Rise and shine. This is Early Bird Fishing. Prepare for world class fishing instruction, stories, and news, in less than 5 minutes.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• 3 rules my dad taught me to catch more fish 📜

• Californians can now fish for free 🔍

• The quick and dirty on how to fillet a salmon or steelhead 🗡️

3 RULES MY DAD TAUGHT ME TO CATCH MORE FISH

Fishing is easy. Catching is hard.

Through much trial and error, I have discovered three timeless rules that you can follow to increase your chances of hooking up on the water.

Rule #1 - Fish early in the day

We call this newsletter Early Bird Fishing for a reason. The closer you fish to sunrise, the better.

There’s no clear cut answer as to why fish are more active feeders in the morning, but a lot of it may come down to water temperature. Cooler temperatures (coupled with morning sunlight) create the perfect feeding environment for many fish.

Another perk of hitting the water early is decreased pressure from other fisherman and boats in the area. If you get your bait in front of the fish first, you will find more success than those that arrive later.

Rule #2 - Come prepared with all of your equipment ready

When you are on the water you want to be fishing. Not setting up your equipment to get ready for fishing.

This means having your rigs identified, pre-tied, and ready to fish.

Have the drag set up correctly on all of your poles.

Make sure you have enough weights, swivels, leader line, and extra lures to make it through the day.

If you are fishing with bait such as herring or anchovies, make sure it is brined to maximize its duration on the water.

Rule #3 - Only follow the crowd if the crowd is worth following

I cannot tell you how many times I see ten boats all next to each other fishing the same hole. Or fifteen people fishing on the same twenty yards of shoreline.

If the crowd is catching and you are catching, stick around. If everyone is getting skunked, steer clear and chart your own path. This is where having your own boat or float tube set up can come in handy to discover those hidden holes.

Summary

• Fishing earlier in the day will always increase your fish-catching potential. Fish are more active and there is overall less fishing pressure from fellow fisherman.

• Ensure you are spending your time on the water fishing instead of fiddling with your gear. Spend the night before to get your gear dialed in so you don’t have to do it on the water.

• While it is tempting to fish where everyone else is fishing, do not be afraid to venture into uncharted territory. You may discover that secret spot you have been looking for.

🎣 IN THE FIELD

• Californians can fish for free on certain days in 2024. This is a great opportunity to escape the traffic and introduce someone new to the great sport of fishing.

• Blue Catfish are invading Maryland waters. Fisherman are being encouraged to help control the population with a “no catch limit” policy. With Blue Catfish being quite tasty, this seems like a win-win for fisherman. Delish.

• Fisherman’s Life is back at it again, and this time he built a saltwater hot tub on the beach.

• I came across this video of the 20 Biggest Catches Of All Time. It is an outrageous video and makes me grateful for the existence of YouTube.

AI CORNER

Every week I generate outrageous fishing related AI images. Check these out:

CHEF’S KISS

😘🍽️ A 20-minute whole roasted Branzino. Olive oil, lemon, dill, and more.

🔪 Probably the best video I’ve found on how to quickly (and effectively) fillet a salmon or steelhead.

🐟 Authentic steamed fish Chinese style. Only 30 minutes and sure to impress a crowd.