Fishing is one of the favorite down days activities for surfer on surf trips. It is not so much a way of spending time, enjoying the battle with the fish as it is a way to catch a delicious dinner. Something to put on evening BBQ and to earn some bragging rights with your surf squad. But it does not matter if you fish as a sport (catch and release) or if you fish for dinner. To be successful you must follow the same advice. Surfers are lucky in a way that surf trips lots of times take us to those more pristine parts of the planet. Where the water is still crystal clear and sea life is abundant. Catching a fish in places like that is way easier than in urbanized, overpopulated and exploited locations that we usually live in. So even beginners can try it and maybe get lucky. To help you with that, here are a few tips.
Yes, most of us have had frustrating experiences where we went out fishing but ended up catching nothing. The problem is that, we did not follow the right procedure for fishing. Unlike what many people believe, fishing is an art that requires special skills and experience. This is especially true if you are looking to catch some specific species of fish. In that case, you will need to employ some very special methods that will enable you to catch that type of fish. So if you are looking for more in depth info, I can suggest a good fishing blog like this one, where you will find most of the answers you are interested in. For samo basics to help you get started, read the rest of this article.
Fish in the Right Area
One of the most important advice that you can get is to go fishing in the right area. Yes, there are fish everywhere – ponds, rivers, municipal parks, lakes, rivers, ocean. But these places, especially oceans are HUGE. So picking the right location is more that half of it. Some places simply don’t have fish and you will be only wasting time. So how to find the right place to fish? The best way would be to talk to the locals. If they are friendly enough, they will tell you where the best places for fishing are.
If that is not an option, then here are a few tips. Fish like to stay in places where there is something going on in the sea. Places that give them food, protection etc… So look for things like rocky outcrops, shellfish beds, coral reefs, ship and other wrecks, man made structures such as piers, breakwaters, groynes and actually any other natural or man made underwater “structure” provides excellent habitat for fish of different species. Usually the worst place is a long empty sandy beach.
Fish at the Right Time
The best time to fish depends on the type of species that you are looking to catch. Different fish species are active at different times of the day. Now that being said, most fish feed at sunrise and sunset and this makes dawn and dusk the best time for fishing. Some ocean species are also active at night and are best fished during the night. If you are not aiming at a certain fish then fishing in the evening and extending it into the night is the best time. If the area is really rich with fish it does not really matter when you fish, you can catch something any time of day.
Get a License
Your fishing may be just spending of time between surf session, more for fun that anything else. But from the law perspective it does not mater if you are a pro fishermen equipped with all the best gear or just a beginner having fun – you are fishing. So before you go, to avoid getting into problems with the law, it is advisable to check if you need a fishing license. In some places you don’t need that license at all, some are however very strict. Some countries also have free fishing days, days when people are allowed fish for free. Most of the exotic surf locations don’t require a license, but it’s better to check.
Get the Right Gear
Fishing usually means catching fish using a rod and a reel. For surfers, we will most likely end up fishing in the ocean. There are a few differences when it comes to fishing in the ocean, the main one is that ocean fish species can get quite big! So make sure your rod and line can take it. On the other hand, if it is a surfing trip you might not want to carry lots of fishing gear with you, so look for something simple and fail proof. With surfers spear fishing is usually even more popular than regular fishing. In this case you will need a spear gun, diving mask, a snorkel and some flippers. Spear fishing is much more exhausting and difficult, but it gives a different kind of satisfaction. Again, if you are surfing in some really pristine environment rich with fish, you might get lucky even as a complete beginner. So good luck and bon apetit.