What Is Sport Fishing?
Sport fishing entails angling for recreational or competitive purposes. In other words, you do it for fun rather than for food or survival. This can include saltwater sport fishing or freshwater sport fishing.
Sport Fishing For Beginners And Pros
Beginner
Sport fishing varies greatly in the desired fish species, equipment used, and location. Some instances allow for novice anglers to go sport fishing on the fly, without much preparation or planning. For example, beginner anglers can practice their skills in ponds, rivers, or Great Lakes sport fishing from the shore. The more controlled environments work well for those who are just starting out.
Here is a beginner’s guide to fly casting.
Advanced
More advanced and adventurous fishermen can choose to go offshore sport fishing. This often entails going after much larger fish and requires a lot more skill and preparation. For example, ocean sport fishing or deep sea sport fishing adventures can include large game fish like shark and tuna. It should go without saying that going after sharks and tuna is a lot different than trout and bass.
A Brief History Of Sport Fishing
Fishing for the purpose of recreation gained popularity around the 16th century. In 1653, Izaak Walton published a book called The Complete Angler. The book is one of the earliest works that describes fishing’s value as a recreational pastime.
It is historically ambiguous when exactly recreational fishing began. Fishing, traditionally, was an activity for purposes of sustenance and survival. Fishing purely for fun and releasing caught fish is a much more modern development.
The evolution of sport fishing to big game fishing was made possible by motorized boats and the western adaptation of the kayak. The invention of big game fishing is largely attributed to Dr. Charles Fredrick Holder, who in 1989 published several articles and books on the subject. His works contain accurate scientific details and describe the excitement of the sport.
Reasons To Go Sport Fishing
There are a number of reasons why recreational fishing has become so popular in North America. We outline some of the more important ones here for you.
Social Activity
Recreational fishing has a way of bringing people together. It is an excellent way to gather your kids or best friends and enjoy long, unobstructed hours of fun, conversation, and good times. You can make many memories and take photos to remember them by.
Stress Relief
Fishing is one of the best ways to get away from the stresses of everyday life. You will not find traffic jams, meetings, or credit card statements when you are out fishing.
Fun, Thrills, And Excitement
The thrill of pursuing big game fish can not fully be described in words or even in sport fishing pictures. You need to be there to understand what it feels like to reel in a giant fish or to feel the rush when you encounter a shark in the open waters.
Feeling Of Accomplishment
Fishing is quite challenging and overcoming these challenges brings about feelings of success and accomplishment. To be successful you often need to plan carefully, review the fishing and weather reports, choose the right equipment, and of course – get lucky. Even the most experienced fishermen are subject to luck on some days. Finally, when you do catch the trophy fish that you have been chasing for a long time, there is an undeniable sense of achievement.
Food As A Bonus
Many anglers choose to catch and release, going fishing purely for the sport. However, there are also times when you are salmon sport fishing and find a way to land a large one. While overfishing is harmful, there is nothing wrong with bringing a few fish home for the family when and where it is allowed. Fish contain many vitamins and minerals that are highly recommended by nutritionists as part of a healthy diet. In addition, there are many delicious and healthy recipes for cooking a wide variety of fish.
Sport Fishing Species
Saltwater Sport Fishing Species
Some of the more common salt water sport fishing fish species include: marlin, tuna, tarpon, sailfish, shark, mackerel, snook, redfish and salmon.
Freshwater Sport-fishing Species
Popular North American sportfishing freshwater fish species include: bass, trout, pike, catfish, walleye, perch, rock bass, sunfish, and crappie.
Sport Fishing Seasons
Recreational fishing can be enjoyed year-round. Of course, spring, summer, and fall are the seasons when majority of recreational fishing occurs. Winter fishing in the southern states of the US is less of a problem as temperatures are usually permitting. However, American northern states and Canadian sport fishing during the winter is more of a problem. As temperatures drop, many fishing enthusiasts wrap up for the winter season in the cold regions. Those who choose to continue fishing in the winter can enjoy ice fishing.
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is not for everyone. If you are willing to handle the cold to enjoy your favorite pastime, then it is definitely something to try out. For your northern sport fishing adventure you will need to prepare the right clothes, equipment, and read up on the safety and regulations for your destination. This can be the perfect idea for a unique Northern sport fishing trip.
