Sport Fishing

Sport Fishing is also known as recreational fishing. It is merely fishing for pleasure, treating it as a sport and not necessarily to fish so that you could eat the fish although it can be an option. Real sport fishing enthusiasts are respectable folks who practise etiquette when fishing and have a tradition of catch and release as they fish for sport. 

Hobbyists often discussed about equipment like fishing rods, reels, lines, hooks, sinkers, floats, baits and tackle boxes for storing weights, floats, lures, swivels, lines, hooks, pliers, etc. The other word to describe the practice of catching fish with a hook is called angling. So sports fisherman are anglers. In other countries, fly fishing, bow-fishing or spear-fishing are popular. 

But fishing needs etiquette just like golf and others. All sport fishing people would agree. If you want to eat fish, go buy from the market. You can bring home the fish you caught from the sea to eat but others who fish just love the fight. So they either go to a paid pond or a river or waterway. When it is a reservoir, please do not bring the fish home but practise "Catch and Release". 

Anglers should also take responsibility to clean up after themselves. I have seen people cutting tiny pieces of prawns and squids and then line them up on a railing and when they left, they did not clean up their acts. Overnight or days later, it stinks and stained the railings. Then there are men who cast nets into reservoir when the sign clearly said "No!" And they brought home all the fish they caught. Do not deplete our waterways. Once, I tripped over a fishing line in the grass and a large hook's pointed tip sunk into my foot causing a sharp pain and bleeding. Be responsible.

Some who own boats goes out to sea or they charter them. There are some interesting ponds that regulates "Catch and Release" policy. They have GT ponds where you will get lots of bites and lots of fight. GTs give great fights and can wear you out. They too have ponds where you can catch monster fish like gar, pacu, giant snakehead and others.

Here is one. You pay something like a green fee as in golf and you get 3-4 hours to enjoy yourself.

The last time I went fishing was to a pond at Pasir Ris and the one at Bottle Tree. Like golf courses, Bottle Tree will be no more in the near future. In land scarce Singapore, such recreation may be a thing of the past in the near future if you still have one.

There is a good variety of catch at this pond.

Like Giant Snakeheads (Toman).

The strike rate here is pretty high.

You get Pacu too.

Even Sea Bass!

This is a catch and release pond. Surprise! They even have Alligator Gar as you can see here when some one caught it. 

There are people who think sport fishing is cruel as it may cause pain to the fish but in all previous arguments and assertions, many believe that fish do not feel pain. Some studies however, argued that fish do feel pain. 

Fishing is otherwise a really good hobby. It builds patience, character, respect and friendship. This is dedicated to my son on a special day. I hope his old man has taught him well.