Fishing has been a favorite pastime for many people, dating back many years. Depending on the type of fishing, some people love it for the thrill it brings to get a catch, while others enjoy sitting by the water for hours.
Fishing can be incredibly relaxing, to the extent of improving your mental health. For people new to the sport, it may not seem like saltwater and freshwater fishing differ very vastly from each other. After all, the aim of both is to catch fish, right? While that is correct, there are many other factors that come into play when it comes to saltwater fishing vs freshwater fishing, as the two are actually incredibly different from each other in a number of ways. So, which one is best for you? Keep reading to find out the main differences.
Since saltwater fish tend to be bigger and stronger, you’ll need tougher gear than you do for freshwater fishing. Because of the bigger size of saltwater fish, you’ll likely also need bigger pieces of bait to lure the fish in. In some cases, you can use saltwater gear in freshwater, but not the other way around, since saltwater can cause damage to normal fishing gear, so you definitely need to take that into consideration as well. You’ll need a special saltwater spinning reels for saltwater fishing, as well as other specialized fishing gear designed to withstand the corrosive properties of salt.
Catch
Since the environment differs between saltwater and freshwater, it’s natural that the type of fish you’ll catch in the one won’t be the same as in the other. As mentioned, saltwater fish tend to be bulkier than freshwater fish, but that’s not the only difference when it comes to what you’ll catch. You can learn more about commonly caught saltwater fish species here. Be sure to do research on which fish you’re allowed to catch in your area, as well as ensuring you have all necessary licenses you need for fishing.
Experience
As a general rule, saltwater fishing tends to be more exciting than freshwater fishing, which is more of a relaxing hobby. The reason for this is that saltwater fishing is often done out on a boat, instead of sitting next to a body of water. Saltwater fish also tend to fight more once caught, which definitely gives more of a thrill. You’ll have to ask yourself what experience you’re after. The techniques also differ depending on the type of fishing. It’s a good idea to check out some freshwater fishing tips, especially if you’re new to it.
Costs
As mentioned earlier, salt can cause corrosive damage to fishing gear, which means that you’ll likely pay more for saltwater gear than freshwater gear. Especially if you plan on going saltwater fishing on a boat, it’s much more expensive than freshwater fishing. You’ll need to either buy or rent a boat, and also pay for fuel. Of course, if adventure is what you’re after, the price may well be worth it. It all depends on what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to pay for it.