| The art of fishing has many aspects. There are quite | | | | than the saltwater species). In my opinion, the striped |
| a few steps to take before you cast to ensure a | | | | bass is the best fight available in a freshwater fish, |
| safe and successful experience. The first thing | | | | especially as they can get quite large. Those are |
| anyone should do is acquire the appropriate licensing. | | | | most of your southern choices. If fishing in the north, |
| You always want to be legal, as the repercussions | | | | you can expect to catch perch, walleye, pike, |
| can be extreme. You also want to be familiar with | | | | muskies, some salmon, and sturgeon. If you choose |
| the fishing regulations for your area. After this you | | | | saltwater, the query varies vastly. |
| have to decide whether you are going to fish in | | | | With too many species to list here, I will list a few |
| saltwater or freshwater. Both have their pros and | | | | that I enjoy fishing for. Some common catches are |
| cons, which will be discussed later. Once you pick | | | | snapper, grouper, flounder, sheepshead, black drum, |
| where you will fish, you need to get equipped. The | | | | members of the jack family, as well as others. The |
| equipment available today is vast and can be | | | | former are most commonly found inshore/near shore. |
| confusing, but once you have your target, it can be | | | | The more sought after inshore fish are the |
| quite easy. | | | | redfish(red drum) and the sea trout. There are also a |
| As I mentioned, acquiring a license should be your | | | | variety of fish offshore, if you have a boat or |
| first action in preparing for a fishing trip. Most bait and | | | | charter one. They can include(but are not limited to) |
| tackle shops as well as some sporting good stores | | | | dolphin(mahi mahi), tuna, cobia, amberjack, bluefish, |
| and chain superstores will offer licensing. If you | | | | kingfish, mackerel and wahoo. There are many more, |
| attempt to fish without the proper credentials, law | | | | but I am only listing the more common species. |
| enforcement officials can fine you, arrest you, and in | | | | After you have selected your destination and your |
| extreme cases seize your equipment/vehicle/boat(if | | | | target, its time to get equipped. You want to choose |
| you are using one). The same goes for adhering to | | | | a rod strong enough for your target, but not overly |
| the fishing regulations. These regulations let you | | | | so as to make for an enjoyable fight. The reel needs |
| know what species of fish are harvest-able, and of | | | | to also be strong enough for your target, and able to |
| those species, what size limit you need to reach | | | | hold the pound test line that you choose(the lighter |
| before harvesting. Some species also have a bag | | | | the test, the weaker). Finally you need to pick your |
| limit, which is the amount of said species you can | | | | bait. There are many artificial lures made to target |
| keep. | | | | most species. You may also choose a real bait, either |
| After getting licensed, you need to decide where | | | | live or frozen. If this is the case, you need to get the |
| you will fish. Both fresh and salt bodies of water | | | | appropriate hooks and weights. |
| offer different experiences. If you choose | | | | When all these steps are finished, all that's left is the |
| freshwater, your typical query will be large mouth | | | | fishing. The best way to learn the art of fishing is to |
| bass, small mouth bass, different breeds of catfish, | | | | practice, practice, practice. I hope this has helped you |
| bream, crappie, and other panfish (ie: bluegill, sunspot, | | | | with your fishing questions, now get out there and |
| etc.). In some fresh water bodies you can find | | | | catch something. |
| striped bass, brown trout and rainbow trout(different | | | | |