The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 14 No. 42 - August 13, 2014

reel time

What we’re really after

Reel time

rusty chinnis | sun

Breaking fish are exciting, but should be approached carefully.

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” This quote by Henry David Thoreau was a real eye opener when I first read it because it’s proved to be true for me. I think most anglers go through a sort of evolution in their fishing careers. I know I’ve been consumed with catching fish and have let the catching, or not, affect the quality of my day on the water. Yet when I examine the experiences over the years, it is the time outdoors with friends and family that created the most compelling moments. I think most anglers have the same experience.

This makes me more aware of being considerate of others when I’m on the waters. Sure, I’ve mellowed over the years, having done my share of shouting and arguing while fishing. Now I know that I’m the one that suffers the consequences of such actions, and I just move on. After all, there is a lot of water, fish and solitude out there.

When you’re fishing you have no idea of the anglers’ experiences that you’re sharing the waters with. They could be fishing for food, indulging a passion, finding solace from a traumatic experience, enjoying a day with friends or family, or just getting some relaxation from a hectic life. We all get caught up in our fishing at times and let our awareness drift as we look for the next spot we’re going to target.

Most anglers start out with areas in mind where they’ve caught fish before, and more often these days we either find another fisherman there or nearby. All too often this can mean that anglers get crowded together and this can ruin everyone’s experience. There are lots of places to fish, so if you find someone else nearby, move on to another location. You may even find that you discover fish or a fishing spot you didn’t expect.

I generally fish shallow water, usually poling along quietly. When I encounter another angler I always ask if it’s OK for me to pass and inquire if they might prefer me going on one side or the other. Most times the other angler appreciates this gesture, but sometimes they want you to stay completely away, even if there’s little chance of disturbing their action. If this is the case, I don’t argue I just move on.

Even though I don’t fish offshore often I know that many anglers work hard to find a ledge or hard bottom where they target fish, and they are generally respectful of the site, never overfishing it. One of the worst things they experience is other anglers who ride around offshore looking for spots that other anglers are fishing.

Often they don’t have the same respect as the original angler and mark the spot on their GPS, only to return and catch every fish they can. If anglers aren’t careful, it’s possible to ruin a good fishing hole, repeatedly overfishing it.

Fishing schooling species like Spanish mackerel, false albacore, kingfish and tuna is another example when anglers need to be considerate of each other. Savvy anglers make a stealthy approach, fishing the edges of a school where they know predators patrol for likely prey. They know that approaching by trolling motor to cast to the edges of the school or drifting nearby is their best chance of success. Anglers who don’t know the ropes often troll right through the schools of breaking fish, causing the action to break up and ruining the action for everyone.

When anglers take the time to consider others on the water everyone wins. Fishing should be fun and with a little consideration it can be. When you’re on the water, stay well away from other anglers, think before you cast and when you encounter someone who isn’t playing by those rules, move on. Show some respect and you’ll soon realize what it really is that you’re after.


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