A word to the wise: the piscatorial pursuit known as fishing is called fishing and not catching for a reason. If you always keep in mind that you're going fishing and not catching, you'll have a far better and entirely more enjoyable time chasing finned critters around the briny. That being said, here are some things you'll need to know if you're just starting out.
Reels
There are two types of fishing rod/reel combinations you'll come across: spinning rigs and conventional (or bait casting) rigs. For starting out, spinning gear is probably the easier (note I did not say easiest) to master, though it does require a bit of hand/eye coordination. For the youngsters, get a Zebco or Daiwa "pushbutton" reel; a spinning reel that doesn't require the coordination of a regular spinning reel.
Bait casting reels are the type exemplified in Jaws - drums of line with a cranking handle. These also require some thumb/eye coordination to cast and — for novices — are prone to birdnesting (snarling).
Best bet? Start with a spinning reel.
Rods
The major difference in rods is that spinning rods have a set of eyelets (called guides or runners) through which the line is threaded that taper from very big to small (at the tip). Baitcasting or conventional rods have essentially the same size eyelets along their length.
Best bet? Purchase a spinning combo, in which the rod and reel come matched.
Line
There is a bewildering variety of line available these days made out of various space age materials, but it won't hurt you to load your reel (or better yet, have it loaded for you) with plain ol' monofilament line, the least expensive type there is.
Best bet? Around our marine waters a line weight (denoting breaking strength) of 14 to 20 pounds will easily stand up to just about anything you'll encounter. For small gear 8 to 10 pound will do.
Knots
You'll need to know at least one knot if you stay with mono (some knots don't work with certain types of line): the "improved clinch knot" or the "Trilene knot." These can tie the line on your reel to every- and anything else it needs to be tied to.
Best bet? Go to www.netknots.com (under "Fishing Knots," then "Terminal Knots") or www.animatedknots.com (under "Knots by Name") for animated instructions.
Stuff
Other "stuff" you'll need are leaders - metal "line" with a swivel on one end and a means of attaching a lure or hook to the other end. These come in differing lengths: for kids go with six inch; you, 12 inch. You're going to need lures and hooks as well (more about that in a sec). A hook remover (bluefish, one of the easiest fish to catch because they bite virtually everything, have very sharp teeth) is worth the investment. A good pocketknife also comes in handy, as does a box to keep all the "stuff" you'll accumulate for chasing critters with a brain the size of a pea. If you're going to be using bait, you'll need lead weights and three-way swivels.
You'll also need to sign up for the New York State Recreational Marine Fishing Registry. Not to worry, it's free. Go to www.dec.ny.gov/permits/54950.html and do it online...it takes about five minutes.
Best bet? Go to your local tackle shop (that's what they call all of this stuff - tackle), explain what you want to do - fishing off the beach, off a pier, off your boat, in your pool, on your lawn - and they'll tell you what to use for the fish that are running.
Admit you're a newbie (even if the other guy in the shop looks like Robert Shaw's Quint) and ask questions. Ask about how to rig baits, where to go, what types of lures/bait to use, and so on. Tackle and bait shop folks have seen and heard it all and have their fingers on the pulse of the areas they serve - use their expertise.
Where to Go
Assuming you'll be fishing from land, remember that (generally speaking) where everyone else is fishing is probably where you want to fish. Any place where the tides have water running in and out are good places, and the tops and bottoms (the beginning and end of the semidiurnal cycle; i.e. four tides every 24 hours, two low, two high) of the tides are usually the best times to fish.
When the sun is low in the sky (early morning or late afternoon) is also generally better for fishing than midday. Night fishing is usually good, and full-moon night-fishing is even better. Regardless, if there's a certain amount of inconvenience involved, it's usually the best time for fishing and – occasionally – catching.
There are a lot of modifiers in the preceding paragraph, but then again there are very few "rock solid" rules to fishing.
Best bet? If you're serious about learning to fish, take a trip on a "party" or "open" boat. These are large boats that take groups of paying customers out, and when people pay, they expect to catch. The boats usually provide everything (rods, reels, tackle, and bait), and offer half- and full-day rates. Make sure to tell them you're a first timer. If the mates know that you are, they can be a great help. And remember, if they are a great help, a tip doesn't hurt. These guys aren't rolling in dough, unfortunately, they love what they do.
Etiquette
Yes, there are dos and don'ts to fishing. First and foremost is what to do with the fish you catch. There are regulations as to size and number allowed (go to www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7894.html), but more importantly, if you're not planning on cleaning (i.e. reducing to usable meat) and eating your catch, let it go back to swimming merrily on its way after you've caught it. That's called catch-and-release fishing.
One way to make it easier on both you and the fish is by crushing the barb on the hook flat against itself with a pair of pliers (especially on treble or "three tine" hooks). You'll need to keep pressure on a fish to avoid it "throwing" your hook or lure this way, but getting the barb out of the picture does considerably less damage to the fish during the removal facet. You might also consider replacing treble hooks with single hooks for the same reason.
Of course, explaining to your youngster that a fish is too small, or not to be eaten, or whatever reason you come up with, is moot. They caught a fish and by golly they're going to keep it and eat it. You can't argue with their logic — especially on that first fish — and there's really nothing tastier than a first fish.
There are other rules of which to be aware.
- If someone is fishing where you want to go, don't crowd them. Everyone needs room. If someone crowds you, feel free to ask them to move.
- Always be aware of what is behind you when casting. Hooks can do a lot of damage to the anatomical parts of people otherwise uninvolved with this stick-waving activity.
- Stand (far!) off to the side of children when they're casting (see above admonition) and watch what they're doing...closely. And (speaking from experience) if you have two children, don't bother bringing a rod for yourself. You won't have time to use it.
- Clean up after yourself. This means bait boxes and anything else you may have generated. If you've had a snarl in your reel (it happens to even the best of anglers) and had to rip off a bunch of line, don't leave it in the environment; dispose of it properly.
- If you're done fishing for the day and have bait leftover, give it to someone.
Okay. There you have it. A primer on how to get started fishing. Now stop reading and hit the coast. Dinner — or a whale of a tale — is awaiting you. Well...maybe!
Further Reading
Fishing the Long Island Coast, by Tom Melton, an ace Long Island beach fisherman.
Falvey's Guide to Fishing Long Island, by Kevin Falvey, a Sport Fishing Magazine editor and a Long Islander.
The weekly publication The Fisherman is a good source for info on party boats, charter boats, and tackle shops, available everywhere.
