It's fishing season again. If you have a fisherman in your household, then you know what this means - endless days of sitting on the beach, freezing your tuckus off and slapping sand fleas as they bite your legs. However, if you are truly dedicated to your fisherman, the following tips might make your life easier!
1. Know your tide tables. Nothing ruins a college graduation or child's birthday party faster than your fisherman not showing up because it's an ideal tide for fishing. Knowing your tide tables will help you to avoid planning pesky nuisances like dinner during peak fishing hours.
2. Know your bait. Nobody wants to be the guy who brought the wrong lure to the fishing party. Familiarizing yourself with the proper bait for the target catch will make your fishing trip much more pleasant. I find it helpful to keep emergency packets of squid innards, minnows, and maggots in the cooler next to the cold sodas.
3. Prepare for any situation before leaving the house. Wear short sleeves for warm weather, pack sunscreen, bring a sweatshirt for cooler weather, wear rubber boots over your sneakers in case of rain, don't forget an umbrella (you don't think a little monsoon will cause your fisherman to pack up early, do you?), bring a blanket for sitting on the beach and wrapping up in once the temperature drops, and bring a shovel as a handy walking stick/beach fire prevention tool...just in case. It's also important to remember to spray yourself in insect repellant beforeleaving the house. Otherwise, the soft "fwoosh" of the bug spray on the beach might scare the fish away, something your fisherman will hold against you for years to come.
4. Know your fishing knots. Lost hooks and lures are par for the course while fishing. You never know when you will be called into service to re-tie a hook at a moment's notice. Remember the angler's rule of thumb when tying hooks: the rabbit runs around the tree three times before jumping in the hole. Bonus:As a fun beach activity, why not tie a few flies while watching the fishing line drift listlessly in the water?
5. Know your limits. Size limits, of course (your limits of patience and endurance will be tested throughout the day.) Familiarize yourself with state regulations on every breed your angler is trying to catch and make sure you can cite them when prompted. It's helpful to know the limits on all the fish in the ocean - you never know when your fisherman will aim for a fluke and reel in a scup. Don't forget the tape measure!
Overall, it's your choice whether to spend the day fishing with your loved one or to read a good book in the comfort of your own home. After all, nobody's going to ask you to stab a meal worm with a hook when you're camped out on the couch. Even then, you're never safe - after all, someone's got to fillet, de-bone, prepare and cook the big catch once your fisherman brings it home!
1. Know your tide tables. Nothing ruins a college graduation or child's birthday party faster than your fisherman not showing up because it's an ideal tide for fishing. Knowing your tide tables will help you to avoid planning pesky nuisances like dinner during peak fishing hours.
2. Know your bait. Nobody wants to be the guy who brought the wrong lure to the fishing party. Familiarizing yourself with the proper bait for the target catch will make your fishing trip much more pleasant. I find it helpful to keep emergency packets of squid innards, minnows, and maggots in the cooler next to the cold sodas.
3. Prepare for any situation before leaving the house. Wear short sleeves for warm weather, pack sunscreen, bring a sweatshirt for cooler weather, wear rubber boots over your sneakers in case of rain, don't forget an umbrella (you don't think a little monsoon will cause your fisherman to pack up early, do you?), bring a blanket for sitting on the beach and wrapping up in once the temperature drops, and bring a shovel as a handy walking stick/beach fire prevention tool...just in case. It's also important to remember to spray yourself in insect repellant beforeleaving the house. Otherwise, the soft "fwoosh" of the bug spray on the beach might scare the fish away, something your fisherman will hold against you for years to come.
4. Know your fishing knots. Lost hooks and lures are par for the course while fishing. You never know when you will be called into service to re-tie a hook at a moment's notice. Remember the angler's rule of thumb when tying hooks: the rabbit runs around the tree three times before jumping in the hole. Bonus:As a fun beach activity, why not tie a few flies while watching the fishing line drift listlessly in the water?
5. Know your limits. Size limits, of course (your limits of patience and endurance will be tested throughout the day.) Familiarize yourself with state regulations on every breed your angler is trying to catch and make sure you can cite them when prompted. It's helpful to know the limits on all the fish in the ocean - you never know when your fisherman will aim for a fluke and reel in a scup. Don't forget the tape measure!
Overall, it's your choice whether to spend the day fishing with your loved one or to read a good book in the comfort of your own home. After all, nobody's going to ask you to stab a meal worm with a hook when you're camped out on the couch. Even then, you're never safe - after all, someone's got to fillet, de-bone, prepare and cook the big catch once your fisherman brings it home!
Jason never would've caught this undersize fluke that he had to throw back without my help.
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