Tips for Greener, More Sustainable Fishing Practices
There’s no population more motivated to support conservation than
outdoors people. Virtually everyone recognizes that cleaning up and
conserving the planet we live on isn’t an abstract philosophical
position, it’s about our future quality of life and the continuation of
that life. However, it’s often those with hobbies in the outdoors that
notice the repercussions of failing environmental stewardship
first—hunters, hikers, campers, and, of course, anglers. As such,
anglers who care about the planet, and care about fishing remaining a
viable hobby for future generations, should do what it takes to fish as
cleanly, greenly, and sustainably as possible. If that means using
environmentally-friendly gear or gear that can help research and learn
about the ecosystem, such as a fish camera underwater to sustain and improve our watery world, it’s worth it.
Fish Responsibly and Sustainably
Responsible angling is generally as easy as sticking to the regulations, but there are practices beyond following the regs that can help maintain healthy ecosystems. Consider practicing catch and release, take photos rather than fish—unless they’re invasive, destructive species, which you’ll often be required to keep. If a female fish is noticeably with roe, release it even if it’s a keeper according to the regs. Consider fishing barbless even when the regs don’t call for it. Avoid using live bait for smaller game fish, as they’re likely to swallow it deeply, making live release unlikely, if not impossible.
International Coastal Cleanup Day
Ocean Conservancy designated September 21 as the International Coastal Cleanup day more than 30 years ago. It began in Texas with under 3,000 volunteers and is now an international event with a global volunteer army of thousands in over 100 countries. Technology is now aiding in the cleanup effort. Underwater fishing camera producer and supplier GoFish Cam, best known for allowing anglers to record footage of strikes as they happen, had a customer contact them with footage of hard-to-spot wet-wipes on the ocean floor. These and similar finds could assist with cleanup efforts.
While technology allows us to spot trash on the ocean floor more easily, there is also, unfortunately, a lot of trash that’s easier to find. So on September 21 (or before it, or after it), take some time out to leave your favorite fishery better than you found it. Don’t leave any trash behind, and if you find any while you’re out there, do a public good and clean it up.
Green Gear and Practices
In general, anglers seem to be a conscientious bunch. However, we can all make mistakes, or simply be unaware of gear or practices that can have a detrimental effect on the ecosystem. There’s likely not an angler on the planet that hasn’t encountered a nasty snarl of fishing line at their favorite hole. It’s annoying, unsightly, and it’s also sticking around for a while.
Monofilament line takes as long as 600 years to biodegrade. That’s a long time to risk tangling up fish and wildlife. Consider picking up biodegradable fishing line instead. Likewise, few anglers think twice about using split-shot or jigheads for soft baits. However, most of those are lead-based, and introducing pellets of lead into the environment can be bad news. Consider investing in some tin or tin-bismuth jigheads and split-shot (or any weights) instead. Of course, catch and release native species whenever possible, row instead of firing up the outboard, and generally, leave the water and the shore better than you found it.
About GoFish Cam
Discouraged by a day of slow fishing what should have been a hot spot, Brandon Austin wanted to know what was going on under the water. It triggered an epiphany—why not take a look below the surface? From that seed, the GoFish Cam grew. It came to fruition in 2015 as an in-line underwater camera capturing HD video for gaining angling intelligence. Since then, the company has supplied thousands of cameras to anglers across the world and has helped supply cameras to multiple research and environmental groups to assist with marine and environmental research efforts. With the GoFish Cam, you can learn more about your favorite holes and find new hotspots, improve your trolling or retrieval technique, and forever relive every thrilling moment from your favorite pastime. Alternately, for anyone hoping to make an angler in their life very happy, check “gifts for fisherman” off of your to-do list with the GoFish Cam.
Improve your technique and relive every moment with the GoFish Cam, at Gofishcam.com
Fish Responsibly and Sustainably
Responsible angling is generally as easy as sticking to the regulations, but there are practices beyond following the regs that can help maintain healthy ecosystems. Consider practicing catch and release, take photos rather than fish—unless they’re invasive, destructive species, which you’ll often be required to keep. If a female fish is noticeably with roe, release it even if it’s a keeper according to the regs. Consider fishing barbless even when the regs don’t call for it. Avoid using live bait for smaller game fish, as they’re likely to swallow it deeply, making live release unlikely, if not impossible.
International Coastal Cleanup Day
Ocean Conservancy designated September 21 as the International Coastal Cleanup day more than 30 years ago. It began in Texas with under 3,000 volunteers and is now an international event with a global volunteer army of thousands in over 100 countries. Technology is now aiding in the cleanup effort. Underwater fishing camera producer and supplier GoFish Cam, best known for allowing anglers to record footage of strikes as they happen, had a customer contact them with footage of hard-to-spot wet-wipes on the ocean floor. These and similar finds could assist with cleanup efforts.
While technology allows us to spot trash on the ocean floor more easily, there is also, unfortunately, a lot of trash that’s easier to find. So on September 21 (or before it, or after it), take some time out to leave your favorite fishery better than you found it. Don’t leave any trash behind, and if you find any while you’re out there, do a public good and clean it up.
Green Gear and Practices
In general, anglers seem to be a conscientious bunch. However, we can all make mistakes, or simply be unaware of gear or practices that can have a detrimental effect on the ecosystem. There’s likely not an angler on the planet that hasn’t encountered a nasty snarl of fishing line at their favorite hole. It’s annoying, unsightly, and it’s also sticking around for a while.
Monofilament line takes as long as 600 years to biodegrade. That’s a long time to risk tangling up fish and wildlife. Consider picking up biodegradable fishing line instead. Likewise, few anglers think twice about using split-shot or jigheads for soft baits. However, most of those are lead-based, and introducing pellets of lead into the environment can be bad news. Consider investing in some tin or tin-bismuth jigheads and split-shot (or any weights) instead. Of course, catch and release native species whenever possible, row instead of firing up the outboard, and generally, leave the water and the shore better than you found it.
About GoFish Cam
Discouraged by a day of slow fishing what should have been a hot spot, Brandon Austin wanted to know what was going on under the water. It triggered an epiphany—why not take a look below the surface? From that seed, the GoFish Cam grew. It came to fruition in 2015 as an in-line underwater camera capturing HD video for gaining angling intelligence. Since then, the company has supplied thousands of cameras to anglers across the world and has helped supply cameras to multiple research and environmental groups to assist with marine and environmental research efforts. With the GoFish Cam, you can learn more about your favorite holes and find new hotspots, improve your trolling or retrieval technique, and forever relive every thrilling moment from your favorite pastime. Alternately, for anyone hoping to make an angler in their life very happy, check “gifts for fisherman” off of your to-do list with the GoFish Cam.
Improve your technique and relive every moment with the GoFish Cam, at Gofishcam.com
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