Authored by Demi Rose 

Whether you’re angling for fly fishing in the Bahamas, or trying to pin down piranhas in the Amazon, fishing holidays have never been more popular.

From casting for the fattest Atlantic salmon on earth in Russia, to visiting Australia’s Northern Territory where the barramundi are supposed to throw themselves into your boat out of pure politeness, fishing fanatics have begun traveling all over the world with their bait and a hook.

But for amateur fishermen / women, it’s not uncommon to find that you spend more time fishing than actually catching! Which is a shame considering you might have flown halfway across the world for the catching part of the experience.

If you find you’re in this boat (pun intended), it could be due to your technique. The following are 5 things you should be mindful of before taking a fishing holiday overseas.

Things You Need to Know to Improve Your Fishing Overseas

Be Organised and Be Ready

Fishing is like any other type of adventure sport; you need to be organized with all of the tools you will need for each day. Running out of the most commonly used items such as hooks and bait will call an early end to your holiday.

It’s a good idea to keep a good stock of the most commonly used items that are necessary for your destination, and a good way to research / gauge this is by seeking out local advice.

If you’ve booked to head out with a tour company, they should provide you with lists of required / recommended gear in advance of your arrival. If you’re heading out independently, see if there are any local groups or clubs you can touch base with to source out local insights.

Know How to Tie a Knot

A knot is a simple thing that can make a big difference in your fishing efforts. It’s one of those things that can make all the differenct between landing or dropping your catch.

The biggest thing for a beginner fisherman to understand is that different situations call for different knots. For instance the knots needed for tying fishing line to a hook are different from the knots needed to join two sections of line together.

Knowing what knot to use and when to use it is a skill that all aspiring fisherman should learn. The growing popularity of braided line has seen anglers catch heavier fish on lighter tackle making the need for a stronger and reliable knot ever more important.

Know How to Find The Right Place

Most people think that fishing is just a matter of going out onto the sea or the ocean, throwing off your fishing net or rod, and waiting for the right moment to pull it in. But people who think like this don’t catch many fish.

There are well thought out strategies that go into finding the perfect fishing spot, and knowing where to fish is equally important, or probably, more important than anything else.

Our best tip is to simply to ask a local fisherman where the best fishing spots are. Local bait shops are a great source of information as the shop owners business relies on fishermen actually catching fish in their area. So they’re usually likely to give good advice.

Some fishermen may not mind sharing information, but don’t be surprised if others won’t. To quote Team Livingit “If you think you are going to just walk up to a seasoned angler and ask him to share information about his favourite fishing spots, you would be very naive. Anglers guard their spots with their life!”

If you’re not having luck speaking to locals, get yourself a reliable topographic map. Topographic maps can reveal valuable information about the local terrain, and you can study this to find where elevation drops might cross a stream, river or other body of water.

Learn the Drop Shooting Technique

The drop shooting technique is a popular method that all fisherman should know. It is incredibly versatile, and can be utilized for fishing in any type of water; deep, shallow, and anywhere in between.

“A drop shot rig consists of line tied to a hook with a trailing leader that comes to an end with a weight so that the weight is at the bottom and the hook and bait are above it.”

The great thing about this set up is that it captures any kind of fish. All you need to do is slowly bounce the lure from the bottom then with your fishing rod tip, make some normal movements to make the lure look like it is alive.

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Demi is the Founder of an outdoors blog. She loves to share everything about enjoying and surviving time in the outdoors.