One of the first decisions you need to make before Angling is whether you want to go freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing. Although this may depend on where you live and what is most accessible there are other factors that need to be discussed. At Taskers Angling we thought we would bring you this blog post to explain what these are.
First of all it may sound fairly obvious but saltwater covers the majority of the Earth. In fact only 2.5% of water globally is freshwater. However saltwater fishing often means having to go looking for wild fish from a boat. On the other hand freshwater fishing can take place in natural waters such as rivers large lakes and from the shore. Commercial fisheries are often the place to do this as they make sure their waters are stocked. We do have a page dedicated to local fisheries on our website.
If you want to go saltwater fishing it is important to be aware that you will need to constantly keep on top of your equipment. This may even mean regularly replacing it, particularly if it is metallic due to the fact that it can be easily eroded due to the salt in the water. Freshwater fishing on the other hand can see a lot of your equipment last for longer and less upkeep is needed.
Another important difference between the two waters is that sea anglers who fish on saltwater will look to eat or keep what they catch. Often this is not the case if you are freshwater fishing, or coarse fishing where you are often expected to return what you catch to the water. Saltwater fish are also often larger than what can be found in freshwater. However if you are freshwater fishing then don't worry as big catches can still be found there, including Carp and Pike that can grow to over 30lbs in weight!
Saltwater fishing can also be dictated to you by the tides which can change over the course of a day. If you are on a boat then good captains will know this. It also applies if you are fishing on the shore as well. When it comes to freshwater fishing weather also plays an important role. Heavy rain can often flood rivers which makes fishing hard. If it is too hot in the summer then oxygen levels in the water will decrease meaning that the fish will move too deeper or cooler areas. Night fishing on freshwater is a good way to avoid this as temperatures are likely to be much cooler and can be a good time to catch Carp.
Last but most importantly it is key to keep in mind safety. Naturally saltwater fishing tends to have more dangers, if you are fishing from rocks or your own boat then you need to be aware of waves, currents and tides, making sure you choose the right time to go. As mentioned earlier ensuring that you are on a proper boat with a good captain should make sure you are as safe as you can be. The risks are much lower with freshwater fishing but not altogether gone. Being close to water is always dangerous incase you fall in or an accident takes place, particularly in the night. Having someone with you in these situations is always a good idea or before you go tell someone where you are going so they know where you are.
We hope that you have found this helpful in terms of identifying the key differences between saltwater and freshwater fishing. If there is one you want to try and you need help with finding the correct gear then please visit our Liverpool store or give us a call on 01512606015.