View source for Land-based game fishing

{{unreferenced|date=January 2018}}
'''Land-based game fishing''' is a form of [[big-game fishing|big-game]] [[sport fishing]] in which [[angling|anglers]] attempt to catch oceanic [[game fish]] from shore rather than from ocean-going boats. The locations for such activities are generally rock platforms, though [[wharf]]s, [[jetties]] and [[beach]]es are also common. Some species such as [[shark]]s can be targeted in shallow [[littoral]] water, however most other species prefer deeper [[pelagic]] water, and this limits the areas where these types can be fished from the shore. [[Fishing tackle|Tackle]] used is usually comparable to that used on boats, but some differences are necessary, such as changes in [[fishing rod|rod]] length. Different tackle is used according to location and species targeted.

The [[billfish]] ([[swordfish]], [[marlin]] and [[sailfish]]) and the larger [[tuna]] ([[bluefin tuna|bluefin]], [[yellowfin tuna|yellowfin]]) are the main target species; smaller game fish are also sought, such as [[Spanish mackerel]], [[dolphinfish]], [[wahoo]], and smaller tuna species such as [[albacore]], [[skipjack tuna|skipjack]] or [[longtail tuna|longtail]], etc.{{cn|date=January 2018}}

== Shark fishing ==
'''Land–based shark fishing''', or '''LBSF''', has had some popularity worldwide since the early 1900s. Sizeable numbers of participants exist in [[Australia]], [[South Africa]] and the Gulf and East Coast states of the [[United States]], especially popular in [[Texas]], [[Florida]] and [[North Carolina]]. Commonly caught species include [[bull shark|bull]], [[lemon shark|lemon]], [[nurse shark|nurse]], [[blacktip shark|blacktip]], [[spinner shark|spinner]], [[tiger shark|tiger]], [[hammerhead shark|hammerhead]], [[sand tiger shark|sand tiger]] and [[mako shark]]s with occasional catches of large specimens exceeding {{cvt|13|ft}} and {{cvt|1000|lb}}. As of 2017 multiple [[great white shark]]s have also been caught and tagged and historically the great white was a fairly common catch for land based anglers in South Africa. Many land–based shark fishermen use [[catch and release]] techniques and participate in tagging programs to advance limited scientific knowledge of migrations and growth rates among other data.{{cn|date=January 2018}}

Since the early 2000s land-based shark fishing has also courted and attracted controversy, especially among coastal townships in the southern U.S.{{cn|date=January 2018}} This is chiefly due to the mistaken belief that anglers attract sharks closer to shore or use [[chumming|chum]] to catch sharks. This belief is inaccurate though as the mechanics of wave and water currents do not lend themselves to effective use of chumming and baits used are not significantly larger or different from what is already present in the water naturally. Effective chumming involves spreading a long trail of significant amounts of fish blood and oils through a current to create a scent line. These trails often need to be miles long to become effective as they still require a shark to initially swim through the chum on its normal travel. This technique loses effectiveness around beach areas as wave action causes currents to travel back onto a small area of the beach, washing up the scent rather than creating a trail that can be followed.{{cn|date=January 2018}}

==Locations==
The best land-based game fishing is at present{{when?|date=January 2018}} restricted to very few areas around the world. The best-known spots are in South Africa, [[New Zealand]], [[Australia]] and the [[Andaman Islands]], of which [[Barren Island (Tasmania)|Barren]] and [[Narcondam Island]] have allowed catching marlin from the rocks.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}

Along the [[east coast of Australia]], land-based game fishing can be divided into two fairly distinct geographic regions. On the north coast of [[New South Wales]], from approximately Sydney northwards, light tackle is generally used, with smaller target species such as longtail tuna, Spanish mackerel and [[cobia]]. Particularly noted are the rock platforms of [[Jervis Bay]], where [[black marlin]] of up to {{cvt|200|lb|kg|order=flip}} have been caught using [[fishing bait|bait]] floated out on balloons.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} South of Sydney, heavier tackle is used as the target species are generally much larger (due to [[Bergmann's rule]]), with the main targets being black marlin, yellowfin tuna, [[yellowtail kingfish]] and sharks.{{cn|date=January 2018}}

==See also==
*[[Surf fishing]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.igfa.org International Game Fishing Association]
* [http://www.sportfishextreme.com Land Based Marlin Fishing]
* [http://www.landbasedsharkfishing.com/ Land based shark fishing]
*[http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/sharks.html NOAA Fisheries Shark Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140210000630/http://na.nefsc.noaa.gov/sharks/ National Marine Fisheries Services / Apex Predator Tagging Program]

{{angling topics}}
{{fisheries and fishing}}

[[Category:Recreational fishing]]