Find Recreation Areas with FISHING Activities
|
Fishing
Fishing continues to
be a favorite pastime
in the United States.
In 2001, 16% of the
U.S. population 16
years old and older
(34 million anglers)
spent an average of
16 days fishing. Freshwater
fishing was the most
popular type of fishing
with over 28 million
anglers devoting nearly
467 million angler-days
to the sport.
|
photo
courtesy of the
US Fish and Wildlife
Service
Eufaula National
Wildlife Refuge
in Alabama |
What
do we mean by Fishing?
RecML, the
recreation standard
that is being developed,
describes fishing as:
fishing (overall),
freshwater fishing,
warm water fishing,
cold water fishing
Practice
Good Stewardship of
our Waterways:
You can help to
take care of our lakes,
rivers, and other waterways
so that others may
enjoy these areas for
years to come by practicing
some of the following
actions:
Don't
Litter... take along
a trash bag or other
receptacle for collecting
your trash so that
you can deposit it
in the proper trash
receptacle. Use proper
dumping stations instead
of tossing refuse into
the water.
Make
sure that you use the
correct type of bait
and fishing gear permitted
in that area. There
may also be limits
on the number, size,
and kind of fish that
you can keep. Check
with your destination
ahead of time to see
what the local regulations
allow.
If you use a boat or
watercraft when fishing,
check to see what kinds
of watercraft are allowed
at the body of water
where you are going
to fish.
Pay
attention to local
procedures and cautions
for cleaning your watercraft
after you leave the
water so that you don't
encourage the spread
of npn-native species,
such as the Zebra Mussel,
to the next body of
water you may visit
with your boat.
Don't
fish in areas where
it is not permitted.
These areas have been
declared "off
limits" to fishing
to protect wildlife,
vegetation, or for
your safety.
Safety
While Fishing:
If using a boat to
fish, wear your life
jacket and make sure
that your passengers
wear theirs, too !
Use
caution when baiting
and removing hooks
Do
not fish on unauthorized
waterways
If
operating a houseboat,
be careful of carbon
monoxide build-up around
the boat
Obey
the posted speedlimits
and wake warnings if
using a watercraft
when fishing
Bring
along extra safety
items such as water,
flashlights, maps,
and a cellphone or
radio