As a great man once said, “Give a man a fish; he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish; you will find bait in the fridge.” Deep-sea fishing was once necessary for survival, but is now mainly commercialized. Fish fossils discovered in archaeological digs show that early humans fished in the ocean around 500,000 years ago (“The History”). Advances in fishing equipment have made the activity mainly based around commercial and recreational use.
Deep-sea fishing is much more difficult and exciting than freshwater fishing. Deep-sea fishing dates back as far as 500,000 years ago, and has been quickly developed and mastered over the years. Fishing may have only begun to develop somewhere between 40,000 and 10,000 years BCE through Homo Sapiens. Fishing before then was done almost completely by hand, which was extremely grueling and inefficient (“The History”).
The introduction of spears and rods came much later. Sue O’ Connor, along with other co-workers, were digging at the Jeremalai Shelter in East Timor and uncovered some 38,000 fish bones from 23 different types of fish. Later tests and studies revealed the earliest bones from the finds to be close to 42,000 years old (“Zuckerman”). Among the discoveries was a fish hook made from shell. The hook was dated to be around 16,000 to 23,000 years old. O’ Connor says it may be one of the earliest examples of a fish hook (“Zuckerman”).
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With this being said, deep-sea fishing dates back much further than a majority of people believe. Throughout the history of the Roman Empire, deep-sea fishing techniques were a massive factor in how they obtained food. The Romans’ food supply was largely based around fish. They fished in the Mediterranean Basin using different varieties of nets. Because the Romans had no accessibility to cold storage, a majority of the fish was used to make garum, which was an extremely popular condiment during those times (“The History”). The Roman Empire also held fishing-themed gladiator fights in the amphitheater.
The secutor, whose helmet resembled that of a fish head, was hunted by the retiarius, who wielded a trident and fish net (“The History”). In conclusion, fishing was one of the most important pieces of the success Roman Empire. Throughout history, fishing has gone from a basic for survival to a commercialized activity. The first recorded fishing boats were made in Great Britain in the seventeenth century. When steam boats emerged in the nineteenth century, the seafood trade skyrocketed.
Larger quantities of fish were able to be caught at a time because of how powerful the fishing boats had become. As the technology and equipment used for fishing advanced, the prices dropped. Because of this, more people and companies were able to purchase and use them (“The History”). This quickly caused overfishing in many areas. Since then, the issue has grown worse and more common in areas popular for fishing. Deep-sea fishing requires more materials than most people believe. The basic paraphernalia of fishing are a fishing rod, fishing line, hooks, sinkers to help the bait sink, and plenty of bait (“Price”). Because there is no shade on the open waters, the sun can be extremely dangerous. This means sunscreen should be a priority (“Price”).
Also, deep-sea fishing trips tend to span more than an hour, which means plenty of food and water are necessary. Hand sanitizer is a great option to help stay clean before eating (“Price”). Overall, it is extremely important to not only stay protected and safe while fishing, but to also be clean while taking breaks from the activity. Seasickness, also known as motion sickness, is extremely common because of how the waves throw the boat. The sickness tends to span over the whole trip because the boat is constantly in motion. Over-the-counter medication is a great option to prevent this. It should be taken around two hours prior to boarding the boat to ensure it is in full effect. Not only will the medication prevent seasickness, it will make the trip more enjoyable and enhance the fishing experience.
Gloves are another important item to bring on a deep-sea fishing outing. “Bring a pair of gloves to protect your hands from the elements and when handling the fish. From the sun or potential poor weather, to line cuts or fish bites, gloves are a great resource to have available” (“Price”). Gloves also provide grip to help handle the wet, slimy fish. A camera is also a great item to have while deep-sea fishing. With how long the trips last, it is inevitable that there are going to be memories worth keeping. The camera will need to have some type of waterproofing device because of the rough, wet conditions (“Price”).
With this in mind, pictures of the fish that have been caught would be a great source of proof that they were reeled in. The first step when boarding the boat is to find an area to place all of the equipment. The deck is most likely going to be extremely crowded, so it is important that the amount of space needs to be maximized. The other fishermen require room to pass safely and efficiently in order to ensure the rest of the people on deck’s safety (“What to Expect”). The captain will explain where to find all of the safety equipment and how to use them (“What to Expect”).
Once this is done, the lines may be prepared and the boat will set sail. “Once you get out to the fishing grounds, remain calm. Find an open spot on the rail and wait for the captain to say it is time to drop lines” (What to Expect). As long as the captain’s orders are followed, the trip will be smooth. There are three basic deep-sea fishing techniques. The first technique is trolling, which usually occurs closer to the shore. The second technique is bottom fishing, which occurs in depths that exceed 170 feet.
The last technique used for deep-sea fishing is jigging, which is one of the most productive types of fishing and can be used in a variety of depths (“Deep-Sea Fishing Tips”). “It would be a good idea to use a fish finder which will inform you about the depth, water bottom structure, and GPS” (“Deep-Sea Fishing Tips”). This device is extremely effective is finding the two categories of target fish. The first category being fish that live closer to the bottom. The second category being fish that live in multiple depths and constantly move (“Deep-Sea Fishing Tips”).
According to (Deep-Sea Fishing Tips), “Small squids, cuttlefish, or small fish are the best baits to use due to the realistic appearance and smell.” Some of the best spots to find these types of fish are close to coral reefs and seamounts (“Deep-Sea Fishing Tips”). Different fish are attracted to different bait, which means a variety of bait is vital to catching fish.
When one considers how much more involved and evolved deep-sea fishing has become, it is clear that this type of fishing is much more difficult and exciting than freshwater fishing. Deep-sea fishing is an activity that can last a lifetime. Each and every outing holds brand new experiences and memories. Only approximately five percent of the ocean has been discovered, which means there is plenty more to explore.
Works Cited
“Deep Sea Fishing Tips: When the Big Fight Begins.” TheMarineBattery.com, The Marine Battery, 2018, www.themarinebattery.com/deep-sea-fishing-tips/. Accessed 9 January 2019.
“The History of Fishing.” Alimentarium.org, n.p., n.d., www.alimentarium.org/en.kmowledge/history-fishing. Accessed 8 January 2019.
Price, Brian. “Deep Sea Fishing: What You Need to Take With You.” Gearweare.com, n.p., 12 March 2018, www.gearweare.com/deep-sea-fishing/. Accessed 9 January 2019.
“What to Bring.” Channelislandssportfishing.com, Channel Islands Sportfishing, n.d., www.channelislandssportfishing.com/what-to-bring. Accessed 8 January 2019.
“ What to Expect.” Channelislandssportfishing.com, Channel Islands Sportfishing, n.d., www.channelislandssportfishing.com/what-to-expect. Accessed 9 January 2019.
Zuckerman, Wendy. “Deep Sea Fishing for Tuna Began 42,000 Years Ago.” NewScientist.com, New Scientist Ltd., 24 November 2011, www.newscientist.com/article/dn21213-deep-sea-fishing-for-tuna-began-42000-years-ago/. Accessed 8 January 2019.
