Equipment

• Although there are several deep-sea fishing methods, they all require equipment specially designed for ocean fishing trips. Along with the poles, the boat should come with a gaff, which is basically a pole with a large hook at the end. This is for pulling in large fish from the side of the boat. Flying gaffs are for very large fish such as sharks and tunas; rather than a hook, they have a rope at the end that allows you to pull the fish in from the water. Some boats have fighting chairs attached to the deck which allow you to stay anchored to the boat while reeling in large fish that are difficult to handle.
  
  

Trolling

• Some boats are made especially for trolling---a deep saltwater fishing technique that involves dragging bait or lure behind a moving boat. Look for boats that have rod holders attached at the stern or gunwales of the boat angled to give you a free hand to maneuver the boat while fishing. If trolling for marlin, swordfish or sailfish, consider boats with poles called outriggers built perpendicular to the side of the boat. A line clip controls the bait and lures off the side of the boat and prevents them from tangling. When trolling, the boat must be kept at a constant speed of 6 knots.
  
  

Bottom Fishing

• Unlike trolling, bottom fishing requires you to keep the boat stationary while your bait and lures sit on the ocean floor. As such, where you anchor is very important if you're going to catch any fish because you're limited to fishing at that one particular spot. Use fishing maps, fish finders and GPS coordinates to help determine the location of the fish you want to catch. This method is often used to catch blackfish, sea bass, porgies, cod, mackerel and whiting, among others.
  
  

Drifting

• The drifting method is like a cross between trolling and bottom fishing. Rather than using the motor, the boat is allowed to drift with the current. To try this method of deep saltwater fishing, anchor your boat in an area where there's a concentration of fish, and have enough line that will allow the boat to continually drift over the area. You can either set the lures and baits at the bottom of the ocean floor or at midlevels, depending on what you're trying to catch.