Keep your mouth shut about spots, shut up and listen when old salts speak, and no matter how many dead 50s you pose with you will not earn the respect of guys who truly respect the resource.
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It's not how big or how many but the memories you walk away with.

Also, avoid fishing websites and social media, they have contributed to the destruction of the fisheries IMO.

Said the guy with over 7,100 posts on a fishing website, lol.



I agree with everyone who says just have fun and enjoy the time spent fishing. For me, fishing is something I do when I'm not working to relax and enjoy myself. There's no need to make it stressful or not fun.

Fish at night and have fun.

Ignore every "rule" and try it your own way. Just because everyone else does things the same is no reason to follow suit.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing well and I don't think you can do something well without taking the time to first learn how to do it and then practicing so you can do it well.

Think about the word "angler"

I fish many boulder feilds and the one thing I have learned over the past several seasons is to change the "angle" of my rod when fighting a bigger fish. By simply changing angles when a fish is digging in or heading in an unfavorable direction, often times you have more control of the outcome (but not always).

Remember that you know what you know because someone took the time to instill this fire within you. Whether it be dad, brother, grandpa in my case my great uncle. We all started somewhere... I try and remember that when I'm about to lose my patience with someone less seasoned. We all got our start somehow try not to lose sight of that :)
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Is that why you cast in the wrong direction 15 minutes after a current change and consistently cross me up? ;)
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Even though I'm only 25, I'd give the advice of LEARN HOW TO SWIM. Even though it is not technically fishing, God forbid a wave pulls you out or you fall off the rocks, etc. (even if you aren't doing anything stupid) you DO NOT want to end up in the water not having that knowledge. You are constantly around water and you should respect the power of water. Know how to save yourself because you may be like me and fish alone. But even with a friend, they cannot swim for you.

Directly related to fishing: PLAN WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO LAND YOUR CATCH AND PLAN FOR THE FISH TO BE 50 POUNDS. I see too many people when leaving the beach and bay not scouting for a landing rock on the jetty or rock piles and making a dangerous climb down or rock hopping with no Korkers or a belt around their waders. Some have some very nasty scars to prove my case. No fish is worth your life. Ever.

[QUOTE=fishbones;996855]Said the guy with over 7,100 posts on a fishing website, lol.

HAHAHA

So you wanna fish?
Do yourself a favor, stick to golf.
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[QUOTE=N.ShoreFisher;996989]

7100 posts over 12 years. I am speaking from experience!! :)

No one can deny that this board as well as all the others as well as the media of all kinds TV, mags' etc have contributed to overpopulation of key fishing areas.

Respect.

I see so many young kids that don't have it. I try to teach my kids to have respect for many things, be it the ocean, the old timer sitting on his bucket or a fish and how its to be placed and not thrown into the drink. I teach them to respect the sea because if you don't she'll take your life in an instant. Like Vic's sig says.. It's all about respect baby!

Ya won't catch nothing
 

watching someone else fish.

Just get out there and fish. You can always learn something fresh or salt. Many times it is not about the catching, just being out on the water

Share ... I am not a big canal guy

One day I was hooking up every other cast and the guy next to me just had the wrong lure after the 2nd fish I reached in my bag walked over to the guy Handed him my spare lure and a quick explanation 3 casts later he was tight . and the look on his face made a good day just a bit better

Don't take it too seriously
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Look forward to fishless trips with friends, life's about so much more.
Don't combine fishing with money.
Keeper does mean keep her.

Each one, teach one!

Look for structure/obstructions. And slow presentation (for the fish I target at least).

Don't overwhelm yourself with too much gear. Take the time to learn a few plugs or lures, and fish them till you are familiar with their strengths in certain situations and locations. It's easy to reach for another plug as soon as the action slows, instead of figuring out WHY they stopped biting. I used to be guilty of this alot, till I downsized to a smaller Mak belt style bag. It forced me to be more aware of the place I was fishing, and the conditions, and what you hope will be the right choice. Youll always have your "stash" in your truck to fall back on, but it helps you to think, which IMO, is more important than any plug you can tie on.
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One lesson that I was given and didn't take it too seriously until recently...it's just fishing. I was very obessed with catching fishes and pursuing huge ones from the shore and struggled for more than a few years. Then I started to catch bigger ones with improvements in the results. However, whatever I catch or not, I am glad to be out with my buddy or chilling out right by the water.

Having fun is the most important ... bar none ... life is too short ...

... but also, for someone starting out - whether they want to learn how to use lures, jigs or flies - I would recommend to start by fishing with bait first ... watch how fish interact with/attack bait ... incorporate that into the presentation of artificials ...

AS my English uncle said to me many years ago:

If it's not for tea...set it free..........

I think the Thoreau quote sums it up: "Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"

As many have mentioned, make sure you are NOT one of those men. Enjoy everything about the experience, catching or not...

Edges & seems, fish slow first, then speed things up, establish and record patterns.