Without a doubt I love going fishing. Nothing brings out the inner spirit of a person set upon the face of the Earth as a person set free to experience life in all its has to offer. Angling is such a fulfilling venture because not only does it require the use of your brain but also seems dependent on your intuition.
Through the years I have gathered information on which lures work the best for the types of fish I want to catch. Like trout fishing, I like to use a fly reel and fly lures like feathers or top water plugs. Certainly fishing with a basic fishing pole and line will catch a fish but something about fishing for what you want puts a new dynamic twist on fishing.
I really enjoy lake or river fishing but nothing compares to ocean fishing or offshore fishing. Out there I am in their territory. I am at the mercy of so many other things and knowing so puts me at the top of my game. And often that is what it is, a game.
On a river or a lake, I am in my territory. Don’t get me wrong, fishing on shore has its own advantages and listening to the birds sing or watching the trees sway in the wind bring me inner spiritual fulfillment as well…
But out there on the sea, out on the ocean is like an adventure. It is venturing off into unknown territory. It is not knowing what you are going to catch and it is about using your knowledge so that for the most part, you don’t catch something you really didn’t want to catch.
For instance, using larger baits will catch me larger fish. Really this is common sense because a smaller fish won’t eat a fish bigger then itself. Or, trawling, which is different from trolling because trawling uses nets and catches creatures or animals that you didn’t want to catch and are hazardous to dolphins and certain fish.
It’s about knowing which fishing reels and rods to use and what pound test line or what kind of line or hook sizes you should use and it is about teamwork. While fisherman are solitary creatures, there is a certain amount of co-habitation that needs to happen when being out in the open ocean to make sure everyone stays safe because certainly, you never know what Mother Nature has planned; when a high wave will break or to know what fish are poisonous or to have help when you have an extremely large fish.
So many things can happen, like the attack of the wild barracuda. I heard a story about a barracuda that jumped out of the water and bit a woman’s face. Knowing that it can happen makes me exercise some caution when I know I have caught a barracuda; it’s whether or not I want to just cut the line or if I want to bring it in and get my hook back.
There are so many different reasons to fish, whether it is for the adventure, hunting for food, or finding inner peace etc. Whatever the reason I know that there is something in it for everyone. It might be stinky and messy and friggin’ cold at times but all of that eludes the mind when you have caught a fish or when you have had that time to think and sort through your everyday troubles. Fishing is not only about the fish.
