Fishing is a popular sport for millions of people in the United States. In 2015 alone, over 45.7 million people went on a fishing trip at least once. While many avid anglers take fishing charters, others take out their own boat or head for shallow waters.
While people enjoy fishing for a variety of reasons, some do so because it is a great way to relieve stress. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, along with the Outdoor Foundation report, both found that this was the main reason why many people take up fishing.
In addition to it being a stress reliever, fishing is also a fun, and potentially exciting, way to spend time with friends and family. Furthermore, when you bring in a haul, you can create more than just a single tasty meal on the grill.
Are you new to fishing? If so, you’re probably interested in finding a few fishing guides. When in Florida, this may include booking space on one of the Homosassa fishing charters to hook some redfish.
If you’re not familiar with redfish, you are in for a treat. While they may live as long as 4 years in an estuary before migrating to nearby waters, they continue to grow throughout their lifespan. Once they reach 36 inches, they begin to add girth rather than length.
Fishing guides will tell you that on occasion, you may encounter a “bull” redfish, which is a redfish over 30 inches long. You may be interested to know that in 1984, the world record was set for the largest redfish. It was caught off Hatteras, North Carolina, and weighed 94 pounds and 2 ounces. The record for the largest fly-caught redfish, however, occurred in 1995 when a 43-pounder was caught in Florida’s Banana River Lagoon.
If you have your sights set on catching an average redfish, fishing guides will tell you that you need a six to 14 pound test line. You will want to pair this with a 20 pound leader. If you’re hoping to catch a bull redfish, though, you’ll need a 20 to 30 pound line paired with a 40 pound leader.
When fishing in shallow waters, fishing guides recommend a heavier rod with an 8 to 10 pound weight. This will help sink your line and leaders so that the flies are able to reach the fish.
In addition to catching redfish, you may catch a few other types of fish. Regardless of which type of fish you catch, it’s important to just relax and enjoy yourself and the company of other anglers.
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