Beginners guide to fishing

• Where are the best fishing spots?
• Some species are easier to catch at certain times of the year i.e. when they’re spawning
• Is there a time of day that is the best time to target them i.e. first thing in the morning during the change of light (from night to day)?
• When you’ve identified some good fishing spots – what is the environment like? Are you going to fishing near underwater rocks, off the beach etc – this will help you identify what gear you might need
• What are the best methods to target your chosen species i.e. lures, soft baits, livebaits etc
• Are there size and catch limits in your area?

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You can chat to other anglers, join fishing pages on social media, talk to or join your local fishing club, research online by watching YouTube videos or fishing websites, or reading fishing magazines.

Here are a few of our favourite places to get information:

The Fishing Website

Hooked Up

You can buy fishing guides and maps to help you identify the best places to go fishing. Check out the SpotX website for New Zealand guides and maps, or the AFN website for Australian guides and maps.

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Also make sure you check out your local fishing authority website to understand if you need a licence to go fishing, and to know what the size and catch limits are in your area.

New Zealand

NSW

Queensland

Victoria

South Australia

Tasmania

Western Australia

Northern Territory

These would include:

• how to tie knots
• how to set up your rod and reel
• how to handle fish when you catch them
• how to bait hooks
• what gear you’ll need to fish for your target species
• how to use the gear you need

Check out our Fishing Hub - we've got fishing guides for different styles of fishing, beginners guides to teach you the basics, and product guides to help you learn how to fish with our gear.

• Practice casting or whatever technique you’re using without the pressure of trying to catch a fish
• There are casting clinics you can attend to teach you the right techniques, and you can practice on land before hitting the water
• But spending time on the water, getting used to all your gear, the environment and just practicing is the most valuable way to learn.

Decide if you're going to keep the fish you catch, or release them back into the water.

• If you plan to keep fish you’ve caught, learn how to handle them, kill them humanely, store them, fillet them and cook them.
• If you plan to release them, learn the best way to handle them so they have the optimal chance of survival when you put them back in the water. There are also certain fishing techniques that will give you a better chance of a safe release than others, including using circle hooks versus J hooks

You’ll learn so much from trial and error, and will quickly figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. Enjoy the adventure – catching a fish is a bonus