What is Handline Fishing?
Handlining is essentially fishing by hand, utilizing just a line, bait, and hooks to catch fish. Aside from techniques like noodling or spearfishing, it's one of the most fundamental and traditional fishing methods practiced globally. The simplicity of the gear makes it easy to travel with while still enabling anglers to catch nearly everything they would with a rod and reel.
Benefits of Handline Fishing:
One of the key benefits of handlining is its straightforward tackle, which makes it affordable and easy to repair. Additionally, the basic nature of the gear results in lower initial costs. A less obvious perk is that you can handline while on the move to and from fishing locations without the hassle of managing long lengths of line.
When using a fishing rod, the line is elevated, causing trolling lures to bounce and dive more erratically in the waves, especially with a bending rod that adds to the chaos. In contrast, handlining allows lures to glide smoothly along the water's surface due to the lower angle of the line and the absence of springiness.
In conventional trolling, when a fish bites and pulls out line, the captain typically has to slow down or stop the boat. However, with handlining, this isn't necessary. Offshore handline setups often use 200-300 lb test fishing line, which is strong enough to prevent most fish from breaking off. This means you can continue to fight and land fish by hand without needing to slow down, allowing just one person to keep an eye on the line.
The all-important snubber - essential for an offshore trolling handline.
Artwork by Andrew Simpson
This is an essential addition to any trolling handline. The 'snubber' is the bungee cord; it acts as a shock absorber and will prevent the fish from tearing itself free of the hook when it first realises it's in a spot of bother. It also lets you know when you've got a fish. If it's fully extended, get pulling!
Sailboat Cruising
