Of the more than 4 million fishermen in our country, the majority are those who love to fish for silversides. Its abundance in rivers, seas, dams and lagoons, added to the deliciousness of its meat, makes it a highly sought after target. But the passion for fishing them is also explained by the fact that it takes us back to our first attempts at fishing, those where a simple sinking buoy filled us with emotion as children Fishing charter Florida keys.

That is why we are going to give the beginner some suggestions to take into account to practice exciting fishing.

The silverside can be caught floating or on the bottom, but also in mid-water, with tackle that works vertically, covering the entire water column.

To fish them afloat, long, light rods are used, either telescopic (with sections that are inserted into the base of the rod) or plug-in sections. When fishing afloat we do it with the rod in hand, so it is important that these rods, which can reach up to 4.50 meters, are made of light materials such as carbon or graphite. The length of the rod is explained because we have to handle rigs with several buoys separated from each other, which can be spherical, or in other formats such as kite, sucker, teardrop, etc. but always taking into account that the total length of the line does not exceed the included between the tip of the rod and the reel. This will make it easier to handle when fishing. If we fish in lagoons or Río de la Plata, letting the current move the buoys away from our position, they must have their thick part pointing in the opposite direction to the fisherman, and we will not need a driving pointer (it is a heavier buoy) because The current of the water itself will cause the rig to move away.

If, on the other hand, we fish on docks or coasts where we have to get the line to reach a certain point, we place a heavy pointer, made of silicone or wood, to ensure that its weight drags the line when casting to where we want or as far as possible from our position. And the buoys will have their thick part facing us. The hooks can hang from the same buoys if they are in yo-yo format (those that have a channel to reel them in), or hang from rotating rotors that we will fix between beads in front of the buoy. It should be noted that the silverside can eat at different depths, so we will carry different lengths of line in a line holder to change according to performance. A good start could be – with a line of 4 hooks – trying the first one (the one closest to the fisherman) at 30, the second at 25, the third at 20 and the fourth at 10 cm. As we have bites, we adjust the others to the most profitable depth.

Do I load the reel with multifilament or line? Today, multifiber has proven to be a superior element that solves many problems for the fisherman: its buoyancy means that we do not have to put silicone on the line as happens with fishing lines, which if not done, sink and harm our dive by having a bite. And the resistance of multifilament is much higher than that of line. Except for fishing in rock situations that cause cuts, multifilament will solve most fishing situations. And it should not be too fine for the newcomer, because each tangle will be very difficult to resolve. A diameter between 20 and 25 pounds will be fine.

What size reel to buy? To fish in areas where we will let the buoys drift far away, a size 4000, while for fishing in rivers or lagoons where we will have the fishing closer, a size 2500 will be well covered.

And the hooks? Since the silverside is not a toothed and powerful species, fine hooks and nailers will be highly recommended to connect with the fish with a simple flick of the wrist. Additionally, these thin hooks will not destroy baits, which are usually small live fish, such as crappies. But that, that is another topic that we will touch on later.

If, on the other hand, we are going to fish for silversides on the bottom - as often happens when searching for the species from the shore in the Río de la Plata or in sea fishing - here the equipment will have to be reinforced, since it will be necessary to insert a sinker at a good distance and with certainty. weight so that the current does not drag our gear. Remember that “a line that walks, does not fish.” Then, casting or medium casting equipment will be recommended, taking into account the indications that come on the rod regarding the weights it supports when casting. And as for the line, one with two hooks well separated and very long branches (80 cm) or three 60 cm is recommended. We can put a lifting buoy on the final carabiner of the line, if we want to separate the upper branches from the bottom. And finally, if we want to fish in the middle of the water, we can use a paternoster-type line, that is, a line with a single adjustable buoy on a mother line with three branches and a sinker below so that it works vertically, covering either all or one much of the water column. It is an ideal rig for fishing in dikes or deep lagoons, or also when the silverside is at anchor.

Fishing charter Florida keys