by Rick Bennett
Fishing is supposed to be fun, but because of my over filled schedule, and limited budget, it can sometimes feel like a chore to fit it in. During some fishing trips, I think of all the money that I am spending and all the responsibilities that I am shirking to be on the water and I wonder if the trip is helping me unwind or adding to my stress. When I start to feel this way, I look for ways to simplify my methods and change my approach.
I have found that fishing from shore is a good way to reduce the time and money required to catch a few fish. There are several public piers, beaches, and shorelines that are available to anyone who cares enough to show up and make an attempt. Because of the reduced cost of participation, this is an ideal way to introduce a new comer to the sport.
I recently had the opportunity to take a group of young men from my church to the public fishing pier in Palmetto on the Manatee River. The entire trip took less than two hours one afternoon after work and only cost me a few dollars for the three dozen shrimp that I bought on my way to the pier. Two of the boys had never fished before, and the look on their 
faces was priceless when they brought up their first mangrove snapper! Besides the experience of catching a fish, these kids overcame their reluctance to pick up a live shrimp, they learned to be careful around fish hooks, and they put a smile on many a stranger’s face with their animated reactions to the fish we caught and the ones that stole our bait. Not a bad list of accomplishments for an investment in time about equal to watching a movie.
Besides public fishing piers, freshwater ponds are also widely available for the land based angler. It is not uncommon for numerous very good sized bass to be caught in small, unnamed retention ponds. Many of the ponds in neighborhoods or parks have a large population of Tilapia that can sometimes be caught in large numbers relatively easily using a castnet. Some of the best snook and tarpon fishing is literally within casting distance of the public beaches and causeways, that can be fished with very little preparation or expense. Fishing can fit into your schedule and it does not have to be expensive. Take a few hours this month to explore around the area with your rod and reel. The fresh air, exercise and scenery will be refreshing, and you may just catch a fish that you will never forget.
Rick Bennett Broker/ Bennett Realty Services LLC. (941)962-0517