If you are beginning to take fishing as a hobby and new to the fishing sports industry, then you must learn the basics of fishing. Firstly, you should start by learning what are the types of fishing which are performed by recreational fishers before you research about the fishing gears that you need to buy. To help you decide on the types of fishing you would want to take up, which will match your preference and circumstances, we have prepared this guide to help you to explore the different types of fishing and allow you to choose your preferred one.
Firstly, you should know that types of fishing techniques greatly vary in the type of water you will fish in and the kind of fish you want to catch. To begin with, there are two types of water: freshwater and saltwater. Freshwater refers to small water bodies like ponds, lakes, and rivers with minimum salt in it. While fishing in freshwater you are expected to catch fishes like bass, pike, walleye, muskellunge, yellow perch, trout, salmon, crappie, bluegill, and sunfish. The other kind of water body widely explored by recreational fishers is the saltwater. As the name suggests, this water type has salt in it; hence the fishes which are found in it are different than those found in freshwater. In saltwater, like the oceans and seas, you are expected to catch swordfish, marlin, tuna, cod, bass, etc.
The fishing technique mostly used by recreational fishers for getting the fish out of the water surface is angling. Angling mainly refers to the art of fishing using a fishing hook, which is attached to a fishing line. Fishers usually attach the line with a fishing rod and a reel to fully enjoy and have the most out of their fishing activity. Although primarily used for sport fishing, angling is also widely used in commercial fishing like trolling or longlining. Now let me explain to you the types of fishing that are available and the fishes you can catch from each type:
1.Inshore fishing: When a fishing activity takes place in places where water depth is less than 30 meters, then it is called inshore fishing. Few examples of inshore fishing include beach fishing, pier fishing, or even when you take a small fishing boat to access and fish in shallow water areas inaccessible otherwise. As the water in this type of fishing will be calmer, inshore fishing will require lighter fishing rods, baits, and smaller boats. The advantage of fishing inshore is that you can enjoy the fishing activity with your family and friends and will involve lesser risk as compared to fishing offshore. Although you are not expected to catch the gigantic fishes while fishing inshore, you can surely catch various species in abundance. One of the most popular species caught during inshore fishing is redfish and bonefish.
See: Experts suggestions on best inshore spinning rods
2. Offshore fishing: Once you are out in the deep sea with water depth more than 30 meters, you are off to offshore fishing. The equipment you will require for offshore fishing is very different than those are used for inshore. This is because once you are out into the deep sea, you are there to catch the big game fish. Your fishing gears need to give the equal battle to the big sea trophies you are going to win. As a result, you will require studier fishing tackles and your small fishing boats need to be replaced with charters or fishing vessels. Blue marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, and Bluefin Tuna are some of the big game fishes aspired by offshore anglers. Due to the studier fishing gear required for offshore fishing, people often think that the fishing tackle might costs them a fortune. But fortunately, there are a lot of high-quality rods and reels available in the market for less than 100 dollars. To find out, read experts’ opinions on Baitcasting Reel Under 100.
3. Bank fishing: Bank fishing refers to fishing from the river banks where the water is shallow. To be successful in bank fishing, a lot of aspects come into play. Like the fishing location, weather, wind condition, local knowledge, time of day, and types of baits and lures to be used. As in bank fishing, the fishing area is limited than if you were fishing on a boat, knowing where to fish will help you from disappointment. The trick to bank fishing is always to be on the move and cover a greater area, which will increase your chances of having a good catch. During Fall and Spring, when bass migrates to the shallow water, finding the right spot you can also catch bass from the bank.
4. Surf fishing: Surf fishing is done by casting your fishing rod while standing on the shoreline of a sandy beach or even from a rock jetty or a fishing pier. Terms you will widely hear in surf fishing are surftcasting or beachcasting which simply means casting your fishing rod into the surf near the shoreline. Surfcasting usually requires long surfcasting rods which can cover longer casting distance. Depending on the available species in the region, a variety of species are targeted by surf fishers. The best time to go for Surf fishing is during high tide as it is convenient to cast into deeper water. Striped bass, flounder, bluefish and spotted seatrout are few of the game fish caught in surf fishing.
5. Fly fishing: Fly fishing is considered to be the most challenging and fulfilling type of spot fishing available for recreational fishers. In fly fishing, the fisher uses an artificial fly as lure. The fly line needed in this type of fishing are usually heavy as the weight of the line is required to transfer the lure to the target. Types of fishes which are caught using this fishing technique are many. Trout, salmon, redfish, snook, striped bass and pike are few which can be mentioned.
6. Ice fishing: If you live in colder part of the world and need to wait for summer for the lakes and ponds to defreeze so that you can again enjoy your fishing trips, then ice fishing is probably for you that will allow you to continue your fishing expeditions all year round. Ice fishing is mainly done by casting the fishing line and hooks into the opening of a frozen water surface. As you will be out fishing in winter, make sure you have proper fishing equipments and comfortable winter wear for ice fishing. Walleye, trout, pike, yellow perch, crappie, sunfish and largemouth bass are few of the catch ice fishers aspire.
7. Tenkara fishing: This type of fishing is a popular fly fishing mainly practiced in Japan and originated from the mountain dwelling people of the country. Among these mountain communities, the literal meaning of Tekara is ‘Fly fishing’. Previously this type of fishing was done with only a bamboo pole with the fishing line directly tied to it. In modern times, a long and flexible rod which are usually telescopic is used for Tenkara fishing.
8. Boat fishing: Fishing can either be done standing on the bank or getting on a boat. Boat fishing has its own advantages. The main one is that, boat fishing allows you to access areas which are otherwise inaccessible from the shoreline giving you the opportunities to catch a variety fish. To make the most of boat fishing, make sure you carry the suitable fishing gears with you.
9. Rock fishing: One of the most challenging type of fishing is the rock fishing. This type of fishing involves casting your fishing rod from the rocky outcroppings into the sea. Using the right fishing techniques, rock fishing can be fulfilling, as a variety of species can be found in abundance near rock cropping that extends out into the sea. Longer fishing rod are usually preferred which will allow you greater casting distance without you having to move too close to the edge.
10. Bottom fishing: This type of fishing involves catching fishes which are available near the sea floor. In this fishing technique, the fishing line and bait are led by a heave sinker which helps to cast the bait deep into the ocean bed. To give your best fight and catch predatory sea animals like red snapper which are mostly found over the reefs, it is critical that you use the right fishing to reel in your prize.
11. Kayak fishing: This fishing style refers to casting your fishing rod from a Kayak. The ability to access fishing spot that other anglers infrequently visits and the chances of identifying the presence of a big game fish with the slightest move of the water surface are what makes kayak fishing popular. Kayak fishing will require fisher to carry only necessary fishing materials with them so that all of them fits in the small kayak area. Hence, knowing what to carry is very essential to make your kayak fishing trips enjoyable.
12. Kite fishing: Kite fishing refers to the fishing technique where a line with live bait is dropped from a kite and the kite is flown until the lure is taken by a fish. The drop of the kite indicates that the bait is being taken by a fish and it’s time to haul in the fish. The advantage of kite fishing is that it will allow you to make the bait available for the fishes to take in at various distances from the fishing boat. Kite fishing is also of great advantage for fishers without a boat as the kite will allows access to areas otherwise not accessible without a boat but has plenty of fishes.
13. Trolling: Trolling is a fishing technique where a single or multiple fishing lines lured with baits are pulled through the water at varying speed. Trolling can be done in both fresh and salt water. Walleye and muskellunge are gigantic freshwater fishes that are sought with this type of fishing. While trolling in deep sea, fishing rods and reels are attached to the back of the boat while the boat speeds away at varied speed.
14. Jigging: Jigging is the type of fishing where a jig is used as a fishing lure and the angler creates a vertical jerky motion with the rod to catch fish. The jigs usually look like small fishes that the big fish would normally take in. The jigs are moved up and down in a vertical motion to mimic the movement of small fishes. Fishing rods of smaller length are usually used in this type of fishing technique. Yellowfin tuna, Long tail tuna and Kokanee salmon are few species that can be caught through jigging.
15. Kontiki Fishing: is an electronic beach fishing concept where a land based longlines comprising of almost 25 hooks are sent out from the shoreline up to 2000 meters offshore. Previously a Kontiki sailing raft was used in this type of fishing. However, in modern times, an electronic Kontiki with electric winches are used to pull the fishing line, hooks and the Kontiki back from the ocean.
16. Remote Control fishing: a type of fishing technique where a remote-controlled boat is used to catch fish. The fishing lines and baits are connected to the boat while the fisher navigates the boat through the water.
The mentioned 16 are some of the most popular types of recreational fishing widely practiced around the world. Depending on the type of water and your preferred type you can decide on which type of fishing suits you the best.