks, Tuna, Salmon, Ling Cod, and More
Saltwater Fishing Made Easy
Whether you are new to saltwater fishing or are a seasoned pro, “Saltwater Fishing Made Easy” is packed full of valuable information you will want to know.
With over 368 pages that cover how to catch 75 different species, a range of saltwater fishing techniques, knots, and lots more, this is a one-stop guide for everything saltwater fishing!
Whether you want to learn how to fly fish in saltwater, or improve your surf fishing, trolling, jigging, or chumming, it is covered in this book. It will also teach you about tackle choice and rigs and even goes into such details about line color and what fish can see.
You’ll also find the 13 most useful saltwater fishing knots in this book, all equipped with diagrams and step-by-step instructions that make them easy to learn.
Overall, this is a book that all saltwater anglers should own, as no matter what question you have about saltwater fishing, chances are it is answered here.
Pros
- Great for beginners and experienced anglers
- Packed full of a lot of useful information
- Covers a large range of tactics from fly fishing to surf fishing
- An in-depth guide on how to catch 75 different species
- Great info on different saltwater tackle and baits
- Step-by-step instructions for saltwater knots
- Includes cleaning, scaling, and fileting your catch
Cons
- The focus is on North American Atlantic species only
Specs
Author: Martin Pollizotto
Pages: 368
Type: Paperback
Kindle Availability: Yes
The Complete Book of Saltwater Fishing
“The Complete Book of Saltwater Fishing” provides a general overview of saltwater fishing.
The book covers how to catch the 50 top species of saltwater gamefish and what tackle, bait, and lures to use. This is great information for anyone wanting to branch out and tick a new species off their bucket list.
You will also find a wealth of knowledge around conservation and hope to protect fisheries, and there is even a decade section on how best to introduce kids to saltwater fishing too.
This book is beautifully written and features stunning photographs. It is very easy to read and gather all you need from it in the process.
It is not a book for beginners, as it doesn’t break down the basics step by step; it isn’t quite for pros either, as the information is more general than detailed, but it is still full of valuable saltwater fishing knowledge.
Pros
- Great for an all-around view of saltwater fishing
- Covers the 50 top species of saltwater gamefish and how to catch them
- Looks at tackle, lures, bait, and how best to use them
- Discusses conservation issues and how to help as an angler
- Includes good recipes for cooking your catch
- Looks at how to introduce kids to saltwater
- Filled with lovely photographs and diagrams
- Very well written
Cons
- It doesn’t have step-by-step instructions for beginners
- Quite general information
Specs
Author: Milt Rosko
Pages: 288
Type: Paperback
Kindle Availability: Yes
Inshore Fishing: A Guide to Baits, Lures, Tackle, and Targeting Saltwater Species
If you want to start taking inshore fishing seriously, then the book “Inshore Fishing: A Guide to Baits, Lures, Tackle, and Targeting Saltwater Species” is an excellent place to start.
This book is geared more towards beginners in the world of inshore fishing and will get you started catching the plethora of inshore species found around the US. Whether it is redfish, bonefish, tarpon, or other inshore species, this book has you covered.
It has great information about what tackle to use for each species, from rods and reels to bait and lure choices. You will also learn about tides and seasons and how they affect each species’ movements so you can find them more consistently.
The book is well-written, lovely, and great for anyone wanting to start inshore fishing.
Pros
- A deep focus on inshore fishing
- It takes you through the tackle basics for inshore fishing
- It covers most inshore species and how to catch them
- Looks at baits, lures and when to use them
- Includes information on tides and how they affect inshore fishing
- Fun and easy to read
- Good for beginners
Cons
- A bit basic for experienced inshore anglers
Specs
Author: Chris Lutz
Pages: 152
Type: Paperback
Kindle Availability: Yes
Offshore Pursuit: A Complete Guide to Blue-water Sport Fishing
If you are about pursuing the world’s biggest fish in the deep blue sea, then “Offshore Pursuit: A Complete Guide to Blue-water Sport Fishing” is a book that will make your life easier.
Written by John Unkart, a guru in the offshore world, this book covers everything you need to know about finding, catching, and landing some of the most exciting species on the planet, such as marlin and broadbill.
You will learn about multiple techniques, such as chumming, deep dropping, and different trolling methods, which lures work in which spreads and for what species, as well as everything you need to know about how to rig your tackle to fight these offshore sea monsters!
Not only does this book teach you how to hook these fish, but it also teaches you how to land them. Offshore fishing is a team game to land a big fish; the captain, crew, and angler must be in sync to get it done.
Overall, this is the perfect go-to sportfishing book for anyone looking to learn pretty much everything there is to know about offshore fishing.
Pros
- A deep focus on offshore fishing
- Great detail on all the pelagic species
- Excellent sections on finding fish
- Covers rigging techniques
- Teaches you how to fight offshore giants
- Valuable information on tactics like deep dropping
- Awesome information on rigging
Cons
- Only about offshore fishing
Specs
Author: John Unkart
Pages: 232
Type: Paperback
Kindle Availability: Yes
The Complete Guide to Saltwater Fishing: How to Catch Striped Bass, Sharks, Tuna, Salmon, Ling, Cod, and More
“The Complete Guide to Saltwater Fishing: How to Catch Striped Bass, Sharks, Tuna, Salmon, Ling, Cod, and More” really is a complete guide.
In his book, Al Ristori takes us through everything one could want to know about saltwater fishing with no stone unturned.
You will find information on over 125 saltwater species, from billfish to striped bass. It covers all environments, from estuaries to inshore and offshore, and everything else you need to know to catch them.
The multiple chapters cover which rod and reels to use, discusses terminal tackle in detail, looks at different rigs for different species, and the knots you’ll need to know, and more.
You can also learn about both conventional and fly fishing techniques, boats and electronics, how to fish tournaments, and a lot about marine conservation too!
It is a lovely book to read, written in a down-to-earth style, and easy to learn from. If there is one guide to saltwater fishing to own, it is this one!
Pros
- It covers every aspect of saltwater fishing
- Everything from offshore to inshore, estuaries, and more is featured
- Information on 125 species and how to catch them
- A deep look at rods, reels, tackle, knots, and rigging
- Includes both conventional fishing and fly fishing techniques
- Valuable info on marine conservation
- Insights into tournament fishing
- Great detail on boats and electronics
- Down to earth
- Good for beginners and experienced anglers
Cons
- None
Specs
Author: Al Ristori
Pages: 192
Type: Paperback, Hardcover
Kindle Availability: Yes
Turning Over
Thank you very much for reading my article. I hope you found it useful and have found the best books on saltwater fishing for your needs.
The world of saltwater fishing is big, and you will want to choose a book that either covers it all or focuses more specifically on inshore and offshore fishing.
You can read more on different types of fishing books. Check out the below links for the top reads in fishing books.
Our selection of Carp Fishing Books
Our selection of Coarse Fishing Books
Our selection of Fly Fishing Books
Our selection of Bass Fishing Books
- How To Fish For Flounders: Tips, Rigs, & Baits - March 27, 2024
- Seeing Clearly: Why Anglers Should Buy Fortis Wraps Fishing Sunglasses - January 25, 2024
- Night Fishing Preparation: 9 Top Tips For A Successful Outing - November 29, 2022
