Top 10 Reasons to go Fishing for your Health

Everyone can fish. People of all ages and backgrounds can always start fishing whenever they want. It's always exciting to reel in a big game fish like a largemouth bass to either eat or show off to your peers. But fishing is more than just a hobby, it can provide great health and mental benefits too. Many veteran anglers have shared their experiences and in them are stories about how fishing helped them physically and mentally. 

To help make things clearer, we’ve listed down the top 10 reasons to go fishing for your health - be it physically, mentally, or socially. It is sure to add something to your life, read along to find out how. 

Top 10 Reasons to go Fishing for your Health 

1. Helps keep the muscles fit and strong

Casual observation can make fishing seem like a dull activity, just sitting on a bench and reeling in your rod once you feel a bite. What’s not commonly known are the activities that go along the waiting and pulling. Fishing requires you to walk, jog, and trek difficult terrain to reach rewarding fishing spots. The act of pulling in your catch needs a large amount of effort from your arms, shoulders, back, and legs. It may not look like that at first glance, but anglers can get a full-body workout while trying to catch their prized fish - and they didn’t even need to pay for a gym subscription. 

2. Strengthens your Cardiovascular health   

A regular full-body workout is estimated to burn an average of 200 calories per hour, depending on its intensity, and since fishing can sometimes be like one, it has this benefit as well. The activities described earlier exercises the lungs and heart, allowing for easier blood flow to avoid serious debilitating diseases like heartburn or heart attacks. Fat often begins to clog heart arteries when someone is lacking in physical activity, fishing helps avoid that scenario and is great for staying healthy and in shape.  

3. Improve your Agility and Balance

A healthy body can mean a better sense of balance and sharper agility. Catching a fish is often a test of both traits so practice can only make you more adept with them. Experienced anglers have stated that it’s not uncommon to perform complicated acrobatic moves to properly reel in your catch. Fishing helps you build on your balance, flexibility, and even agility, if you lack proper control and balance you’ll lose your catch. 

4. Captured fish have many important nutrients 

Speaking of catch, the fish you reel in contains various health benefits; it is a low-fat, high-quality protein meal with multiple vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, Vitamin B2, iron, zinc, and many more. It has been proven helpful to heart diseases that the American Heart Association recommends a healthy diet of 2 fish meals per week. These fish are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help maintain your heart and brain. Human bodies don’t naturally produce them, so we must get through other means like through our food. Thankfully, there are more than enough fish to help you keep your heart and mind as healthy as possible. 

5. Getting some sun outside will help Immune System   

Nutrients from fish are great, but while fishing in the great outdoors, you’ll also be getting quite a large amount of the immune system improving vitamin D. It helps your body regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which are essential in protecting your body from health complications. You’ll get some for of it whether you decide to bask in warm rays of the sun or lie on a bench in the cozy shade. So while trying to pull in your catch; your bones are getting their boost too. Studies have also shown that it can also help fight depression, so you’ll get a boost to your mental health along with your physical health. 

6. It reduces stress

Mental health is as important as physical health, people sometimes underestimate just how harmful stress can be towards both. It can cause migraine or even depression if left unchecked. A study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation shows that 43% of people aged between 13 and 64 cannot sleep at night due to stress. This can be attributed to the demanding nature of modern lifestyles, and they often cause both stress and anxiety.

Putting on your fishing gear and spending long hours in the quiet waters with nothing but one task in mind can be akin to meditation. While your brain focuses on catching your target, it’s diverted from concerns and problems in your life. Fishing gives you space to collect your thoughts and properly think about your goals, this helps decrease stress and anxiety. This therapeutic activity can even reduce blood pressure, leading to a longer life and brighter outlook.

7. Improves with Self-Esteem

Having a better outlook on yourself comes hand-in-hand with a certain sense of self-respect. The benefits of fishing build a better perception of yourself, the act of putting in the effort to complete a hard task is something many people are willing to go through. Accomplishing this goal instills a sense of pride and adds to one’s self-esteem. Younger generations can find it hard to find this about themselves due to things being easier, but a simple act like fishing can help feel accomplished and impart a memory that lasts forever.  

8. Teaches Patience

The modern era can often be cluttered and overexposed, people can get everything as soon as possible and it has made people very impatient. If they can’t have it now, they’ll think that they won’t get another chance. But fishing is the opposite of that, missing your catch just means you can try another time, the opportunity will always come back to you. With all of the health benefits you’ve had, you’re sure enough about yourself that you know you’ll be more successful the next time around. You’ll have to be patient and learn to wait and prepare, if you fail, you’ll know you can always try again. Patience helps you be calmer and resilient to whatever trouble life may lead to, and your mental health will be stronger for it. 

9. Makes you more Self-Reliant

Being mentally strong also makes one more self-reliant. The skills and health benefits from fishing make you more autonomous. You’ll be more assured in your capacity to accomplish tasks without the help of others. While relying on others is not inherently wrong, overly doing so can cause laziness and procrastination. Fishing teaches you many survival skills that can improve your mental fortitude. You have the notion that no matter what life throws at you, you’ll be able to move past it and survive. You’ll be better equipped to handle yourself better in stressful or dangerous situations too.

10. Fishing can make you more sociable   

People with the same hobbies often mingle with one another, fishing is an activity shared by many like-minded individuals. These are people who’ve felt the same benefits and challenges brought on by fishing, they bond over those experiences, creating friendships or social circles. Having friends with similar traits and likes can substantially improve your mental well-being, you can find trusted companions to help you maintain the benefits and fishing, maybe even find new ones on your own. Fishing will not only help you be healthy, but it can also help you be a better person overall.