Beginner Fishing Guide — Saltwater Starter Rundown

How to use

1. Choose a spot and target — Pick a nearby breakwater and target easy species such as rockfish, horse mackerel or mackerel.
2. Get the basic gear — Select the items you need in the calculator above to check the estimated cost and prepare your gear.
3. Tie knots and rigs — Tie hooks and swivels with a uni knot and connect a simple rig.
4. Check safety, then cast — Wear a life vest, check the tide, weather and swell, then cast.
5. Handle bites and finish — Set the hook on a bite, pack out trash and leave safely.

1. Saltwater starter gear — what to buy first

The most common beginner mistake is buying expensive gear first. At the starter stage, invest in a versatile value set and safety gear first, then add specialist gear once you know which fishing you enjoy. For breakwater fishing, the core gear to get first is as follows.

First, a rod and reel. A beginner can cover rockfish, horse mackerel, mackerel and flounder with a 2.7-3.6 m general saltwater rod (or an egging/sea-bass combo rod) and a 2500-3000 size spinning reel. A starter set with the reel pre-mounted runs about 30,000-80,000 KRW and is plenty to begin. Second, line. A 3-4 lb nylon (mono) or 1-1.5 PE braid main line is fine, and use a leader slightly weaker than the main line so only the hook end breaks when snagged.

Third, rigs and accessories. Stock small amounts of hooks, sinkers, swivels, floats and a sabiki rig (a ready-made rig with several hooks). At first, a simple single-hook (sinker-hook) rig or a sabiki for mackerel and horse mackerel is easy. Fourth, safety and convenience gear. A life vest is a must, not an option, plus non-slip shoes, a landing net, a fish grip, hook-removing pliers, and a cooler and tackle box are handy.

2. Bait and knots — all you need to start

Choose bait by target species. Rockfish, black rockfish and flounder take lugworm, freshwater shrimp, loach and worms; mackerel and horse mackerel take krill on a sabiki rig; hairtail, Spanish mackerel and yellowtail take small baitfish or metal jigs (lures); octopus and cuttlefish respond to shrimp-shaped egi jigs. If you're unsure which bait to buy, check the recommended bait for your target species in the sea fish species guide first.

You don't need to memorize complex knots. The uni (clinch) knot alone ties almost all hooks, swivels, lures and float stops. Pass the line through the eye, lay it alongside the standing line, wrap 4-6 times through the loop you form, wet it, tighten slowly, and cut leaving 2-3 mm. For line-to-line, use the 'uni-to-uni' (tie a uni knot from each side and pull). The key is to wet the knot to reduce friction heat and tighten slowly.

3. Safety rules — safety before the catch

Many saltwater fishing accidents are falls and getting stranded. Above all, always wear a life vest. Rocks and breakwaters are very slippery when wet, and waves and currents make it hard to get out if you fall in. Just wearing a life vest greatly raises your survival odds. Also wear non-slip shoes (spikes/felt) and, for night fishing, bring a headlamp and a companion.

Before going, always check the weather and sea state. Avoid days with storm/typhoon warnings or big swells, and spots where rocks submerge at high tide. Check the tide times in advance, and on rocks, always keep an escape route in mind so you aren't stranded by the rising tide. Check the tide with the tide calculator and the feels-like temperature and wind with the feels-like temperature calculator.

Finally, environment and rules. Korea requires no license for recreational fishing, but there are closed seasons and minimum catch sizes by species and no-fishing zones, so check in advance. Release small and spawning fish, and always pack out your groundbait, trash and line to protect nature.

4. How much does it cost to start?

Breakwater saltwater fishing can start for less than you'd think. With a value starter set, safety gear and one trip's bait, about 50,000-150,000 KRW is enough. Adding accessories like a net or tackle box raises the cost, and boat fishing adds a charter fee (typically 50,000-100,000 KRW). Use the starter cost calculator above to gauge your budget by selecting items and gear grade.

For the first one or two trips, going with a friend or borrowing gear, then expanding once you know what fishing you like, is recommended. Once you've picked a target, matching your trip timing with the seasonal fish calendar is the easiest way to improve your catch.

Related tools & guides