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Should You Go Deep-Sea Fishing?
If you’ve gone fishing before and hated it, there’s a chance you’ve never gone deep-sea fishing. Even people who aren’t normally interested in the cast-and-wait strategy involved in lake fishing can be enthralled, and there’s nothing quite like seeing a shark come out of that deep water instead of a bluegill. The problem is that deep-sea fishing can be very expensive. So how can you make your decision?
Additionally, there are some side benefits to deep-sea fishing: first, you’ll learn about the different kind of wildlife that inhabits the waters near your vacation spot. If you never knew what a “bonnethead” shark was, you might be ready to find out. You might also spot some other creatures like stingrays. Of course, if you catch a well-muscled shark, your captain should help you in gutting it and storing the meat to eat for dinner.
First, there are a lot of reasons to go deep-sea fishing. The more people you have in your family, the more reasons you have. It’s not a good idea to take very small children out on the boat – and most deep-sea fisherman won’t let you – but if your children are in adolescence and can follow some basic orders, they should be able to handle it fine. It’s important to consider the kind of experience you want your children to have. Deep-sea fishing can be fun for you, but it can be a life-long memory for your children.There are some downsides to deep-sea fishing, however. The first is the cost – a great experience out on a boat doesn’t come cheap. Usually, you’ll be chartering a boat from the captain, who will be able to do much of the work for you while letting you reel in the big one. You’ll also be out on the water for hours at a time, which means that you’re essentially buying a large portion of the captain’s day.
If you’re not careful, there are some other potential problems – sunburn and dehydration. When you’re surrounded by water, it can sometimes be easy to forget that you need to keep drinking plenty of it (just not the saltwater, of course!). Keep hydrated, fed, and make sure that you keep on plenty of sunscreen.
Is deep-sea fishing for you? It may take a couple of times to really understand if you want to do it again. But if you have the right captain, you should be able to make some great catches and take pictures that can last a lifetime.
Photo Credits: Hello Daly
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Fish for Dinner: What Kind of Fish Are Great for Catching and Eating?
There’s nothing quite like a meal freshly picked from the lake and the satisfaction of knowing that you went out and caught your own dinner. Kids love to do it, and it’s a great way for parents to bond with their children. But what are the best kind of fish to catch and actually prepare in a meal?
In this article, we’ll take a look at several types of fish that make the best “eating fish.”
-Walleye.
Walleye is considered one of the best-tasting freshwater fish and can be thrilling to catch, with a record 42-inch Walleye being the largest ever caught. Walleye will provide plenty of meat to cook as the typically grow to over two feet in length. They’re not an easy fish to a small child to catch without the assistance of an adult, which can make them a bit problematic.
Walleye have excellent vision (their light-reflecting eyes give them their name) and typically come out during low-illumination (think dawn and dusk) or in choppy waters, where they have an advantage over prey. Walleye can also swim deeper, which can make them more of a challenge to catch.-Bluegill.
Very popular in the upper Midwest (Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan) and Texas and Lousiana, Bluegill are smaller than Walleye, but easier to catch. They are considered to be on par with Walleye in terms of taste, and can be caught relatively easily by children with simple bait such as worms or flies.
Bluegill are also called “panfish” because of their size and the methods typically used to cook them. They are also a great fish to help teach your son or daughter how to fish, as they can be quick biters and will tend to come up to shallow waters to feed.
-Smallmouth bass.
Growing anywhere from two to six pounds, smallmouth bass are a relatively medium-sized gamefish that live in both rivers and lakes, and can be caught by simply “angling” techniques or with flyfishing. Smallmouth bass have a reputation for being fighters when hooked, and typically can make some splashing when near the top of the water. This might help your child learn how to work with fish that fight back.
Smallmouth bass are great for cooking as well, with a clean white meat that goes great with dinner.
Many of these types of fish are relatively common and will make a great fish to seek out during your next camping trip or visit to the lake. Learn more about each fish to easily identify them and teach your children about the different species.
Photo Credits: e53
