Written by You’ve probably thought of taking up a hobby or two at some point in your life. Maybe you’ve tried hiking, mountaineering or rock climbing, and you now have a thirst for the great outdoors. Maybe lockdown’s got you feeling a certain way, and you’re itching to try something new.
Well, we’ve got a fun suggestion for you that you’ve (probably) never given much thought to before. It’s called sportfishing, and it involves catching different kinds of fish and even competing against others to win prizes.
If you’ve never tried it, you’re in for a treat. Most first-timers get hooked (excuse the pun) and become avid anglers! Still not sure if this is a good option for you? Well, we’ve compiled this short article to present 3 reasons why you should try sportfishing— give it a read!
Reason #1: Reconnect with Nature
There’s something about cruising along the ocean and taking in a lungful of fresh air that’s mentally soothing.
Living busy lives in densely populated areas, we hardly get the chance to unwind and reconnect with nature. In that sense, sportfishing is the ultimate excursion to reduce a buildup of stress and anxiety from any cortisol (stress hormone) that’s accumulated in your system.
It’s a break from your regular schedule, which allows you to reset motivational levels and even gives you an opportunity to meditate and become grounded within yourself.
Either way, you’re probably fed up with staying indoors or being exposed to the same stimulus. Sportfishing is an excellent way to become familiar with the migrating patterns of various kinds of fish and observe their relationship with their environment.
Reason #2: Try a New Sport
There are a host of different reasons why people might try a new sport. Some are driven by the desire to improve health and fitness; others want to just partake in something that’s fun and mentally stimulating.
Sportfishing offers the perfect opportunity to embrace change, expand past your horizons and try something new for a change. What does it involve, though?
There are various kinds of sportfishing, each different in some regard. The most popular type is fly-fishing, which involves casting a fly or bug as bait into the water. This lures the fish out to the surface and makes it easier to reel them in.
It’s important to be careful when casting your line since it’s easy to scare the fish off and end up with nothing.
Another kind is spearfishing. This is one of the oldest forms of the sport and involves diving with a spear gun and using stealth to get the job done. There are sub-types as well, which involve scuba diving and freediving, so you can take your pick and decide which one you like and want to try first.
You can even take part in competitions with other anglers (beginners and experienced) to see who catches the largest game and decide if you want to keep the fish or let them go.
There are cheap flights to Sitka, Alaska, where you can book a day trip, catch as many fish as you can and they’ll wrap and send them to you to the airport just before your departure. You can find more information on it by contacting Action Alaska.
Reason #3: Learn About All Kinds of Fish
In Alaska, you can expect to find king salmon, halibut, rockfish, lingcod and many others. More specifically, you can even turn up for Sitka king salmon fishing, which is a big favorite of the salmon lovers (you know who you are).
What can you expect to learn? All kinds of stuff.
Did you know that the salmon run is a migrating pattern of salmon where they swim from the oceans to rivers in order to spawn (lay eggs) into gravel beds? This is an exciting event for sport fishermen and grizzlies alike who use this opportunity to catch and eat as many as possible.
Halibut usually hide on the ocean floor and are power swimmers with long and muscular bodies, which they use to their advantage to hunt prey. They have a strong jaw, which they use to consume larger fish.
It’s an exciting opportunity to learn more about our aquatic friends from experts who’ve spent their whole lives honing their craft. Book a day trip with Action Alaska today!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. We’ve neatly compiled 3 reasons why you should try sportfishing and made a strong argument for why you might really like it. Think on it, invite your friends and family, and make a day trip out of it!