If your goal is to catch fish to eat, you'll probably go about it differently than if you were fishing for the thrill of the fight. There are many efficient ways to catch fish that don't even involve the use of rod and reel. You'll probably target the best-tasting fish rather than the strongest fighting ones, too.

Saltwater fish generally taste better than freshwater fish but are often harder to get to. If you want to catch dolphin, called mahi-mahi in restaurants, you'll need a boat. Others like flounder come close to shore and can be caught from beaches, piers, and bridges. Pick a fish that you have access to, rather than one that will cost you a lot of money to catch. Surf fishing on beaches is a good way to catch a variety of fish, as is pier fishing. A pier will get you out to deeper water where bigger fish live. Some piers are free while some charge a small amount to enter to fish. Many have bait and tackle shops on them so it's easy to get what you need. Fishing jetties can be good but be careful because waves breaking on the rocks can be dangerous.

Most freshwater fish can be caught from the bank but some are easier to catch than others. You can often cast to most of the water from the bank at a pond or stream, but big lakes and rivers have a lot of inaccessible water unless you have a boat. Some fish, such as bluegill, stay around the shoreline most of the time while others, like lake trout, are deep-water fish that can be caught only by trolling (trailing a line behind a slow-moving boat) or jigging (fishing with a device that you jerk up and down in the water) in very deep water. Consider those factors when choosing a fish, too.

Easy Food Fish

Many of the same fish that are easy to catch for sport also make good meals. Bream, perch, flounder, and pollock are all excellent when cooked. They fight well so you get the best of both parts of fishing. Other freshwater fish that are easy to catch and taste good are crappie and catfish. Crappie are some of the best freshwater fish around with sweet white flesh. They readily take minnows around shoreline brush in the spring and under bridges at night. Catfish hit bait fished on the bottom and can be caught from the bank in most lakes and rivers. Night fishing for them is excellent, too.

Some other saltwater fish that are easy to catch and taste good include croaker and sea bass. They can be caught off beaches, piers, and jetties and will put up a good fight, but are even better when cooked. Try for them to learn how to catch bigger, less aggressive saltwater fish.