Types of fishing

Every listing on Reelzy says what kind of water the captain fishes. That tells you how far the boat runs, how much the sea will move and which fish are likely. Here is what each type means, with a page for each one that lists the boats. For the methods used once you are there, see Fishing techniques.

Inshore and nearshore

Fishing along the coast, in bays, lagoons and over the ground within sight of land. The runs are short and the water is usually calmer, so it suits families, beginners and shorter trips. Expect bass, bream, mackerel and other coastal fish in Europe, and trevally, snapper and small game in the tropics. See inshore charters.

Offshore and deep sea

Out into deep blue water, away from the coast, for the big open water fish: marlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi. In Mauritius the deep water starts a short run outside the reef, while elsewhere the run can take longer. The sea moves more out there, so read up on seasickness if you are prone to it. See offshore charters.

Reefs

Coral or rocky reefs hold a lot of fish in a small area: snapper, grouper, emperor, trevally and amberjack, depending on the ocean. Reef trips are mostly bottom fishing, jigging and casting along the edges, and there is usually something biting. See reef fishing charters.

Wrecks

Sunken ships gather fish around them, from conger and pollack in the English Channel to amberjack and snapper in warmer seas. The skipper drifts or anchors over the wreck, and losing some tackle on it is part of the day. See wreck fishing charters.

Banks and rough ground

Sandbanks and broken, rocky seabed closer to the coast. In Britain this is where bass, rays, smoothhound and codling are found, and it is the fallback on days when the sea is too rough to go further out. See charters over banks and rough ground.

Flats

Shallow, clear water over sand or seagrass, where you see the fish before you cast to it. It is quiet, careful fishing with light tackle or a fly, and boats in the Seychelles and Malta list it. See flats fishing charters.

Backcountry

Mangroves, estuaries and canals, sheltered from the wind. On Reelzy this is the Florida backcountry on the edge of the Everglades, fished with light tackle and fly gear for snook, tarpon and other fish of the canals. See backcountry charters.

Lakes and rivers

Freshwater fishing on lakes and rivers is a world of its own, but the boats on Reelzy fish the sea and the Florida backcountry, so there are no lake or river trips at the moment. If you are not sure which water suits your group, message the captain from the listing page: say who is coming and what you hope to catch.