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Faced with the huge selection of tackle that is available it can be quite hard to know where to start. Many anglers spend entire lifetimes trying out various different tackle combinations. I can tell you this, you don’t need to spend a fortune on tackle. Knowledge of the venue, tides , target species and bait are far more important than the latest new rod or reel.
The following is a basic guide which will point the beginner in the right direction.
Sea fishing can be done from boat or shore and generally speaking you will need different tackle for each although some tackle can be used for both, it all depends on the species of fish you are targeting.
Most anglers start off shore fishing, so this is where we will focus.
The first thing you need to consider is a rod and reel, here you have two options depending on what type of reel you choose.
This choice will become a purely personal one, however to start off most people will choose the fixed spool reel as they tend to be easier to use. The rod will need to match your reel choice i.e. the rings will be larger for the fixed spool reel.
There are too many rods and reels available to go into detail here but these are some things to consider.
- Where are you likely to fish and what species will you target?
- How far you are likely to need to cast?
- Will you be fishing off a pier or jetty?
- A long or shelving beach?
- Off the rocks or into an estuary?
It is possible to buy a different rod for each of these different venues but this would cost a lot of money! As a beginner you are more likely to want to try and fish all of these venues with one or maybe two rods. A rod that can cast 4-6oz weight and is around 9-10ft tall is a good size to start with and this can be used from most of the above venues. Bear in mind that you also need to consider your own physical capabilities and size.
Rods come in lots of different lengths and strengths and for this reason I would suggest after considering the above a trip to your local tackle shop to have a look at all the different options and discuss it.
Once you’ve decided on your rod and reel its time to think about your “terminal tackle”, and before you can decide what you need you need to consider the type of fish species you will be targeting. This is a vast area to consider and every angler has his or her own preference on what rigs to use and when.
LINE
 To start off you will need a selection of line for your reel and then line for your trace. You will need some line between 15-18lb for your reel, and some heavier line for your main trace 30-50lb. There are a massive amount of different lines available, all making different claims about their strength and durability, it is worth asking at your local tackle shop for some advice here. Tell your tackle dealer what you will be fishing for and they should recommend the correct line for you, again this shouldn’t cost the earth.
HOOKS
 Hooks also come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, you will need to select the type to suit the species of fish you are targeting, to start off you will probably want Aberdeen type hooks in sizes 2 - 2/0, these are a fine wire hook so will also be easy for putting bait onto and will serve you well from flounders and dabs up to whiting and bass. As you progress to larger species targeting you can then purchase larger hooks when you need them.
WEIGHTS
As you would expect a large variety of weights exist, but generally can be spit into 3 categories,
Flat Leads  Torpedo Lead  Grip Lead 
You would need the grip lead when you are fishing into a strong tide, these are in two types either fixed wires (these don’t move) or breakaway which release when you apply a strong tug to the line . Torpedo can be used when you want the bait to move around the sea bed. Flat leads are when there is not a strong tide and will restrict movement on the sea bed but not totally.
BEADS AND SWIVELS
Swivels are used to attach line to line, so you would use them between your main line and your trace, also as part of your trace, they also help prevent line twisting. They come in different varieties but mainly into 2 categories, one with a clip for easy attaching to other trace components and swivels, and one without.
 Beads are used as part of the trace for mainly two things, you can either thread the beads down the line of the hook snood to attract fish or smaller ones can be used to hold parts of the trace in place, alternately you can also use the beads as a stopper in between a swivel and a weight.
There are so many different types of traces you can try it really is worth taking a look at some of the fishing magazines, and also you can buy ready made traces off the peg in a tackle shop - these will give you a good template for making your own.
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or Fixed Spool 
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Swivel with clip 
