Where Do You Live?
If you live near the coast you have a choice between saltwater and freshwater fish. Saltwater fishing is not a good option if you live more than a couple of hours from the sea. You can't get to the fishing quickly enough to be able to go as often as you'll want to go. It's very frustrating to want to go fishing and not have enough time to get to the water you want to fish.
The International Game Fish Association Record Book lists records for over 800 species of fish that can be caught on rod and reel. They have line class records on the most popular of those fish, and that list includes 89 freshwater and 103 saltwater species.
People living in the deep south of the United States will never go ice fishing near home, nor will they catch many northern pike, either. Every continent has its own species of fish even though some have been transplanted worldwide. The area you live in will control the types of fish you can catch without a lot of traveling. It makes no sense to learn all you can about peacock bass if none live in the waters near you and you have to travel far from home to fish for them.
Watch your local paper for fishing reports and pictures of fish caught locally. Visit bait and tackle stores and talk to the people there to find out what common species are available near you. Visit local lakes and rivers and watch the fishermen. Talk to them in the parking lot at boat ramps and ask if they caught anything. They'll likely show you their catch and be glad to discuss it with you.
Don't be too pushy when talking to fishermen, and take everything they tell you with a grain of salt. You'll probably get accurate information about what was caught, but fishermen often consider what they used and where they caught them as “secret” info and won't tell you the truth.
Fishing Near Home
Fishing near home is easier in many ways. You can get there fast and spend more time fishing than traveling. If there's a problem, you're close to home and can get back quickly. Falling in the water on a cold day is no fun but is much better when you're only a few minutes from a hot shower and a change of clothes.
Expenses are much lower when you fish near home. Eating at home rather than on the road is cheaper, and if you travel any distance you'll have to find a place to sleep. You're more familiar with the area and can find cheaper gas and food when you need to purchase it, too.
Keeping fish is much more simple when you're near home. You can take the fish to a convenient place to clean them and then put the meat in the refrigerator or freezer. You have all the equipment you need at home to cook them in complicated recipes. Frying fish at home is much easier than it is on the road or while camping.
Traveling to Fish
Traveling to distant waters to fish can be a lot of fun. You can fish for different species that are new to you. You also get to see new scenery and experience different areas of the country. Even a drive of a few hours will often get you to totally different kinds of waters to fish
It is more expensive to travel and fish, but you can do things to keep expenses down. Camping is a great way to stay near the fish and lower your lodging and food costs if you plan to stay overnight. You can also put out set hooks and check them during the night. Sharing expenses with others is also a good way to cut costs.
But keeping fish can be a problem if you travel very far. If your trip is just a day or two, you can put the fish on ice and keep them cold until you get home and then clean them. Otherwise you need to clean the fish and keep the fillets or meat very cold until you get home. Cooking them while traveling is more difficult, too, since you need to carry all the cooking equipment with you. Grilling is the way to go when camping.
