Common Fishing Terms Explained

Catch and Release - A conservation motion that happens most often right before the local Fish and Game officer pulls over a boat that has caught more than it's limit.

Hook: (1) A curved piece of metal used to catch fish. (2) A clever advertisement to entice a fisherman to spend his life savings on a new rod and reel. (3) The punch administered by said fisherman's wife after he spends their life savings (see also Right Hook, Left Hook)

Line: Something you give your co-workers when they ask on Monday now your fishing went the past weekend.

Lure: An object that is semi-enticing to fish, but will drive an angler into such a frenzy that he will charge his credit card to the limit before exiting the tackle shop.

Reel: A weighted object that causes a rod to sink quickly when dropped overboard.

Rod: An attractively painted length of fiberglass that keeps an angler from ever getting too close to a fish.

School: A grouping in which fish are taught to avoid your $29.99 lures and hold out for spam instead.

Tackle: What your last catch did to you as you reeled him in, but just before he wrestled free and jumped back overboard.

Tackle Box: A box that is shaped alarmingly like your comprehensive first aid kit. Only a tackle box contains many sharp objects, so that when you reach in the wrong box blindly to get a Band Aid, you soon find that you need more than one.

Common Fishing Terms Explained compliments of Sailfish Magazine Spring 2007