Have you tried fishing? No!? You have to. Why? There are more benefits than you think.

First, fishing is beneficial for mental health. Fishing brings people outdoors into nature. Being outside has been proven through multiple studies to benefit mental health. Being in nature brings people into a relaxed state of mind. Additionally, fishing requires focus even when nothing of significance is happening, acting similarly to meditation. Being around water also moves brain waves into a peaceful state, also similar to meditation. Fishing has also been proven to have even more impactful benefits for mental health, as it has been proven to help counteract PTSD and help manage ADHD.

Fishing is also good for physical health. While fishing is nowhere near as much of an exercise as playing a sport is, fishing does improve cardiovascular health, along with shoulder, back, arm, core and leg muscles. Fishing also helps with balance, especially if fishing from a boat or wading in the water. Being outside also helps boost vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for bone and tooth health, and it also helps the immune system. Additionally, fishing can increase dexterity from tying knots and untangling lines.

Fishing is helpful for learning problem-solving skills. Fishing requires flexibility and creativity to be successful. Catching fish is not an algorithm; a technique or bait at a certain spot that worked one day might not work the next day. Learning to sort out what works and what doesn’t teaches valuable problem-solving skills. Additionally, fishing teaches how to manage and learn from failure, as some fishing days will be unsuccessful, and nothing will be caught. Learning to grow from mistakes and creatively work past difficulties are important life skills that fishing teaches.

A common argument against fishing is that it is a waste of time and can be harmful to the environment. While some people may not find fishing fun, there are other benefits that are stated earlier in this article that show that fishing is not a waste of time. However, damage to the environment and fish population is a legitimate concern. While it’s hard to know the exact impact on the fish population recreational fishing has, studies show that it is much more than previously expected. One fisher keeping 2 fish to eat doesn’t have much of an impact, but the collective effect from millions of fishers adds up. Additionally, fishing equipment can be harmful to lakes, rivers, oceans, and wildlife. The majority of fishers use lead sinkers, which are proven to be poisonous to both humans and wildlife alike. Fishing lines, spare lures, and other gear also often get unintentionally littered, which pollutes the lake, river, or ocean they are fishing in. However, by releasing the fish instead of eating them, using aluminum sinkers instead of lead, and being mindful of the habitat, the harm to the environment can be minimized.

Getting out to fish has many benefits including physical and mental health and learning problem-solving skills. Fishing is not a waste of time. Being outside with friends and family or alone brings people peace and concentration. Everyone should try fishing at least once. If they like it, then they’ve discovered a new hobby, but even if they didn’t, it’s worth the added benefits.

So, borrow or rent some equipment and give fishing a try.