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Deep sea fishing is an exciting experience, where you're far out in the ocean and it's just you, the boat, and the fish. There are lots of deep sea fishing grounds scattered around the world's oceans. If you're keen to give it a try, a deep sea fishing excursion is probably best done through a charter.

The equipment used for deep sea fishing is quite specific, and needs to be very heavy duty, including the rods and reels. A single reel needs to hold as much as 300 yards of line, and the line will need to be between 12 and 30 pound-test, according the fish species youre targeting. If you're inexperienced, it's best if you use the 30-pound test-line. More skilled anglers will find a 12 pound-test line a great deal more challenging. It's also important to make sure your rod, reel and line are all balanced in size. Your hook should be sized between 3.0 and 6.0. You should tie your leaders to a double line, and they need to be between 10 and 15 feet long. They should also be between 30 and 50 pound-test.

One of the best things about deep sea fishing is the huge range of fish you can target, including cod, haddock, wolf fish, Pollock, halibut, tuna, cusk, shark, swordfish, sailfish, marlin, rockfish, dorado and wahoo. If you want a good all round bait for deep sea fishing, then use live ballyhoo. Some of the larger baits you might like to try include speedos, googleyes, blue runners, cut bait, dead bait rigs and lures, although live bait is usually considered the best. You should always aim to present your fish with natural prey when you're choosing your bait. So for the best bait, use smaller fish like herring, pilchards, sand perch, threadfin, lugworms, mackerel, hermit crabs, mussels, squid, shrimp, mullets and sandeel. Kingfish, snapper, grouper, tuna and wahoo will all eagerly take these baits.

Always make sure you have your baits prepared before applying sunscreen, or else make sure you've washed your hands with non-scented soap and water first. It's important to minimize handling of the baits, and try to only use good quality bait. Avoid bait with scales missing or that had red spots around the nose. If you want to save yourself some money, you can often find good deep sea fishing baits around fishing cleaning tables, bridges, markers and docks. Keep an eye on the seabirds and you'll get a clue where to find bait. If they've found bait, they fly in tight circles and dive down to get it. Pelicans that dive and immediately lift their heads have found herring or pilchards.

When it comes to gear, your destination plays a big part in determining what you need. One thing is standard though - take rain gear to protect yourself in inclement weather. Always ask the charter company what you should bring when you first book the deep sea fishing excursion. Quite often they'll give you a list, which makes it easier to remember everything you need.

It's a good idea to ask around for referrals when choosing a charter company. Make sure they have the proper permits and insurance, and are well respected. It's best if they have been licensed for at least two years, and check their references. If at any stage they seem reluctant to provide credentials, move on. Don't feel embarrassed to ask for proof of insurance, licensing and bonds. Also make sure they have sufficient safety equipment and are fully bondable.

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