Fishing 101

So, you think you want to learn a new hobby and it's going to be fishing. There are several ways of finding out how to fish, the hardest one being trial and error, however, the best way is to find an instructor for one-on-one lessons.

1. Buy seasickness medication: If you're going to fish on the water, nothing is worse than having your fishing ruined by seasickness. Most seasickness medication e.g. Bonine is very good. Even seasoned fishermen are known to take some on rough days. Take one before you go to sleep, another when you wake up and a third one before you go on board.

2. Get a decent reference book: There are a lot of very good books available at your local bookshops or online. The book should give you instructions as well as the terms and definitions. There are some things you may not immediately understand but that you have to know anyway. One good thing is to learn how to tie different kinds of knots. This useful knowledge will also be invaluable for other purposes throughout your whole life.

3. Go to a party: There are party boats that carry from five to as many as sixty anglers. The boat provides everything you need such as bait, rod, reel, weights and hooks. They assist you in fishing and even take the fish off the hook for you as well. You will make new fishing mates and they will help and advise you. Party boats will generally cost you between $25 - $70 a day and the fish are yours to keep. The party boat is a bargain for beginners.

4. Pick your pier: Assuming you have already acquired the skills to use a rod and reel, you need to look for a fishing pier. The majority of coastal cities have a public pier or pay-to-fish pier. You can rent tackle and buy bait at these piers. If you do have trouble, there are many pier anglers around to help and give you tips.

5. Party or pier?: You may want to do either step three or four times or both at the same time at this point. The best thing to do is to practise both ways several times to really learn them.

6. The reel affair: The traditional reel is probably what you've got up to this point. The traditional reel is designed to take loads of wear and tear. However, perhaps you now want to consider buying another type or / and make of reel. Hopefully, you have already met other anglers and perhaps made a friend or two who can assist you in choosing a reel. You could even ask a fishing equipment store owner for tips.

Firstly, you ought to learn the mechanics of the reel and the other equipment. Learning how to cast, tie knots and bait a hook is not really all that complicated. Secondly, you must learn where to go fishing. Successful fishermen know where the fish are located. Fish move from location to location and knowledgeable anglers know these patterns and are able to anticipate where the fish are likely to be swimming.