Why do you do it?

[straightrod]

Seven years ago I bought a used tandem Outfitter. I love the ocean and my wife loves to fish. We have been out hundreds of times offshore fishing in that kayak. I learned to love fishing and she loves the ocean while fishing.

The whole thing started with me just wanting some ocean adventure while coaxing my wife further and further out.

We are in our 60's and our family and friends don't have a clue. We did graduate to a Tandem Island - now we are considered dangerous.

[alanw]

Good question and good timing Tony, as I was just asking myself the same thing yesterday while bobbing around in the chop and slop with not so much as a raked bait to show for all the trouble of dragging myself and the entire floating toolbox down to the launch. How about that hour+ long cleanup afterward? In fact, I've been skunked my last 4 trips out but I still look forward to the next time for some reason. It's sometimes easy to forget why you're out there.

I think just the resetting of the mind that comes with being on the water is the key. For a few hours I'm not thinking about the past weeks stresses, or even the coming weeks problems. My personal problems fade away, even if for only a few hours, and that alone is worth it to me. I also think it's a way of staying in touch with the past.. fishing with my Father as a boy, teaching my son how to fish and fishing with him for years. Now that neither are able to fish with me regularly I can still call them up and share the experience. It's like a bond we share and I want to keep it alive.

There's also the lure of catching that fish of a lifetime. In the workweek leading up to a trip, there's always a little daydreaming of that fish out there just waiting to fall victim to my new technique. A skunk just gives me another week to figure out my next new and improved technique, and time to make another trip to the LTS.

If I really need to catch something I will change it up and target bass or perch or other easier species, or go out on a party boat for the day. But getting skunked out there doesn't discourage me at all, it just keeps me looking forward till the next time.

[alanw]

There's also this reason
bumpedlureface.jpg

[driftwood]

Fishing is like box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. If I get nothing, Lie and tell your friend..."you should of seen the one that got away"

[captnblood34]

Originally Posted by HELLSTER INC.

Honestly just love being on the water,everything else is just a bonus.

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Agreed! I say exactly that all he time.

[tacmik]

Because my wife doesn't.

[FISH11]

Because I needed to get some form of exercise and being on the water was always fun. After selling my 18 foot catamaran. I started researching kayaks and found BWE, I saw the pictures of guys on kayaks holding Yellowtail, Large Halibut and WSB. I said "that is it" , that's what I want to do. So I started fishing again after about 10 years of not doing it. Not go out for trout, large mouth bass, etc. The fact that you can launch at La Jolla shores paddle out enjoy a beautiful day with amazing scenery, drink some beers and on a good day even come home with a trophy fish to enjoy a wonderful meal. Slow days or even dry spells don't stop me. The only thing I hate more than winds over 18 mph are the over protected and never ending, bait stealing F'n furbags!

[PapaDave]

It's the hunt.

It's the adventure.

It makes my mind think in a different fashion than when I'm at work or home.

[Harry Hill]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

It's been slow in our neck of the woods here lately...fish let alone bites have been very few and far between. Who knows why..? Time of year, El Nino, El Chapo, La Nina, Wind, swell, water temp, moon cycle, current, visibility, lack of talent...? We always try to explain why we are not catching and try to make sense of it.

I was out fishing this weekend, and I got a call from my brother while I was out fishing and, he asked me in a condescending tone..."what are you out fishing again? Did you catch anything? Why do you keep on going?" I tried to answer him but the answers that I was coming up with didn't really seem to make much sense...to tell you the truth I never really asked myself that question of WHY?

Curious as to the reasons why we continue to wake up early in the morning, spend time energy and effort on preparing to go fishing and all kinds of money on fuel, food, tackle, parking, bait, braving sketchy conditions only to get cold and wet, ruining our vehicles, getting stuck in the sand, worrying about having to take a shit while out on the water, wearing out our bodies from all that carrying and lifting...all to catch nothing...over and over and over.

Here's a couple of answers I came up with:
A: I love to fish (when catching isn't good I don't love it)
A: I fish for the fish (well if that was true we would have all quit by now)
A: I fish for fun (when the gett'n isn't good it's the opposite of fun)
A: A bad day fishing is better than a good day working (BULLSHIT!)
A: I fish to get away (there's plenty of other cheaper things that you could do to get away)


I asked the question to the boys...and they couldn't give me a valid answer either. So I thought it would be fun to ask the quesition here...

So why do you continue to torture yourself by going fishing and catching nothing...?


Seriously...I'm looking forward to going fishing again this weekend!
To tell you the truth...the only thing that makes sense is Mental illness.

I just love to fish. When I was a little kid my dad built a little pond and waterfall in our back yard. I stocked it with bullhead and though it was only about a foot deep I would put a little bait under a bobber and catch those bullhead all of the time, they had to have the sorest lips in the country.

[Hunters Pa]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

I was out fishing this weekend, and I got a call from my brother while I was out fishing and, he asked me in a condescending tone..."what are you out fishing again? Did you catch anything? Why do you keep on going?" I tried to answer him but the answers that I was coming up with didn't really seem to make much sense...to tell you the truth I never really asked myself that question of WHY?

.

If he has to ask why then it is futile to try and explain.

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by Hunters Pa

If he has to ask why then it is futile to try and explain.

My entire family, dad, brother, cousins, uncles, nieces & nephews...all don't like fishing. It's just funny how they think I'm some kinda psycho for going fishing, once sometimes twice a week. It's almost like they look down on it...Maybe it's jealousy...at least I like to think so, they sure don't complain when they get to eat some of the amazing fish I bring home.

My cousins are all professional athletes by the way...amazing isn't it? They all play in the same league...the Fantasy Football league.

Sometimes though...like the last couple of weeks, I feel as though they have a point...we all been pay'n our dues. Grinding it out weekend after weekend, with nothing to show for it in kinda shitty conditions. Call it an addiction call it mental illness...it's still better than fantasy sports!

[Iceman]

Love the pressure relieve, love the anticipation, if skunked I head in knowing with out a doubt that I will catch a big fish in the future..........some day. No doubt. Love that feeling of breaking a dry spell, love providing the food for the family, preparing and enjoying it.

[YakDout]

It is called the fishing bug. Some people get it real young and it never goes away. Some get it later in life and are just ass addicted as the veterans. Then there are the people who never catch the bug and I feel bad for them. Maybe they were vaccinated at birth? All I know is Im glad I am an individual who is infected.

It is not something that can be explained to the uninfected. No matter what you say.

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[Geno Machino]

I go fishing because I can not catch anything from the couch, behind a computer, at day at the docks, Or being at the Fred Hall show. TOW is the only way to susecced at all in bringing home that fresh hamachi, sashimi or fresh halibut.
My .02.
Geno

Ps I sometimes ask myself the same question Tony. The thrill of that nice fish is what keeps me going...

[pingpangdang]

A lot of my peers don't like fishing. ..I don't understand why...

Maybe we are genetically wired as the hunters...those that don't like to fish were the gatherers and basket weavers.



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[iethinker]

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world...John Muir

[roby]

I don't fish for the catch. I fish for the release.



Screw it......I can't wait to kill my next halibut.

[Rambo]

http://www.saltstrong.com/why-do-people-fish/

Here are just a few reasons people love fishing:

Camaraderie
To get outside and enjoy nature
To be on or near the water
Adventure
Fishing is a new challenge every time you hit the water
To dream…
The unknown…

In fact, part of the fishing addiction is not knowing what you will catch that day…will it be your new record…will it be a new world record…will you catch a trophy fish…will you catch a fish that you have never caught before…will you catch a fish at all…the unknown always keep anglers coming back.

That sums it up!

[tomahawk]

you are right. It is tough to put into words. I enjoy many different aspects of it. When I am get blanked, I love the tranquility. Just me and peace and quite. Everything slows down. When catching, it's the anticipation. I think that is why top water fishing is so much fun. Seeing a bass explode on a dine stuck on top of the kelp or a top water bait is addicting. When fishing with friends, its a chance to catch up and bs and have a beer. I am not a fan of a wide open bite, I want it to be a challenge. WSB fishing over tuna charging the boat, any day.

[ROSSOLY]

Older brother, sounds like it! Mild bullying