There are so many different types of fishing, and so many different types of anglers. From fly fishing to spear fishing, deep sea trolling to kite fishing, ice fishing to lure fishing…there’s a lot to disagree about. Seawater versus freshwater fishing. From the boat or off a pier. This equipment versus that equipment. One technique versus another. And of course, catch and keep or catch and release.

Unsurprisingly, all these differences can lead to some pretty heavy arguments within the larger angler community. For example, that last one accounts for more arguments than I can count. Both the catch and keep and the catch and release groups claim that their way is the best way to help protect and preserve fish species. Each can make claims that their way is the most ethical and humane way – and that the other way does more harm than good.

Who’s right? Who knows! Ultimately, responsible and ethical fishing goes way beyond a single angler’s choice to keep or release. The same goes for a lot of the other infighting found in the angler community – bait vs. flies, men vs. women, and so on. Instead of supporting diversity among the 44 million fishing enthusiasts in the U.S., most of us are too busy hashing it out on forums to actually find time to fish!

But what if we stopped all the bickering? How much time could we find then? Time to learn about and support ocean, river, and lake conservation… time to learn about a new style of fishing or a new piece of equipment… time to learn more about the fish that make this sport so exciting. If the angling community was a tight-knit one, my hypothesis is that we’d all be better anglers as a result. After all, the only thing that endless debating will help you get better at is debating.

With the pace of life speeding up with every passing year, more anglers are finding the only time they have to fish is after the sun goes down. Stuck in the office? Weekends chock full of chores? Night fishing may be the answer you’re looking for. Picture this: An empty bay so quiet the only sound you hear is the lapping of the water on the prow… there’s a tug on your line and suddenly you’re reeling in your catch in near total darkness.

If it sounds exciting, that’s because it is. Night fishing offers a real thrill, whether you’re fishing off a boat or on shore. If you’re new to this awesome angling experience, read on. We’ve compiled a list of night fishing tips (mainly for boaters) that will help make your after hours fishing trips enjoyable and rewarding.

• Don’t count on the company of the moon. Night fishing when the moon is full can give you a whole new appreciation for the beauty of the aquatic environment, but even if you’re expecting lunar illumination, clouds can make your outing inky dark.
• Some fishing areas allow the use of artificial lights to lure fish, but most places prohibit the use of artificial light for night fishing. Check before you head out, or risk a fine.
• Night fishing is best from April to October, with the warm summer months considered prime time. This might be because it’s only at night that the water is free of pleasure cruisers and water skiers, but could be that the fishing is just better.
• The dark of night is not the best time to find yourself stranded in the middle of a lake or bay, so be sure to give your craft a once over during daylight hours. Check your running lights – which are often required by law – and your fuses, your battery terminal, and your engine’s performance before night fishing.
• Pack multiple flashlights and backup batteries. One flashlight is doomed to fail, but carrying two almost always means the first one will never die.
• Make sure you know where to find everything in your boat and that your tackle is accessible. Night fishing accidents and mishaps are often caused by anglers who are looking for or can’t find a particular piece of equipment in the dark or the dim.
• Pre-tie your leaders and terminal rigs so you’re not wasting time fumbling with lines and losing out on fish in the process.

There will never be more hours in the day, but night fishing is one way you can find more hours to devote to fishing. Do it right, and it’s almost like you never got caught up in the rat race at all!

What’s terminal tackle, you say? Just the hooks, swivels, weights, lures, floats, and other tackle that can be attached to the end of your line! Since terminal tackle is the part of your fishing gear that interacts with the water and interacts with the fish, we recommend knowing your stuff when it comes to outfitting your tackle box. Here is just some of the terminal tackle terminology you may encounter:

Toe the Line

We’re probably preaching to the choir here, but your line is the length of thread that goes on your reel – and at its terminus, is attached to some form of hook or lure. There are various kinds of line on the market today, like Dacron, braided nylon, fly line, and monofilament line, all of which come in several strengths.

The Pound Test

You’ve probably encountered ‘pound test’ measurements on spools of line. For those unfamiliar with this way of designating line strength, pound test refers to how much weight a line can support before it breaks. Hence the test. On spools, the strength of the line is often signified with the pound mark, #, e.g., 5# test.

Whatever Floats Your Boat

When we were kids, we called them bobbers, but nowadays we call them floats. They’re used, not as many people assume, to indicate a fish on the line (though they can do a fine job of that), but rather to suspend bait off of the bottom. Floats are typically made of plastic, foam, or balsa wood, and should rest upright in the water. We recommend using the smallest float you can.

Sinker Sank Sunk

These weights that anglers attach to their lines were traditionally made of lead but nowadays, we prefer eco options like tin, steel, bismuth, and alloys. Unfortunately making a sinker fish friendly also tends to make it more expensive, but when you love fish and the water, it pays to keep the environment clean.

The Right Hooks Get You Every Time

The most important part of a tackle box is always going to be the hook, because that is the only piece of your gear other than bait that will interact with the fish in any significant way. Today, fish hooks come in many different styles and sizes, so you always have the option of choosing one that will be the right size for your target fish (and do the least damage in catch and release situations).

Stay tuned for Terminal Tackle Terminology Pt. II!

We probably don’t have to tell you that striped bass are the most popular saltwater game fish on the East Coast. But do you know everything there is to know about the beautiful and unique Atlantic striper? We’d wager the answer is no. For example, did you know that there is a large variation in length as compared to weight and age in striped bass populations? The only truly reliable way to tell a striped bass’ age is to count the rings on its scales! How about the fact that the humble striped bass is the state fish of not only Maryland, but also Rhode Island and South Carolina? Or the official saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire? If you’re intrigued and we’ve got you on our hook, read on for some fascinating fish factoids about striped bass.

• Striped bass are also known as stripers, linesiders, rock, pimpfish, or rockfish.
• They are one of those unique fish species that can tolerate both salt and fresh water. They typically live in the ocean, but spawn in fresh water rivers – and stripers that become landlocked because of dams and other obstructions, can thrive in deep bodies of fresh water.
• Stripers like to ambush prey stirred up by turbulent water. And it’s a good thing, too, because striped bass may be powerful and agile swimmers, but they don’t swim extremely fast. Did we mention they’ll eat almost anything?
• These fish are creatures of time and temperature. Active in the fall and early spring, and at about an hour before sunrise, then again at dusk, striped bass definitely have their patterns. They prefer water in the 55° F to 68° F range, and are seldom caught when the water temperature dips below 44° F.
• Striped bass have no eyelids, which may explain their preference for dawn and dusk feeding. When the sun comes up, the bass go down deeper into the sea to avoid the glare.
• Mature large female striped bass are called cows. Juvenile stripers are called schoolies or shorts.
• The World Record weight for a striped bass is 81 pounds and 14 ounces. That particular fish was caught on the Long Island Sound, near the Outer Southwest Reef, off the coast of Westbrook, Connecticut. The lucky angler was one Gregory Myerson.
• Striped bass can live as long as 30 years, and it’s not unusual for an individual striper to reach its elder years.

Question: How many fish die unnecessarily each year because they are victims of rough handling and poor release techniques? Research has suggested that the mortality rates of certain species of released fish may be unpalatably high. Why? Because anglers with good intentions don’t always know what they are doing, and as long as the fish swims off, it’s assumed it will live to be caught again some other day.

Catch and release fishing has made tremendous gains in popularity in the past two decades due to regulations like minimum size limits, maximum creel limits, and changes to fish and game laws enacted for environmental reasons. For a few species, catch and release is mandated. In some cases, anglers practice catch and release techniques because they’ve caught enough for supper but want to stay out on the water for a few more hours. Some people even love the act of fishing, but don’t particularly like the taste of fish!

No matter why you’re choosing to engage in catch and release fishing, we’d like to share a few tried and true catch and release fish techniques that will ensure that the fish that swim away from your boat actually do keep on swimming.

1. Treat your fish gently. Don’t squeeze them or try to remove the hook by ripping it out.

2. Don’t put your catch on the ground where it will thrash around and could potentially injure itself.

3. Never put your fingers into the gills of a fish. Sure, it makes for a cool photo, but it’s no fun (and can be deadly) for the fish.

4. When fish swallow the hook, just cut the line. Ingesting a fish hook typically does far less internal damage than a well-meaning angler attempting to yank it out.

5. Minimalize air exposure and make sure you wet your hands before touching your fish.

6. Better yet, do what you can to avoid touching the fish. Leave the fish in the water while you remove the hook, if at all possible.
7. Use soft landing nets without knotted mesh, which can damage a fish’s scales and eyes.

8. Always use the right rig for the fish species you’re catching and releasing. This will make it easier to remove hooks without causing the fish’s early demise. There are even specially made hooks for catch and release fishing.

9. Never toss a fish back into the water – instead, release it gently.

BONUS CATCH AND RELEASE TIP: If your fish is plain exhausted from a long fight, it may enter into what is essentially a state of consciousness. It may simply float in the water, belly up. Release a fish in this state, and you’re almost guaranteed that your good intentions will be for naught. Instead of just putting it back into the water and hoping for the best, do a little fishie CPR. Place your fish into the water, supporting its midsection, and move it back and forth gently until it begins to move on its own. Only then should you release it.

Surprised to see mild fish paired with a full-flavored sausage? We were, too, which is why we researched the pairing to see just what was going on. It turns out that there’s a long tradition in both Spain and Portugal of serving white fish with something more intense to balance out the flavors. In this fish recipe, rich, smoky chorizo turns plain old cod into a complex and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• 3 oz. Spanish chorizo, diced
• 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 c. dry white wine, divided
• 1 15 oz. can great northern beans, rinsed
• 1/2  tsp. salt, divided
• 1 1/4 lbs. Pacific cod, cut into four pieces
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F, and coat a 9×13″ glass baking dish with cooking spray or a little neutral oil.
2. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped shallot, chorizo, and thyme, then cook, stirring as needed, until fragrant.
3. Add the tomatoes and half the white wine, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have broken down and the wine has almost evaporated.
4. Stir in the great northern beans and half the salt. Remove from the heat.
5. Sprinkle your fish with the remaining salt and the pepper before placing it in the prepared baking dish. Top each piece of fish with equal amounts of the tomato mixture (about a half cup per filet).
6. Pour the remaining white wine into the pan and cover with foil. Bake until the fish is just cooked through, or about 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Serve the dish with the sauce spooned over the top of each filet.

NOTE: Turkey kielbasa may be substituted for chorizo, and any mild white fish can be used in place of the cod.

There’s nothing quite like a piece of perfectly cooked fish that’s tender and flaky paired with a zippy, crunchy coating. In this recipe, crunchy pecans and flavorful mustard serve as a wonderful counterpoint to decadent buttery salmon.

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. hot tangy English mustard
• 2 tbsp. butter, melted
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/8 c. unseasoned bread crumbs
• 1/2 c. finely chopped pecans
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 4 6-ounce salmon fillets or steaks
• Salt and pepper

-Preheat oven to 400°F

-Blend mustard, butter, honey, and garlic powder, and refrigerate

-Mix bread crumbs, pecans, and parsley, and set aside

-Place salmon in a lightly oiled baking dish, then season to taste with salt and pepper

-Brush salmon liberally with the mustard mixture (reserve a portion for use in serving, if desired)

-Press bread crumb mixture on top of coated salmon

-Bake for 10 minutes per inch of thickness or until the fish flakes easily

-Serve with reserved mustard mixture and lemon wedges

Fishing is a hobby, and fishing is a profession. Fishing is also one of the greatest teachers a person will ever know. Life lessons abound in the angler’s world, and we thought it would be fun to share a few that we have learned over our combined decades of fishing experience.

There’s a Time for Everything

Good things happen when we fish when the fishing is fine, and the same holds true for life. Waiting until the time is right can save us from a lot of anguish and heartache, and the wait time gives us extra minutes, hours, days, or years to prepare for what’s ahead.

Patience Has Rewards

A virtue in every facet of life, patience is a lesson many anglers learn as children hunched over their first tackle set. Why aren’t the fish biting? Why won’t they just take the bait? Who knows, but there’s no use telling fish to hurry up. A lot of life is like that, actually. You can get as frustrated as you like, but that doesn’t change a thing. Might as well be patient.

The Ripple Effect Is Real

The tiny ripple made by a perfectly cast fly spreads into something larger and brings fish a plenty, just like small actions can have big consequences. A tiny act of compassion or kindness can start a chain reaction of good deeds and good feelings.

Don’t Tell Tales Too Tall

Ever let the Big One get away? Sure, we all have. For most of us, the Big One was a little larger than average, not the length of a school bus or the size of a planet. A little exaggeration is fun, but a lot can lead to hurt feelings. Telling too many fish stories on the water or in life will lead to people doubting your sincerity, and that’s not cool.

Sometimes You Have to Let Go

There’s nothing quite like reeling in what you think is a perfect keeper only to find out that it’s an inch below regulation size. You toss it back… and then? You could get angry or sulk, but what’s the point? Yes, sometimes letting the real fish go is easier than letting the metaphorical fish go, but in both cases, it’s the right thing to do.

What life lessons has fishing taught you?

Did you know that more than 50 million Americans go fishing at least once every year? Men and women, kids, amateurs and professionals, hobby anglers, and more can all be found on the water, tossing in their lines. That’s a lot of people fishing, resulting in a lot of fish caught. With so many anglers out there and a limited number of fish, we can’t afford not to fish responsibly if we want future generations to be able to enjoy fishing as much as we do. Here are 10 tips that everyone who loves fishing can use right now to make sure the fishing is still great when we’re old and gray:

1. Fish mindfully by using barbless hooks and learning proper catch and release techniques to give fish a better chance at survival.

2. When fishing for your supper, don’t take more than can be eaten or stored.

3. Practice proper fishing etiquette by keeping clear of other boats, steering clear of private waters unless permission to fish has been granted, and treating others out on the water with respect and courtesy.

4. Watch your speed and your wake, and always keep a reasonable distance from anglers on shore, jetties, and swimmers.

5. Never use a boat to herd fish on flats or to spook fish so it will reveal itself.

6. Follow fishing regulations, including obtaining licenses when necessary, and report poachers.

7. Educate yourself about coastal habitats, local fish species, fisheries operating in your area, and environmental protections in place related to water-based conservation efforts.

8. Protect your local fishing spots by taking your trash home with you, never dumping oil or fuel, and making an effort to leave sites cleaner than you found them.

9. Never use live bait fish that aren’t native to the waters you are fishing to avoid contamination by invasive species.

10. Engage in and support science-based advocacy geared toward creating better conservation strategies.

In commercial fishing, the need to balance the expense of business ownership can mean that gear is designed to capture as much fish as possible in the least amount of time. Much of the commercial fishing gear out there today is designed to catch any fish that gets in the way. In other words, bycatch. What’s bycatch? Undesirable fish that’s swept up in nets or captured on hooks, and tossed aside to live or to die. Bycatch can have a hugely negative impact on ecosystems and results in a lot of waste.

Avoiding bycatch isn’t always easy, both on a large commercial scale or even for small scale operations. But there’s one simple way to avoid bycatch that’s not only ecologically sound, but also pretty awesome. We’re talking about harpoon fishing. Harpoons were probably used for fishing long before hooks and rods made the scene. While harpoons are mainly associated with whaling, the fact is that this tool has ancient origins and was likely one of the first types of tackle.

Harpoon fishing today has certainly evolved, however. Instead of antler tips on wooden shafts, there are metal harpoons hooked up to electrified lines that can instantly kill a harpooned fish. Though the harpoon has somewhat of a negative image in many people’s minds because of its association with the whaling trade, the fact is that modern harpoon rigs can actually be more humane than other forms of fishing.

But the main appeal of harpoon fishing, as we see it, is the excitement of the catch. Standing out on the long gangway off the bow or sighting giant tuna and swordfish from the height of the crow’s nest… running out onto the bowsprit with harpoon in hand… driving that harpoon home. It’s a method of fishing that pits man against fish. Harpoon fishing is certainly a matter of skill more so than patience; it requires a keen eye, a strong arm, and an understanding of animal behavior that is akin to that required by the hunters of prehistory.

As for harpoon use in commercial fishing, you may be asking yourself how the men and women who specialize in harpoon fishing can possibly make a living. Here’s how: Many people regard quick-killed harpoon caught fish as a higher quality product and a more humane product, so the fish brought in via the harpoon tend to fetch a higher price than fish who lived out their final moments floundering in a net or struggling against a hook.