UncleMo

Thanks guys. I'm getting a new rod tomorrow or the next day. I saw someone get a ladyfish using a mirror lure so that was a good learning experience together with what you guys just told me. Thanks for the help.

Hi, can someone tell me how to start learning about salt water fishing? I'd like to start doing it in Florida but not so much in the bay area, but rather on the gulf side, and I'd like to do some salt water fishing. I'm assuming this website doesn't help with that, and if not, can someone tell me where to learn to start immediately? I need to know what beaches allow for this, lures to use, fishes to expect to catch with the lures I buy, and types of poles to buy. I'd be grateful.

Just checking in. I never quit. Matter of fact, I kept trying, keeping plyers with me ever time. I've caught a few here and there and eventually learned to unhook them myself (pass me my big boy pants please). My wife even caught a few since and I've had the opportunity to teach her to unhook her own. Today was my first time fishing this year. I caught one small to medium sized bass, with a barbed hook even, and got that sucker free. Thanks all.

Thanks everyone. Ill go barbless, which was my problem, coupled together with lack of tools and education.

Follow up questions: What do these phrases mean: "gut hook" "throw the hook" lastly, you guessed 25 was your count, and probably from just using your fingers. All I was using was my fingers because that was how I was taught. Did I cause this problem by using my fingers? Help me do a better, more responsible job, please. Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure if I should tell you about this experience I just had or jump into the questions I have. As you will be able to tell very quickly by my post count (0), and by the subject line, I am new to fishing and am halfway ready to quit. Halfway. Here are my questions: 1. Do fish have feelings? The Nirvana song, Something In The Way comes to mind when the songwriter sings: "it's ok to eat fish, cause they don't have feelings". 2. Have you ever had it happen where you were fishing and a fish took your bait AND hook? 3. Has anyone ever found out what happens to a fish (any fish) when they take your bait and hook? 4. Have you ever been fishing, caught a fish, reeled it in, and could not get the hook out of its mouth? What happened to the fish, assuming your intent was to catch and release? 5. Be objective with this question like I'm trying to be: Is there anything wrong with fishing to where you fish for the fun of it? I know in modern times, people aren't going to fish for sustenance, so is it wrong (by anyone's standards that you know of) to fish for the sport of just fishing alone, while practicing catch and release? 6. What is animal cruelty, is there a universal definition, and even if there isn't, have you ever been accused of animal cruelty for simply having a nice time fishing while practicing catch and release? What were the reasons behind the person(s) claim that what fishing, while practicing catch and release, is animal cruelty? 7. How much time do you have from reeling the fish out of the water until you have to release it so that it can live, and not die while being out of the water? Does it differe from fish to fish? 8. What happened to me: I caught 3 bass in one day. This was fall of 2011. As I reeled these suckers in, I allowed them to get away because I was too chicken (I mean, unaccilmated) to taking them off the hook. Just the other day, I was with someone who caught a fish and I saw how to take a bass of the hook, and assisted while I performed my first "take off" for lack of a better term, and released the same fish into the water. The day after, while still being very new to this, I caught a bass, about a foot long, using a hook and a lizard bait, and reeled the sucker in. This was my 4th fish ever. After getting both video and pictures, I could not get a hook out of the fishes mouth. I then put the fish into the water so it wouldn't die on me, and was hoping he could yank himself free. After waiting a minute (estimate), I reeled him out again and attempted to do it again, and I'd tell you why I couldn't get the hook out but I'd have to explain where it was and why. All I can tell you is that looking that fish eye to eye, thinking about hurrying to keep him alive, and yanking/pulling/tugging in both directions to get the hook out made me feel horrible for the bass fish. This was a sucky day fishing. The ironic thing is that I'm not the type to care. I'd be the first one to say something stupid and quick like: grow up, be a man, or THEN QUIT FISHING AND SHUT UP. Which is what I'm expecting why sharing this story and my questions. If however, you feel you can address the questions above, I'd be grateful for any helpful replies. Thanks, UncleMo.