What is rock fishing

    As the name suggests, rock fishing is an activity of fishing on the rocks along the coast. But what does “rocky coast” mean? What are the different ways to fish in this environment?

    As far as the implementation location is concerned, the current fishing circle generally accepts the broad definition that “any fishing on a hard and fixed coast is considered rock fishing.” In other words, whether it is a coral reef bank or a rocky coast on the edge of a large piece of land, or around a small reef* in the isolated offshore, or even around artificial docks and breakwaters, they can all be places for rock fishing.

     These environments are significantly different in terms of land topography and geology, water currents and waves, bottom morphology and depth changes, etc., coupled with the influence of latitude and temperature differences, the fish species that appear have become very diverse, and it is by no means possible to cover them all with a single fishing method. Therefore, the following detailed classifications have emerged.

1. Classification based on the strength of the equipment used and the size of the target fish

• (1) Light rock fishing. The equipment used is relatively light and of low strength, and the size and pulling force of the fishing target are both small; for example, the fishing rod weighs about 200g, the reel is a small or medium-sized spinning wheel type* mechanism, the line tension is about 100 Newtons (10 kgf), and the size of the target fish ranges from tens of grams to one or two kilograms.
• (2) Heavy rock fishing. The equipment used is relatively heavy and of high strength, and the size and pulling force of the fishing target are both large; for example, the fishing rod weighs at least 600g (even more than 1000g), the reel is a medium or large drum type* product, the line tension is often hundreds of Newtons, and the weight of the target fish can also be as heavy as tens of kilograms, similar to that of an adult.

2. Classification based on fishing gear* structure and fish signal* detection method

• (1) Intuitive fishing. This method simply uses the dynamics of the fish pulling the fishing line when eating the bait to detect fish signals. Usually, no float is used. The fishing gear is placed directly on the bottom of the water or around obstacles near the bottom. The target fish are mostly bottom-dwelling fish or fish that move close to the bottom of the water.
• This fishing method can be divided into two categories: bottom-feeding and bait-shaking. The former usually takes a passive attitude of throwing the fishing gear and then waiting, while the latter is to actively hold the fishing rod and keep moving it up and down (the so-called front-strike and drop-in fishing methods belong to this category).
• (2) Float fishing. Various types of floats are used as fish signal sensing devices. Usually, the fishing gear is suspended in the water instead of sinking to the bottom of the water, and the target fish are mostly those that swim around instead of lying on the bottom of the sea. Therefore, it is also specifically called “floating rock fishing”.

This fishing method is deeply influenced by Japan. Whether it is equipment, concepts, technology, or even the values ​​of target fish species, the direction of its development is dominated by the Japanese. However, it is the most popular, most popular, most varied and most interesting fishing method among all types of rock fishing in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, this book mainly discusses this type of floating rock fishing.

Characteristics of floating rock fishing

What are the basic points to grasp when playing this fishing method of “using floats and fishing gear suspended in the water”?

Although the meaning of the four words “floating rock fishing” is quite clear, we still see some names or playing methods that are somewhat similar and not quite the same from time to time. These playing methods are often given different classifications in different places or by different anglers. However, after careful analysis, you will find that they basically still meet the above definition and can be included in the broad category of floating rock fishing. It includes the following.

• (1) Algae bait rock fishing. This playing method was once popular along the northeast coast of Taiwan, but is now gradually declining. This method usually uses a long pole float made of five-section awns. The bait is freshly collected algae from the sea erosion platform on the shore. The target fish are fish species that live near the sea and feed on algae in winter.
• (2) Floating hanging fishing method. The characteristic of this fishing method is to use a very light fishing rig with a float. This method is very popular in Japan, creating many celebrities and products, and has also had a significant impact on the fishing methods of the entire East Asia and Western Pacific coastal areas.
• In recent years, it has become popular in Japan to use extremely light floats and very long sub-lines without any bite lead on the sub-lines to fish. Some Japanese celebrities prefer to use this method to show off their skills, which has led many anglers who admire them to mistakenly believe that only this method (full float) can be considered floating Shigu fishing. In fact, this is a generalization. In Japan, floating Shigu fishing is often used as a classification name relative to float bait cage fishing. This is because the fishing rig becomes quite heavy after adding the bait cage. Even if the same float is used, it must be a float as big as a dinosaur egg to support it. This is obviously a bit far from “very light fishing rig”, so it is specially called by a different name.
• (3) Float bait cage fishing method. As mentioned above, this method of fishing has an additional bait cage and a larger float, but it does use a float as a fish signal sensing device. The fishing rig is suspended in the water rather than sinking to the bottom, so although the Japanese have separated this method from the floating hook method, it still meets the basic definition of floating rock fishing.

So what are the key points of the fishing method under the definition of floating rock fishing?

(1) Because of the use of floats, the depth of the fishing platform is of great significance, but this depth varies depending on the actual depth of the seabed at the location of the fishing rod, and mainly depends on the subjective intention of the angler and the combination of the fish feeding on the bait swimming layer.

(2) In order to make the fishing rig float naturally, the angler must fully grasp the water flow and use skilled rod and line control skills to control the float and bait to achieve the purpose of sniping large fish in the water.

(3) Since the rod is cast on the shore, it is necessary to use bait appropriately. The way of throwing bait must be matched with the water flow, wind and waves, punctuation status, the temperament of the fish on that day, and must also meet the fishing platform depth set by the angler.

Looks difficult to do, right? Actually, it’s not that difficult! With some basic knowledge and a lot of experience, anyone can do floating rock fishing. However, knowledge can be obtained from books, but experience must be accumulated by oneself. Others can’t help, so please don’t be lazy. Remember to go to the beach after reading.

Important terms for rock fishing

Visible reef:

Reefs that are exposed above the sea level but not adjacent to the land. If the size is large enough to accommodate the angler and the equipment used (including rod bags, refrigerators, bait bags, etc.), and at least when the wind and waves are relatively normal, people can safely get up and down and stand to fish, it may be a place for rock fishing. Relatively speaking, reefs submerged below the sea level are called hidden reefs or reefs.

Spinning reel:

A general term for a large category of reels, English: SPININGREEL. Its characteristic is that the line arrangement direction is perpendicular to the direction of the mother line in and out. Because of this turning point, the line reeling force will be discounted, so it is considered to have a low “fishing force value” and cannot cope with large fishing tasks. However, this reel is very convenient to use, has good casting performance, and can automatically arrange the mother line in the line cup, so it is the best equipment for fishing methods that often need to reel in and release the line and the target fish is not too big.

Li Lu:

The common name of the reel, “REEL” in English and “リ-ル” in Japanese. The pronunciation of “リ-ル” is very close to the Chinese “力撸”, so anglers use this sound to call the reel.

Drum reel:

Another general term for reels, often called two-axis force reels. They are called “two-axis” because there are two main shafts inside the body, one connected to the reel handle and the other used to hold the mother line. The two are arranged in parallel and connected to each other by gears, so the line arrangement direction is parallel to the mother line in and out direction. This feature is believed to cause little loss of reeling force, so some people call it a “powerful reel”, while others call it a drum reel because it looks a bit like a drum.

Fishing rig:

Refers to the entire fishing device from the main line to the hook, and its components usually include the main line, float, cotton thread knot, bean stopper, swivel, sub-line, bite lead, hook, etc.

Fishing signal:

The dynamics of fish biting the bait are transmitted through the float or line system, which becomes information that the angler can grasp, called fish signal.

Shikake:

Japanese kanji, pronounced “SIKAKE”, meaning “fishing rig”.

Fishing platform:

The depth that the angler wants to fish, or the depth at which the fish takes the bait. Some people mistakenly think that the distance from the float to the hook (referred to as “under the float”) is the fishing platform depth, but this is not the case! Most of the fishing rigs for floating rock fishing are very light and will drift with the water flow. Therefore, after the fishing rig enters the water, the depth of the hook will be shallower than the depth under the float.

Fishing spot:

In a fishing field, there are often several small areas where the rod can be lowered due to terrain conditions, water flow conditions, wind direction, wave conditions, or the difficulty of entering and exiting, the convenience of standing, and the difference in fish species and fish quantity. These small areas are called fishing spots.

Bottom hanging:

The state in which the components of the fishing rig are stuck in underwater obstacles and people can no longer fish is called bottom hanging. The so-called components are most commonly hooks, but bite leads, swivels, line systems or even floats can become the culprits of bottom hanging. The so-called underwater obstacles may be reefs, corals or algae, or abandoned fishing nets, ship cables, etc.

Punctuation:

In each fishing spot, due to the difference in depth, tidal dynamics, and changes in the relationship between waves and the shore, there may be several different positions that are conducive to attracting fish or controlling the rod and line. These positions are exactly the targets that anglers need to lock on, and are called punctuation.

Rou Zongjiao:

The common name for the wave-breaking blocks piled under the breakwater by Taiwanese anglers.

Migratory belt:

When a relatively strong current passes through the opening of the inner bay environment, it will naturally branch into the bay and swirl. This swirling branch of the current is called the migratory belt.

Aomono:

The nickname of the Japanese for offshore migratory fish such as mackerel, bonito, tuna and trevally, because the backs of these fish are usually dark blue.

Langjiao:

Refers to the position where the waves hit the shore. The water disturbance here is violent and the dissolved oxygen content is high, which is of great significance to both fish and anglers.

Tidal range:

The difference in water level between the highest tide and the lowest tide is called tidal range. This difference varies with high, medium and low tides, and the difference varies in different places under the same tidal conditions. Some places are only a few dozen centimeters, while others are as high as several meters.

Tidal time:

It refers to the time of high tide and low tide (Taiwanese fishermen usually use the term “low tide”) every day. This time will change. Usually, the time of high tide and low tide every day will be about 50 minutes later than the previous day.

Fishing seat:

It refers to the position where the angler stands when he casts the rod.

Fishing force value:

It is used to indicate the value of the brake resistance of the reel. This term is also often used to describe the strength of the fishing line.

Flow-carrying ability:

It is a term that describes the ability of the float or fishing group to drift with the water flow. The more it can keep up with the speed and direction of the water flow, the better it is called flow-carrying.

Fathom:

A unit used to indicate depth. 1 fathom is equivalent to 183 centimeters. This length is roughly equivalent to the distance between the left and right fingertips of an adult with both arms spread out, so anglers often use this method to measure the length of the line.

After the angler finds the fish signal, he lifts the rod and pulls the fishing line to make the hook pierce the fish’s mouth. This process is called “HOOKSETING” in English and “アフセ” in Japanese, which means “to join”, so anglers translate it into 作合.

Eyeprint:

It is a Japanese name, originally referring to a small prop hung on the line to mark the position of the fishing group. Many things can be used as a 目印, such as brightly colored wool, feathers, plastic sheets, etc. There is also a spherical or elliptical plastic product with slight buoyancy. It is very small in size, has little water resistance, and has a small hole in the middle for the line to pass through. Therefore, some people use it in compound fishing groups as a substitute for fish signal floats.

Outsiders:

A general term for non-target fish. Some people think that blackfish is the only target for rock fishing. Therefore, all other fish are outsiders to them. Only blackfish is king.

Upwelling:

When the ocean current passes, because the upper seawater is quickly taken away, the lower seawater will surge up to make up for it in some sea areas. This is called upwelling. Such vertical water flow from bottom to top is called “upwelling”. There is another situation where the ocean current suddenly encounters shallow terrain during its movement, forcing the lower water flow to rise upward, which will also cause upwelling. Usually, this kind of water flow can bring up the cold and nutrient-rich seawater from the deep layer, attracting a large number of marine organisms to gather, thus forming an excellent fishing ground.

Typhoon:

In tropical oceans, seawater and air near the sea level evaporate and rise in large quantities due to the heating of the sun, causing the surrounding colder air to move in to fill the gap, but the cold air that moves in is also quickly heated and expanded, rising upward, thus forming a fish-free area with low air pressure, which is a tropical depression. The air convection in this area is strong, and due to the influence of the monsoon and the inertia of the earth’s rotation, it will cause a huge tropical cyclone that rotates counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. When the average maximum wind speed near the center of this cyclone reaches 17.2 meters per second, it is called a typhoon in the northwest Pacific region, a hurricane in the northeast Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean.

Zhangxian:

It is quoted from the Japanese “张リ”, which means “pull” and “lead” in Japanese. It refers to the action of controlling the rod and line in fishing.

A jargon commonly used by anglers, meaning that the bait on the hook has been bitten by fish. The so-called bite may mean that the bait has been completely eaten, or it may be bitten off, or even just a little bite mark is left on the bait.

Lure:

The transliteration of the English word “LURE”. This word is used to mean lure and temptation. When used in fishing, it is used as a synonym for various types of false bait. These lures are made of inedible materials (such as metal, wood, plastic, natural or artificial fibers, etc.), with hooks attached to them. Their shapes may simulate the appearance of prey or imitate their movements. Some even appear as “competitors” to stimulate the target fish to attack with a provocative attitude, so that the angler can catch it.

Swimming layer:

Refers to the depth at which the target fish is active. For most fish species, this depth is not fixed. It will change with factors such as sea water temperature, waves, tides, clarity, light, and the needs of fish life (such as foraging, mating, spawning).

Lag line:

The main line from the tip of the fishing rod to the location of the float is called the lag line. The length of this line has the following meanings. First, when casting the fishing group, because the float is mostly the center of gravity of the entire fishing group, this lag line is equivalent to the length of the pendulum, which has the function of determining the casting distance. Second, when manipulating the fishing rig, the longer the slack line is, the more easily it will be disturbed by wind, waves, and currents, but the shorter it is, the more likely it is to constantly restrain the fishing rig, making the hook appear very unnatural underwater. Third, during the hooking stage, the longer the slack line is, the slower the force of lifting the rod will be transmitted to the hook tip, and sometimes it may not be transmitted to the hook at all.

Eye:

The part above the long float that indicates the fish signal is mostly painted with several bright colors, and separated into several color segments with black paint. This color segment is called “eye”.