Benefits Of Fishing: 10 Reasons To Start Today

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Once you experience the benefits of fishing, it will be something you practice your entire life.

From the stress-reducing benefits to the bonding opportunities, it’s something that everybody should take up.

There are countless more benefits of fishing, which I have included in this article. You will also discover my favorite fishing tips towards the end.

That way, if you’ve been on the fence about fishing, you’ll have some expert tips to guide you in the right direction.

Let’s get into it…

10 Most Popular Benefits Of Fishing Trips

1. Shocking Physical Benefits

There are so many health benefits associated with fishing. While mental benefits are at the forefront, there are still countless physical benefits.

You have to remember, that most passionate anglers enjoy hiking to their destination of choice.

Not only does this burn lots of calories, but also increases cardio and builds a stronger immune system.

Sounds like the perfect solution for rapid weight loss, huh!?

Personally, I also prefer this combination. The hiking aspect is the tough part; however, you know that relaxation is waiting when you reach the fishing spot!

If you don’t incorporate hiking into your fishing trips, lure fishing is an excellent alternative. With lure fishing, you’re constantly casting and retrieving your line, making it more difficult and physically demanding.

Read Also: Fishing While Backpacking

2. Don’t Forget About Mental Benefits

Spending time at your favorite fishing spot is a sure-fire way to boost your mental health. Fishing is not too harsh on the body, so you get to relax and relieve some stress. In addition, most fishing locations are immersed in nature, which is the perfect place to take a stress detox.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Less anxiety
• Fewer bouts of depression
• A calming feeling
• Increased mood
• Passion for a goal

I believe that our brains function best when learning new and interesting things. I’m no medical professional, but I believe that could have something to do with the mental benefits of fishing.

3. Escape From Modern Life (And Get Some Fresh Air!)

Being stuck in the same location for long periods of time is no way to live. Not only that, but it makes people feel trapped. Because fishing involves escaping to nature for a while, you can forget about everything happening at home.

Fishing is also great for people who need to escape from constant air pollution. According to a study by the Laboratory Of Hygiene And Environmental Protection, air pollution can lead to discomfort, coughing, chest tightness, and breathing difficulties.

In the term long, exposure to air pollution can cause certain cancers and lead to death [1].

That’s why it’s important to detox every so often, especially if you live in a large city. With that being said, smaller cities are also full of pollution.

4. Fishing Teaches Patience

Nowadays, everything we want is instantaneous.

Want food? You can order online.

Need some groceries? Pull up an app and start ordering.

Even clothing can be delivered directly to your doorstep.

I admit – it does make life much easier. However, it’s also very detrimental to our patience; not to mention our social life!

The chances are, you have been stripped of your patience over the years. But fishing offers an opportunity to redevelop this vital skill. You have to wait until you catch a fish, which teaches you that not everything comes instantly.

Increased patience leads to better life decisions, while also helping us achieve our wildest dreams.

Think of it like this…

Is the person living your dream lifestyle impatient?

In most cases, they are incredibly patient.

5. Top Up Those Vitamin D Levels

Depending on your fishing location, you could be in for a Vitamin D top-up. Because you will be sitting outside all day, it’s inevitable you will get some sun.

And in case you didn’t know…

Being exposed to the sun helps the body produce Vitamin D.

The most prominent benefit of higher Vitamin D levels is increased bone density [2]. However, that only scratches the surface.

There are a host of other benefits, such as increased testosterone, better mood, and a stronger immune system.

The reason Vitamin D has such profound benefits is because it’s actually a ‘hormone’ that’s produced by the Kidneys [3].

6. Enjoy Some Family Bonding Fishing Time

There are countless activities you can do with the family, but fishing is one of the best.

The reason?

It provides the perfect opportunity for deep conversation. That means you can discuss the issues that have been troubling you, with the intention of creating better family relationships.

Most other family activities require your concentration, making it difficult to have those important conversations.

Card games, amusement parks, and movie theaters are perfect examples.

If you don’t have any family issues going on, fishing is still an excellent way to build a stronger bond. Even more so if everybody has an interest in fishing.

7. Gets Your Strength Up

The little fish don’t require too much strength. However, catching big fish is a sure-fire way to get your strength up.

The most common muscle used when fishing is the core. It’s important to keep your body stable, so you’re not controlled by the rod.

Your back, shoulders, and arms are also being put under tension.

Who said you need the gym, huh!?

But in all seriousness…

If you’re new to big game fishing, it’s worth considering the gym beforehand. You don’t need to become the next Mr. Olympia, but increased strength will make your life a whole lot easier.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Squat
• Bench Press
• Bent Over Rows
• Overhead Press
• Core Training

You don’t even need a gym to train in these movements. If you’ve never done any strength training, you can train from the comfort of your own home (without weights!).

Do the exercises mentioned above sound too difficult? No problem!

Check out the video below for some easier strength-building exercises:

In addition, you need to build up your cardio. When you catch a large fish, you will spend time wrestling with it.

This drains your energy fast. If your cardio is not up to scratch, you’re more likely to get tired and lose the fish.

Cardio can be as simple as brisk walks. When you’re ready to turn things up a notch, running is an excellent alternative.

9. Excellent For Travelling

Most people plan their vacations around hot weather and white-sand beaches.

But why not design your travels around the best fishing spots?

That way, you can combine traveling and your favorite hobby – fishing. Plus, most of the best fishing spots are also in beautiful locations.

10. Eating Fish Is Good For Your Health

Fresh fish is some of the most nutritious food you can eat.

Let’s use sea bass as an example; the most popular type of fish you can catch in America.

Here’s the nutritional info for 1 fillet:

• Copper (1%)
• Vitamin A (5%)
• Calcium (1%)
• Thiamin (9%)
• Niacin (10%)
• Phosphorus (25%)
• Iron (2%)
• Riboflavin (9%)
• Vitamin B12 (6%)
• Magnesium (13%)
• Zinc (3%)
• Pantothenic Acid (10%)

Doesn’t get any healthier than that, huh!?

You also have to remember that fish doesn’t contain too many calories, making it an excellent food for weight loss. You can still get all the essential minerals and vitamins, without packing on any fat.

My Best Beginner Fishing Trip Hacks

Are you ready to take the plunge? Here are some excellent tips I’ve learned over the years to make your fishing trips go smoothly.

1. Choose The Right Fishing Spots

It’s a little hard for me to recommend the best fishing spots, as I don’t know where you live.

My advice is to Google what others in your area recommend.

For people willing to travel further to catch some fish, here are my top recommendations…

Destin, Florida

Florida is an angler’s dream. There is an excellent mix of freshwater and saltwater, regardless of the season.

After looking at all the towns in Florida, I have my heart set on Destin.

This small town has countless fishing charters to choose from. Not only that, but it’s an exciting experience because of the variety of different fish you can catch; not to mention the large quality.

Here are some fish you’re likely to encounter…

• Snapper
• Grouper
• Amberjack
• Wahoo
• Cobia

If you don’t catch a fish in Destin, you’re doing something wrong!

There’s a reason they call it ‘The Luckiest Fishing Village In The World’.

Freeport, Texas

If you want to travel to Freeport, I recommend offshore fishing. The waters are deep, so it doesn’t take too long to get offshore.

Redfish, flounder, and Mahi Mahi are some of the fish you will find in Freeport.

While you are down in Texas, you can even spend a few nights camping to accompany your fishing trip. There are countless campsites to choose from, making it an excellent destination.

Alternatively, why not relax on the beautiful beaches?

2. Learn How To Tie A Knot

Knot tieing is an essential part of fishing that shouldn’t be overlooked. Knowing how to tie knots means you can easily attach the lure or hook to the end of your rod. If you’re a beginner who doesn’t know how to tie knots, make sure you’re fishing with somebody who does.

Otherwise, you may come unstuck!

And knot tieing is not only beneficial for fishing, but also for boating (which is important for offshore fishing).

The most important knot is the Bowline.

Here’s how it’s done…

The bowline is primarily used for mooring boats.

Another essential knot is the Cleat Hitch. It’s also great for mooring a boat, especially in rough conditions. This strong and durable knot won’t let you down, that’s for sure!

3. Know Your Fish

As a beginner, you’re going in blind when fishing.

To make the trip more exciting, it’s important to know your fish. Some of the most common fish in the U.S. are Tuna, Salmon, and Tilapia.

Check out this infographic that talks about the most common 50 fish species of North America…

If you want to take a deeper look into the different types of fish, then I recommend ‘Peterson First Guide To Fishes Of North America’.

It’s got over 200 species of fish, helping you with identification. Not only does it include small fish, but also sharks. You can even take it with you when fishing, so you can learn while you catch fish.

Read Also:Fishing For Trout In Small Creeks Or Streams

4. Learn From A Fishing Charter

If you’re a complete beginner, I recommend getting on board a fishing charter. The staff on these charters are typically very friendly and keen to pass on their knowledge.

It’s like getting lessons included with your fishing trip. gh

Just make sure you’re being taught by a professional who knows their stuff.

5. Get The Right Rod

As a beginner, I recommend sticking with fiberglass rods. Fiberglass rods give you the opportunity to practice your newly acquired skills without breaking the bank. Compared to bamboo rods, you’ll be saving yourself a pretty penny!

Fiberglass rods are also very strong. This means you can catch larger fish without worrying about damaging your rod.

As you move up the ranks, you can begin looking at more expensive rods.

FAQ

What Are The Disadvantages of Fishing?

One of the biggest disadvantages of fishing is seasickness. I made the mistake of not getting any seasickness tablets the first time I went on a boat.

What a mistake that was!

There’s nothing worse than learning to fish while trying not to throw up at the same time. And when you’re on the boat, there’s not much you can do.

I understand not everybody is comfortable popping pills every time they go fishing.

So I have 2 solutions…

Firstly, you can stick with surf fishing. Surf fishing means you catch fish from the beach, so you don’t need to worry about motion sickness. The only disadvantage is you’re less likely to catch any big game.

My second solution is to sit at the front of the boat and ensure you’re facing forward. Keep your eyes glued to the horizon and drink some Chamomile Tea. If you choose this method, I do recommend bringing some motion tablets with you to be safe.

How Do I Get Better At Fishing?

Wondering how to get better at fishing? Then don’t worry!

It’s much easier than it seems.

Here’s how to do it…

Learn From Others

The absolute best way to improve your fishing skills is to learn from others. If you’re a newbie, try to hit up some fishing spots with your experienced friends and family.

You can also take lessons from experienced anglers. In most cities and towns, a quick Google search yields countless fishing lessons in your area.

They won’t be free – of course; however, you’ll never regret spending your money on becoming an experienced angler.

If you don’t have the money for fishing lessons, you can always take advantage of local Facebook groups. There are plenty of fishing groups, allowing you to meet up and learn from more experienced people.

Read Books

I always preach that results come from experience.

But books are still a great option when learning the basics. Just won’t get stuck on reading books without putting your new skills to the test.

You will learn more in 1 day of fishing than you would from any book.

Conclusion

Not only does fishing improve your mental health, but also your physical well-being and immune system.

And you have the added benefit of a nutritious meal at the end of your trip.

But as a beginner, you shouldn’t go fishing blindfolded. By that, I mean brush up on the basic skills beforehand so you don’t waste any time.

I recommend purchasing a rod and practicing at home. Alternatively, you can always go fishing with an experienced friend or family member, so you learn as you go along.

As you begin learning, pick up a book that teaches you about the different species of fish, as this will be the most difficult thing to learn.

Congratulations, you just graduated from the fishing university.