This is the business end of the tackle bag: ready-tied rigs, traces, hooks and the storage that keeps them tidy. If a rig label reads like another language, the fishing jargon buster explains snoods, booms and clips before you buy.
Which sea fishing rig?
- Two-hook flapper rig (Zebco Magic Shore Rig 4, size 1/0 hooks): the all-round choice among beach fishing rigs, for mixed fish from the shore or a boat.
- Flatfish rig (Zebco Magic Flatty Rig 6): a UV flatfish rig for plaice, dab and flounder over clean sand.
- Three-hook arm rig (Zebco Arm Rig 2): side arms hold each hook length away from the main line.
- Cod boat rig (Zebco Cod Boat Rig 2): a natural-bait rig for cod fishing afloat.
- Luminous sea trace (SeaTech Fatboy Lumi): three 6/0 hooks with luminous Hokkai-style lures, for cod and pollock from a boat.
Sea fishing hooks, spares and tackle sets
Keep spare treble hooks for lures, in size 2 and size 6. The Fladen terminal tackle set puts more than 500 pieces in one box, while the bottom fishing kit and float fishing kit are simple starting points for one method each.
Keep rigs tidy and dry
A rig wallet with ten grip-seal pouches stops hook lengths tangling, and the Quantum waterproof tackle box keeps hooks and swivels dry between trips. Salt rusts hooks quickly, so dry anything that got wet before you put it away.
Learn the rigs first
New to sea fishing? Sea fishing rigs for beginners explains which rig to tie on for each kind of fishing, bottom fishing explained covers working baits on the seabed, and fishing from a beach helps you read the sand and tide. When the fish want something moving, try our sea fishing lures.
Frequently asked questions
- What terminal tackle do I need for beach fishing?
- A ready-tied rig such as a two-hook flapper, a lead heavy enough to hold bottom in the tide, and spare hooks and swivels. A rig wallet and a waterproof box keep it tidy between trips.
- What is a flapper rig?
- A flapper rig has short hook lengths that hang from the rig body above the lead, so the baits move in the tide. A two-hook flapper is the standard all-round rig for mixed fish from a beach.
- Which rig should I use for flatfish?
- A flatfish rig with small hooks and attractors, fished over clean sand, suits plaice, dab and flounder. The Zebco Magic Flatty Rig 6 is tied for this, from the beach or a boat.
- Are ready-tied rigs better than tying my own?
- Ready-tied rigs are quick and consistent, which helps when you are learning or fishing in the cold. Tying your own costs less over time and lets you change hook sizes and lengths.
- Do I need a shock leader?
- If you cast a heavy lead hard from a beach, yes. A common rule of thumb is 10lb of shock leader for every 1oz of lead, so it takes the strain of the cast instead of your main line.
