There is a moment after the fight where a lot can go wrong: a thrashing fish, sharp hooks, a slimy grip, and your fingers right in the danger zone.

Why the Rippton BiteKeeper suits most bait anglers while the Delkim Txi-D leads on fine detection, plus the sensitivity and volume that matter.

Choosing a gaff that lands fish cleanly: why the AFTCO taper-tip aluminium is the benchmark, when stainless suits, and how to match gaff size.

Berley is the closest thing fishing has to a cheat code.

Fish finders run from under a hundred dollars to well over two thousand, and it’s not obvious what the extra money buys you.

The longest surf rod rarely casts the furthest. How to match length, action and cast weight to your beach, plus five surf rods worth swinging.

Compare the best kayak fishing paddles for anglers, including lightweight angler paddles, carbon shafts, blade shapes, length and fishing features.

Choose the best kayak anchors and trolley systems for fishing kayaks, including grapnel anchors, anchor trolleys, stake-out poles and drift chutes.

Start terminal tackle with Gamakatsu Octopus hooks in a few sizes for bream, snapper and flathead, add cheaper Mustad for bulk, and match to bait.

Pick a legal crab pot that actually holds crabs — round versus box, mud crab versus sand crab, plus the bait, tide and timing that fill it.