Saltwater vs. Freshwater Fishing: Which Is Best For You?

True fishing enthusiasts might consider the “Saltwater vs. Freshwater” argument to be moot, when the answer might be “why not both?” But for the rest of us, we’re not totally sure what kind of fishing is the best for us, our temperaments, or our families. In this article, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fishing, and how you and your family fit in to the different approaches.

Saltwater Fishing

Advantages: Saltwater fishing satisfies the adventurer’s heart, especially if you’re going deep-sea fishing. Saltwater is connected to or in the ocean, resulting in a greater variety of sea life and a larger scale of the different types of fish you might catch. In addition to catching fish, however, you might also catch sharks or rays. Saltwater fishing can also yield some more “impressive” visual fish. Freshwater lakes tend to have a lesser degree of variety and will typically only yield certain species.

Disadvantages: Travel and location. Not everyone has access to saltwater, whereas freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams are more plentiful throughout the non-coastal areas. In the Midwest and along the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri river basins there are plenty of lakes and rivers to provide plenty of convenient fishing spots. The problem? These are the freshwater spots. If you’re not on the coast, getting to saltwater might pose a problem.

Freshwater Fishing

Advantage: As mentioned before, access is always a big issue. Freshwater is simply easier to get to for most people, as it’s more common to have a lake within driving distance than an ocean or gulf. Freshwater fishing goes great with certain lifestyles, especially with typically laid-back activities like camping. Freshwater fishing can also easily be an entire family trip, while deep sea saltwater fishing excursions might have to exclude a few children.

Disadvantages: Although there are plenty of fish to find in freshwater, the true variety of underwater life really doesn’t compare to the open sea. The more attractive and exotic fish are typically saltwater fish. Other species like shark can also be found in saltwater; with a few rare exceptions, this is not the case with freshwater fishing.

Determining which kind of fishing best suits you will depend on a few things: your travel plans, your location, and your temperament. Many people find freshwater fishing adventurous enough; for others, there’s no comparison. Some people want to avoid the adventure altogether. Take a moment to review the disadvantages and advantages to each, and keep a mental list about the kind of fishing that better suits your personality. What kind of fisher are you?

Photo Credit: colorblindPICASO

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Posted by Hike Camp Fish on March 12, 2009 in fishing. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.