If you're planning a deep sea fishing charter trip, understanding how to set the hook, bait your line, and jig your lure can make the difference between catching big fish and watching other anglers catch the fish.

Here are some basic things to remember when you book deep sea fishing charter trips.

Bait Your Line

Although most deep sea fishing charter boats have plenty of deckhands, having to wait for some else to bait your line can be frustrating and gobble up fishing time. 

• Live Bait: If you're using live bait on your deep sea charter fishing trip, your goal should be keeping your bait on the hook, while also keeping it alive. For most varieties of bait fish, this means hooking the bait through bone or cartilage without piercing an organ. It's generally recommended to hook bait fish through the nose or at the base of the tail. Both of these spots provide secure hook sets, but will also allow the bait to swim freely. If you hook your bait through the nose, the fish will swim more naturally, however, the tension on the line can make them swim toward the surface. Hooking the bait through the tail will make them swim more erratically, while also swimming away from the surface.

Jigging for Big Fish

Deep sea fishing charter trips typically involve dropping baits over wrecks, reefs, and other submerged structures. 

• Depth Test: Most predatory fish feed in schools. Locating the schools is about location and water column depth. Although the best deep sea fishing charters will take you to the right spot, you might need to pinpoint the depth with a little trial and error. Begin dropping one bait to the bottom, drop another bait (on your second rod to the bottom) as well. Once both baits are in place, begin slowly reeling one rod up, pausing every few seconds. If you get a bite as your reeling your bait up, you might have located the fish. If, however, the bait on the bottom gets more bites, you'll know they're pinned to the structure.

Setting the Hook

The most exciting part of any deep sea fishing charter trip is feeling a tug at the end of your line.

• Go Easy: When many anglers feel that magical tug at the end of their line, they yank back aggressively. This instinct can actually rip the hook out of the fish's mouth instead of pinning it in place. Instead of yanking, try reeling as you would normally.  

To learn more, contact a company like RAZORS EDGE FISHING CHARTERS.