Fishing

Fishing is one of the most widely enjoyed sports and leisure activities in the world because there are so many different ways and places to fish. Great fishing spots can be found all year round right across the globe. Whether you are a casual fisher who drops a line off the jetty, a boatie who likes to escape up the river in your tinny, or a more enthusiastic fisher who goes offshore to chase those big game fish, the sport provides amusement and escape for every one! Fishing, both as a form of pleasure and as a survival, commercial or profitable activity, is one of the world’s oldest pursuits.

There are three major types or sectors of fishing: recreational (for sport & pleasure), subsistence (for survival) and commercial (for profit). This article will provide you with lots of essential information about recreational or sport fishing, to get you out on the shore or out to sea enjoying this great sport!

Recreational Fishing

Recreational fishing is a fantastic way to get out and enjoy nature. You can fish in both fresh and saltwater depending on the catch you hope to get and the type of experience you are after. For beginners and casual fishers, casting a line off a wharf or jetty is a good way to get into the sport. There is also big-game, rock, beach, fly, reef, estuary and river fishing. You can take up recreational fishing just for fun or fish competitively. Although there is an array of different fishing techniques, the majority of recreational fishing is done by angling (i.e. catching a fish by means of a hook) as net and spear fishing are commonly prohibited in this sector. Catch and release is common when angling, as the sport is more about the actual pursuit of catching the fish.

Big Game Fishing

One of the most exhilarating and intense forms of fishing and fun you will ever have, big game fishing is also referred to as offshore sportfishing or blue-water fishing. With big game fishing, anglers travel off shore in boats hoping to catch some of the large open-water species of fish including tuna, sharks and marlin. Other sought after fish include tarpon, sailfish and mackerel. The appeal of this type of sport fishing is the challenge of tracking down and catching the fish, it takes time, skill and strength. Anglers travel up to 70 miles out to sea to get in on the action of big game fishing and the sport is enjoyed worldwide in tropical and temperate coasts. Some of the most well known big game fishing spots include Avalon in California, Bimini in the Bahamas, Cairns in Queensland, northern New Zealand and Kona in Hawaii.

Rock Fishing

Fishing from rocky outcrops or coastal cliffs is an extremely popular form of angling in Australia and New Zealand. Definitely not for the novice fisher, rock fishing can be a dangerous but thrilling adventure.

Beach Fishing

There is nothing better than standing on the shoreline, the sun on the horizon, waves lapping at your feet and casting a line out into the sea with hopes to catch a nice Tailor, Salmon, Flathead, Mullloway, Trevally, Dart, Bream or Whiting. Beach fishing, also known as surf fishing or beach casting covers many types of shore angling from sandy beaches to jetties and piers. This is perfect for beginning fishers and there is plenty of room to improve your abilities and catch some impressive fish! There are lots of surfcasting competitions run across the world for veterans of the sport who have mastered the casting techniques needed to fish in the surf.

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the sport and can be done in both fresh and salt water areas. Fly fishers can enjoy the tranquillity of standing in a river, lake or stream while casting for species like trout, salmon, bass, and carp. Fly fishing uses very different tackle, like artificial flies, and casting techniques than any other form of angling and is a very graceful activity undertaken by artisan fishers.

Fishing Tackle

The main pieces of fishing equipment you will need are a rod, line, hook and some bait! Sounds simple, but the variety of different tackle is extensive. Depending on the type of fishing you are doing and the species of fish you aim to catch you will need assorted tackle. Fishing tackle includes: rods, lines, hooks, sinkers, floats, reels, baits, leaders, swivels, blades, spinners, lures, spears, nets, gaffs, traps and waders; and all of this is best kept in a tackle box!

Fishing Regulations

Don’t forget to check the rules and licensing restrictions before your next trip out. There are laws that limit where and when you can fish, what you can catch and what you can bring home to cook up on the barbeque! So make sure you find out the prohibited fishing areas, seasonal restrictions and the size limits for different species so your next fishing trip is enjoyable and hopefully very successful! So whether you decide to head out to the reefs, float up the river, stand in the surf or cast off a rocky outcrop make sure you study up on the right tackle, bait and fishing techniques for your next angling adventure!