Saltwater · Complete beginner setup
Saltwater Boat Starter Kit — Lingcod & Rockfish
Lingcod and rockfish from a boat — heavy jigs, structure, and the best eating fish on the coast
Bottom fishing is the highest-percentage saltwater fishing there is: find rocky structure, drop a heavy jig to the bottom, and something will eat it. This kit is built heavier than the others because the fish, the depths and the snags all demand it.
The complete kit list
Rod & reel
Get: 7' medium-heavy conventional combo (or heavy spinning), reel holding 300 yd of 50 lb braid
Why it's in the kit: You are lifting heavy jigs and stubborn fish straight up off rocks — freshwater gear simply folds.
Budget: Entry boat combo — ≈ $60–90
Step-up: Graphite boat rod + star-drag conventional reel — ≈ $150–220
Main line
Get: 40–50 lb braided line + 40 lb monofilament leader
Why it's in the kit: Braid has no stretch, so you feel the bottom and the bite at 100+ feet; the mono leader takes the rock abrasion.
Budget: 40 lb braid + leader — ≈ $18–26
Step-up: 50 lb premium braid + fluoro leader — ≈ $30–40
Jigs
Get: Leadhead jigs 6–10 oz with swimbait tails
Why it's in the kit: The jig must reach bottom and stay there in the current. Too light and you are just trolling your bait past the fish.
Budget: Two leadheads + tails — ≈ $14–20
Step-up: Jig range 4–12 oz in three colours — ≈ $24–36
Bottom rigs & hooks
Get: Pre-tied bottom rigs, circle hooks 5/0–7/0, sinkers 8–16 oz
Why it's in the kit: A bait rig covers the slow periods between jig bites; circle hooks hook fish in the jaw and release cleanly.
Budget: Rig + hook + sinker starter set — ≈ $12–18
Step-up: Full rig assortment + premium circle hooks — ≈ $20–30
Bait
Get: Herring or squid strips, one pack per trip
Why it's in the kit: Scent seals the deal for rockfish holding tight to structure.
Budget: One pack per trip — ≈ $6–10
Step-up: Herring + squid + scent — ≈ $10–16
Boat tools
Get: Dehooker, gloves, fish grip, line cutter
Why it's in the kit: Rockfish have spines and lingcod have teeth. A dehooker speeds up releases of undersized fish — which the rules require.
Budget: Dehooker + gloves — ≈ $12–20
Step-up: Dehooker + gloves + grip + venting tool — ≈ $22–34
Prices are typical North American retail guides, not quotes, and change by store and season. Kit contents are generated from our species rule library — recommendations are never paid placements. Where links are affiliate links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Your first trip with this kit
Drift rocky reefs in 40–120 feet of water, keeping the jig within a few feet of the bottom: lift, drop, stay in contact. When you find one rockfish there are usually more — mark the spot and repeat the drift. Know your rockfish and lingcod limits and size rules before you keep anything.
Got the kit? Now fish it at the right hour.