Monday, February 27, 2012

Best Fishing Trip With Your Group In 10 Easy Steps

It is every fishing hobbyist's dream to have the biggest catch during a fishing trip. They would go all the way to researching the best gear, the best bait, and even the best season to plan this very momentous trip. Now Alaska would not be known for the great king salmon for nothing. But then what exactly are the "basics" that need to be brought when one is to have fishing trips to Alaska? Here are the things you need to remember when you finally decide to take that adventure of a lifetime.

1. What are your fishing priorities?
Identifying your priorities is one of the first things you must do to plan a great fishing trip. Just saying you want great fishing is not good enough; you need to be more specific. Great fishing may be perceived differently by each person in your fishing party. One person might be happy with catching 15 fish per day, while another might be expecting 25 fish per hour. So, you need to decide this up front.

2. What type of fish do you want to catch?
While this may seem obvious, it is something that needs to be discussed. One person may want to fish for Grouper and Snapper, while others may want to go bass fishing. Since Grouper and Snapper are salt water fishes, this will really disappoint the bass fisherman as bass are fresh water fishes.

3. What is the weight of the fishing line you be using?
Depending on the type and the size of fish you want to catch you will buy the fishing line of the right weight. If the line is too light, it will snap when the fish is 'fighting' with you when it gets hooked or when you haul onto dry land
4. What is the mode of your fishing trip?
Some anglers simply enjoy catching many fish (most any size) hoping to get a few big ones. Other fishermen prefer to catch the biggest fish they can find through minimizing the number of fish caught. You need to decide which is more important to your fishing group... many fish that are not the biggest or less fish which gives a greater chance of a huge one. It should be noted that there are many places where you can do both... catch lots of fish and get some big ones.

5. What is the technique used when you fish?
Do you like to troll? Or drift? Fish in ponds? Deep sea fish? We have witness people wading in 50 feet of water thinking the fish were only a few centimeters from the surface. Unlikely to catch anything this way. Be sure you know the type of fishing your group prefers and that the lake/pond/sea will offer it.

6. Do you need other accessories for fishing?
If you prefer to have your line deep under water, it will be advisable to get a sinker. If you prefer your line not deep under water, a normal size float will be sufficient. If you going to do spinning then you have to look at various fly tackles.

7. What will you do with the fish after it is caught?
Do you want to cook the fish and have a delicious meal with your family or continue to rear it in your fish tank? Some people let the fish go when they are not the recommended size for capture.

8. How long is this fishing trip?
If you fish in the fishing pond there will be a fixed number of hours where you can spend at the ponds. Typically the pond operates two sessions, the day (e.g. 8am-8pm) and the night session (e.g. 8pm-8am). If you rent a fishing boat and go out sea fishing, you will typically spend two-three days on the boat. Make sure you bring with you sufficient fishing equipment, food and drinks and bathing products.

9. How much are you willing to spend for this fishing trip?
Depending on how much you pay will definitely impact on the type of fishing trip you'll have. Be honest. How much do you really want to spend? Are you comfortable renting a fishing boat for great sea fishing? Or would you prefer just to fish in a neighbourhood fishing pond or reservoir?

10. What is the weather going to be like?
Check out the news for the weather forecasts for the next few days. You wouldn't want bad weather to dampen your well planned fishing trip.

So, if you really want to have a fabulous fishing trip, get started by planning just exactly what you want out of the trip and how much you are willing to spend. Do this right and you can have the fishing trip of a lifetime. I hope the above 10 tips will help your greatly.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Some Tips For River Fishing

River fishing can be a very comforting and relaxing way to pass time, but the ultimate aim is to actually catch something. If you are a beginner at river fishing, here are some common river fishing tips that will help make the task easier for you.

For a person setting out to go fishing it is necessary to have a plan of how to go about the process. River fishing tips must be gathered and studied beforehand, as the best anglers are not those who simply jump into the best spot, but those who have a systematic and well informed plan of action that they follow while going river fishing. The river fishing tips mentioned here are applicable for small streams and rivers, and the most important thing that an individual needs, while carrying out this task, is patience. Getting impatient and frustrated will get you nowhere.

Different rivers require different strategies depending on their size and the variety of fish that are present there. Many beginners often ignore the importance of strategizing and feel that, if they simply sit on the river bank or wade through it with a fishing rod, they will catch all they want. Some people may be lucky enough to have success with this trial and error method, but the best anglers are those who lay a detailed plan and strategy into place and then follow it. This is where the many river fishing tips and tricks come in handy.

Tip # 1 - Tread SkillfullyIf the river you are in requires you to wade through it, as most rivers certainly will, you need to learn how to tread lightly. Sounds can travel a great distance under the water surface, and the slightest sound you make may inadvertently end up scaring the fish. Scan the area you are going to cover beforehand, and then ensure that you do not step on many sticks and rocks on the river bed. Take one step at a time, and take it as slowly and steadily as possible.

Tip # 2 - TimingThe timing of going fishing is also of prime importance. This is one of the first river fishing tips for beginners that you will see everywhere. The fish move around a lot and there are specific conditions of weather and the moon's position that help in determining their movement. You need to be at the best places at the best times, and this can only be achieved by studying the habitat and the nature of the fish that are present in that river. There is no point standing in the water for hours on end when the fish are more likely to be elsewhere.

Tip # 3 - Know the TerritoryThe next natural thing that you also need to be aware of are the various sections in the river. The current plays an integral part in the migration of the fish, and the more you know about this, the higher will be your chances of catching more game. Rivers are divided into little pockets or sections depending on the flow of the current, and these can be used to the advantage of anglers.

Tip # 4 - Presenting the Live BaitIt is fair to say that anyone who goes river fishing will be using live baits, as this is the best option. Now the presentation of the live bait is very important in determining the reactions of the fish. The more realistic you make it look, the better your chances. Gang hooks are the best choice of hooks for achieving this purpose, as these add a very natural and realistic look to your bait. Bounce your bait off the floor of the river at regular intervals to make a better impression.

Tip # 5 - Deep Analysis!Once all these tips on river fishing have been followed, you need to search for deeper parts of the river to fish. You will find the biggest congregations of fish in the deeper areas, especially if the climate is warm. If you do not know this you may end up wasting a majority of your time wading through shallow areas and this could ultimately turn out to be useless. There will be plenty of edges and riffles under the surface of the river where you will find the most fish.

One of the most important things about river fishing is to find the areas, where the fish are most likely to be. based on the deepness and the weather, and to go fishing at a time when the fish are most active. The experienced anglers will always give you river fishing tips regarding these two factors mainly, and everything else will simply depend on your luck. But by remembering these pointers, the probability of you making a good catch increase considerably. 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Texas Shark Fishing For Traditional Saltwater Game Fish

Texas shark fishing can be an exciting alternative to fishing for traditional saltwater game fish and can provide you with an opportunity to battle some really big fish.  All sharks are predators, but are also scavengers ready to take advantage of any easy meal that presents itself. Sharks are voracious carnivores that are always on the prowl for food and their gills only function when they are moving forward, so they spend their lives in constant motion.

Sharks congregate in places where there are large numbers of smaller fish that they can feed on, so the key to finding sharks is to first know where to look for other fish. There are three major areas to hunt for sharks, and these areas are frequented by sharks of differing feeding habits. The areas are: close inshore and in estuaries, coastal areas near islands and structures, and offshore in the open ocean.

The close inshore shark species, such as bull sharks, sand sharks and some varieties of hammerheads can be caught off fishing piers or jetties right off the coast or in the waters of bays. These sharks hang out close to shore to feed on mullet and other shoaling fish that concentrate there. During the months of June through October large schools of shark, such as Blacktips, Tiger, Bull, and Hammerheads converge on the shallow waters of the Galveston beachfront.

These fish can run from 10 to 350 lbs. And range in lengths from 3 to 8 feet. During the summer it is not uncommon to catch 10 to 30 sharks.  You might catch one of these shark species inadvertently while fishing for smaller game. Although many of these sharks are small, it’s not uncommon to catch really big ones close to land. Serious inshore shark fishermen fish the piers and jetties at night, “chumming” the water by dumping in buckets of cut-up fish or other bloody meat to attract sharks.

The second category of Texas shark fishing locations is the coastal area. This usually means areas that are accessible to fishermen with boats, and can be any area off the coast that has some natural or man-made structure to attract fish, and consequently, the sharks that feed on them. The coast of Galveston and Freeport are two popular spots for world class shark fishing in Texas.

Barrier islands are also a good area, and the passes between closely-spaced barrier islands can be especially good on an incoming tide, when sharks hang out waiting on the sea to bring them their dinner.

Other areas in this category are underwater coral reefs, which support a vibrant ecosystem of animals at every stage of the food chain and sharks at the top end. In the Gulf of Mexico and other areas, man-made structures such as offshore oil drilling rigs are also a haven for marine life and are very productive locations to fish for big sharks.

The open ocean is home to pelagic sharks, like the mako and whitetip. Many of these sharks spend their entire lives far from land, roaming the open oceans in search of food. They might be the hardest sharks for offshore fishermen to locate, but can sometimes be found in large numbers in a “feeding frenzy” caused by schooling prey species.