Fishing for Life Physical, Mental, and Social

The act of fishing itself has plenty of advantages, fishing for life. Fishing, or angling, is when people use a rod, line, and hook to catch fish in freshwater or saltwater. FIshing is quite beneficial to your health, both your physical and mental wellbeing. When you go fishing, a lot of strong things combine.

Firstly, there is exercise involved which is known to improve your mood. Moreover, concentrating on your catch is an ideal exercise for cultivating your mindfulness. You become one with nature which has proven to be beneficial to your mental well being. Being near water induces meditation in the mind, and generates many negative mood enhancing ions, thus reducing stress and anxiety.

Fishing while meeting and surpassing a challenge, you can enter a flow state, or the sensation of being “in the zone,” bringing about peace and fulfillment.

Brief History

Fishing began as a way to get food for survival, very much like hunting. Yet, fishing as a sport does indeed have a long history. Tackle, or fishing gear, is an important part of the history of fishing or angling. Fishing began as a way to survive in prehistoric times. It is still very important to our survival and the quality of our food. As time passed, fishing became its own industry, sport, and recreation. With technological advancement, we now have modern fishing equipment to catch different types of fish. Fishing began in the 15th century with primitive methods.  

Today, there are thousands of fish hooks and artificial lures, making it easier to catch fish. 

Is Fishing for You?

Really, one of the healthiest pastimes out there is fishing. We recognize that these are big statements, but we stand by them. We are looking into the science underlying the way fishing affects the body and mind. While some of it is clear, other variables even surprised us!

Physical Benefits “Fishing for Life”

Get some much needed exercise – Did you know that fishing improves your overall body strength? The physical exercise is obvious. Your shoulders, back, arms, abs, and legs suffer from the workout of fighting even a little fish from the water. Many avid fishermen begin an exercise routine to prepare for the big catch when it comes. Did you know that fishing is considered low-impact cardio?

Great time to clean out the lungs. Air pollution has a negative impact on your body in various ways. Pollution can cause anything from breathing problems to heart disease. Spending time outdoors fishing provides a much needed boost of clear, oxygen-rich air. Paired with exercise to promote breathing, your lungs will feel better than they have in a very looooong time.

fishing for life - physical, mental, and social

Getting enough fresh air each day may improve your breathing and give your body time to heal.

The calming effect of moving water. Being close to moving water allows you to experience the impact of the negative ions created by the water. Negative ions are tiny charged particles proven to build up the immune system, speed up metabolism, and affect sleep patterns. They also significantly boost your spirits.

Feel the warmth of the sun on your face. That warming dose of vitamin D is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. The average American is outside for a very short time each day. And, most time outdoors is spent in the evening or in built-up areas that do not provide great sunlight.

Healthy Eating

Fish are packed full of essential nutrients that contribute to health eating – Oily fish are the most healthy. These would be salmon, trout, and mackerel. Obesity is still on the rise all around the world. With so many obese and overweight Americans, catching fish can provide you with a source of healthy food.

Mental Benefits “Fishing for Life”

The many physical benefits of fishing may seem obvious. But that’s only half the story. In addition, fishing has a remarkable effect on your mental wellbeing. A few hours with a rod in hand can help you deal with depression of lack of focus. Fishing has its own mental benefits too.

Achieve calm, focus, and relaxation. Focusing on your bait can help you achieve a new sense of concentration. When combined with rising up to and conquering a problem, you may achieve a flow state. This means that feeling of being “in the zone”, fostering calm and fulfillment.

Achieve calm, focus, and relaxation – Focusing on your bait can help you achieve

Fishing provides great benefits for PTSD Victims – Patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder appear to benefit the most from fishing. Recent research shows that fishing can help PTSD victims both in the short and long term by relieving their symptoms. And that’s not the end of it. Angling has a great deal of promise in reducing stress and anxiety.

Social Benefits “Fishing for Life”

fishing for life - physical, mental, and social
Friends Fishing

Strengthen existing friendships and foster new ones. Fishing may be a social activity that builds lifelong bonds and improves mood, happiness, and stress levels. Time spent with family and friends could be quite beneficial to you. Fishing is also a great opportunity to meet new people who fish in the same places you do.

Join community fishing groups – Aside from friendships, you can become part of a group of other fishermen. Most towns have local fishing chapters, groups, or other forums to meet others who share your passion for fishing.

Beginner’s Beware!

While you will experience amazing health benefits when you fish, is fishing an expensive hobby?

If you make fishing an expensive hobby, it will be. Truthfully, you can catch fish all day with $10 worth of equipment bought and sold at a tag sale. Or, you can easily spend thousands of dollars annually traveling to exotic locations in hunt of game fish.

However, you can strike a balance in your spending on tackle. As you work to strike your own balance, “Beginners Beware”! Consider your initial purchases on equipment carefully.

Starting any new hobby can be costly. But, be cautious starting out. Fishing requires balance in your life. Before you go to the tackle store, know what you are going to buy. Make informed decisions without getting sucked into the sizes, shapes and colors of the lures. Again, remember you can catch fish all day long with $10 worth of equipment.

If you are learning the “ins-and-outs” of fishing, please click this LINK to learn more about fishing and sustainability.

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