Any good angler will tell you that to catch a big fish, you need to first decide where and for what you’re fishing. The place you’re fishing and the fish you want to catch determines the bait you use and the hook. Obviously, you won’t catch any fish if you’re using the wrong bait or the wrong hook.
What are the Biggest Fish
You won’t catch a big fish if you’re only fishing for trout and bluegill. First, decide what fish you want to catch and then pick bait and hook appropriate for your quarry.
- White Sturgeon: The largest freshwater fish in North America, they can reach over 20 feet long.
- Grouper: Range from New England to Texas, a classic bottom fish for anglers.
- Alligator Gar: In the Mississippi River, coastal southeast US, you’ll find the largest in Texas rivers.
- Bull Shark: Live in both fresh and saltwater and travel up the Mississippi as far as St. Louis
These are just a few of the big fish in the world, depending on where you travel, you’ll find even bigger fish.
Where to Catch Big Fish
There are places all over the world where you can catch a big fish. These are a few places that might be difficult to get to, but have some of the biggest fish in the world.
- Lake Athabasca, Saskatchewan: Find up to 60 lb lake trout in this remote location.
- Pyramid Lake, Nevada: Catch cutthroat trout up to 30 lbs.
- Puerto Rico: Tarpon can reach weights of up to 200 lbs here.
- Kobuk River, Alaska: The largest sea fish in Alaska are here, up to 60 lbs.
- Amazon Headwaters, Columbia: Peacock bass grow to 30 lbs here.
Finding big fish requires going off the beaten path. You need to fish in places where fish can mature to larger sizes than in overfished water.
What is the Best Bait to Catch Big Fish?
Different fish prefer different bait, and you may find a winning combination of bait/hook/line not on this list.
- Squid, smelt & herring dead bait: Good for sturgeon.
- Grunt and sardines live bait: Best bait for catching grouper.
- Mullet, with scales removed: Popular for catching alligator gar.
Can You Catch Big Fish with Small Hooks?
You can catch a big fish with a small hook, but you can’t catch small fish with big hooks. When picking a fishing hook, you need to understand the hook scale.
- Hooks with straight numbers (1,2,3,… etc.)decrease in size as the number increases: a size 15 hook is smaller than a size 5 hook.
- Hooks with a /0 after the number (1/0, 2/0, 3/0… etc.)increase in size as the number increases: a 1/0 is smaller than a 7/0.
More important than the size of the hook is the type of hook. Circle hooks are the most popular and should be your go-to hook in most situations. J-hooks are the best hook for using live bait when fishing from a moving boat.
Tips for Catching Big Fish
Fish for specific fish, and use the right bait, hook, and line for that fish. When traveling to new and exotic locations, consider using fishing guides for the best experience possible. Use patience and stay confident whenever your line is in the water.
