It’s not always about catching a fish when you go out fishing, this fisherwoman found out. Photo by Brandon Scherzberg
“OK, and when I get a fish, I just start spinning this thing?” I ask hesitantly as my friend hands me a shiny black fishing rod—cue eye rolls. I don’t care; I have about as much of an idea of what to do as Chef Boyardee does at a cheerleading competition. The last time I went fishing, I had a Mickey Mouse rod topped off with a worm my dad had grabbed out of the garden that morning. Now I’m here, on a boat built specifically for fishing, using reels that probably cost more than my laptop watching monstrous fish fin tauntingly in the water off the Florida Keys. To say I’m out of my element would be an understatement.
This fisherwoman learned that even if you never touch a rod and all you catch is sunburn, if someone asks you to go fishing, say yes.
As it turns out, you learn a lot in a short period of time when you’re stuck in a small space with people who really like fishing. Here are my top 10 lessons as a first-time offshore fisherwoman:
1. You’ll always be in someone’s way
I found this out not once, not twice, but every other minute after someone yelled “Fish on!” Your best bet? Reel in your line as fast as you can, run somewhere toward the center of the boat, and don’t get in the way of the line.
2. It’s an all-day affair—bring snacks
Sometimes you’ll sink the boat with fish within an hour. Other times you’ll be scanning the horizon for signs of feeding birds all day. Sometimes it’s a wild goose chase, and sometimes you go home with an empty cooler. Bring the Pringles.
3. You’ll get major boat cred if you bait your own hook
Same goes for filleting your own fish and washing your own rod. Try to be proactive about the down-and-dirty details of fishing and you’ll earn some respect (even if all you catch is seaweed).
4. There’s actually a science behind catching fish
Who knew, right? I guess everyone who’s ever looked into fishing—but color me surprised. The type of bait, the speed of the boat, even how many miles you are off shore have to be carefully considered depending on what you want to catch.
Catch of the day; Photo by Johnie Gall (i.e. the first-time fisherwoman)
5. Be prepared to be the go-fer
If you don’t have a fish on your hook, be aware of where important tools are: the net, the gaff, the rags, the cooler, measuring stick, the spare hooks. If you don’t know what any of that means, don’t worry, you’ll learn quickly.
6. You’re going to catch something weird looking, at least once
If you feel something huge on your line when you’re looking for something small, you can bet you hooked a curious fish that doesn’t fit the description. Get it off the hook and save it as fast as you can—and hope that he learned his lesson.
7. Your skin is going to be so mad at you
This isn’t the time to worry about your base tan—cover your skin up from dusk till dawn. Look for light-colored, full-length pants and shirts that are quick-drying and airy with a UPF rating of at least 30. Besides that, slather on the SPF and reapply often, and top all of that off with a wide-brimmed straw hat. Think I’m exaggerating? Tell that to my blistery back skin.
8. Fishing doesn’t end at the dock
Showers get put on hold until after every fish has been filleted, washed, and placed in the freezer. Then there’s cooler dumping, boat washing, rod storage, towel hanging, and bagged ice runs.
Fishing isn’t always about fishing, says the author, a first-time fisherwoman—but when it is, you better learn to get out of the way! Photo by Johnie Gall
9. You can like to eat fish, and still really not like fishing
Fish is a staple of my diet, but I discovered quickly that I don’t like the sport. I don’t like using live bait; I don’t like watching the fish flop around. And that’s OK, because…
10. Fishing isn’t just about fishing
Most of the time, it’s about the people you’re with. It’s about being fortunate enough to be in a boat, floating in beautiful water in a warm place. It’s about following a pod of dolphins as they play in the boat’s wake, or spotting a whale shark swimming effortlessly beside you. So, even if you never touch a rod and all you catch is sunburn, if someone asks you to go fishing, say yes.
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