Go fish!
The earliest known English essay on recreational fishing was published in 1496
National Go Fishing Day is observed annually on June 18th. This is a day to take time from your daily routine to find a stream, a pond, a lake or a river, bait your hook, cast your line and catch a fish or two.
In addition to providing food, fishing is a recreational pastime of many.
Recreational fishing includes conventions, rules, licensing restrictions and laws that limit the way in which fish may be caught. A rod, reel, line and hooks with any one of the different forms of bait or lures, are the most common form of recreational fishing.
The practice of catching (or attempting to catch) fish with a hook is known as angling. Catch and release (returning the fish to the water to continue its life) is sometimes expected or required by law. For others, this is a preferred form of fishing.
Having knowledge of habitat, foraging behaviour and migration helps hone fishing techniques for a successful fishing adventure. There are some fishermen that still follow fishing folklore, which claims that fish feeding patterns are influenced by the position of the sun and the moon.
The earliest known English essay on recreational fishing was published in 1496.
It was during the 16th and 17th centuries that recreational fishing gained popularity. In 1653, Izaak Walton published a book titled, The Complete Angler or Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Walton’s book is the definitive work that champions the position of the angler who loves fishing just for the sake of it.
Celebrate National Go Fishing Day with a few friends or the whole family. Share your whopper using #NationalGoFishingDay on social media.
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