Fishing

The subject of fishing, or the (attempted) capture offish or other aquatic animals for commercial, subsistence, or recreational purposes, encompasses many disciplines. It has a rich and complex history and holds much significance for many reasons in a plethora of historical and contemporary cultures and civilizations. The earliest recordings of fishing for pleasure, recreation, and sport in Western society date back to the latter part of the 13th century.

The act of fishing is thought to have been practiced across the globe for over 40,000 years. It has a significant and complex sociocultural history, features prominently in the world's leading religions, and carries with it great symbolism and folklore. Many cultures and civilizations have traditionally placed high value on the practice of fishing as a means of survival and for its skill and artistry. Evidence of this can be found in the prominence given to depictions of piscatorial pursuits in prized archaeological artifacts, such as Peruvian Moche ceramics, Bolivian cave paintings, and Roman mosaics. However, fishing has not universally occupied a position of such high regard. Because of its perceived low social [Page 234]status, fishing scenes were rarely represented in ancient Greek culture. And the modern pursuit of fishing for pleasure as opposed to survival or profit, which was at one time viewed as a noble and gentlemanly activity, is becoming increasingly considered, in Western society at least, to be a cruel and barbaric “blood sport.”

Fishing for pleasure, recreation, sport, and as a food source is thought to have been practiced across the globe for over 40,000 years and was at one time viewed as a noble and gentlemanly activity.

The point at which fishing developed from an act of survival and economic necessity to a pursuit of pleasure and recreation is not definitively known, although some ancient Egyptian illustrations seem to depict fishing being practiced as a recreational pastime. The earliest English essay on recreational fishing was published in 1496, written by Dame Juliana Berners, prioress of the Benedictine Sopwell Nunnery. The essay was titled “Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angle” and was published in the second Boke of St. Albans, a treatise on hawking, hunting, and heraldry.

Recreational fishing gained popularity in England and Western Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. This was attributed mainly to the publication of Izzak Walton's The Compleat Angler: or, The Contemplative Mans Recreation in 1653. The book champions the position of the angler who loves fishing for the sake of fishing and was much read and often reprinted during the 16th century. More than 300 editions of The Compleat Angler have been published, which makes it one of the most frequently reprinted books in English literature.

Recreational fishing includes a variety of methods and equipment (or tackle, as it is commonly known), designed for specific prey and the environments that they inhabit. The most common form of recreational fishing is done with a rod, reel, line, hooks, and a range of baits or lures designed to entice and ultimately hook the fish through the mouth. Other devices are also used to compliment the presentation of the bait to the targeted fish. Some examples of such tackle include weights, floats, and swivels. This type of recreational fishing, with rod, line, and hook, is generically defined as angling. Laws and regulations managing angling vary greatly, often regionally, within countries. These commonly include the requirement to hold a permit or license, periods during which the capture of certain species is outlawed, and restrictions on types of tackle and on the numbers and sizes of fish that can be killed. The two most traditional methods of angling to develop in the United Kingdom and Western Europe are fly fishing and coarse fishing.

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