Seeking Refuge In the Madness – How Fishing Helped us in 2020

It’s pretty safe to say that 2020 was one of the most difficult, exhausting and downright bizarre years many of us have ever faced. Social distancing, hand sanitiser, QR codes and all things ‘COVID Safe’ became a seemingly overnight addition to our new version of normal.

And it’s still not going away. For some, the swift and unexpected changes to everyday life were easily adapted. However, the reality is that many of us have experienced increased stress and anxiety to some degree. Fortunately, most of us were still able to pick up a rod and reel to escape some of the madness that encompassed 2020 and reconnect with nature.

As cheesy as it sounds, the times I feel most at ease are when I lose myself in nature. Walking upstream in a river, watching the sunset from a tinny, or simply sitting and smelling the fresh salt air with a rod in my hand. It’s a feeling unlike anything else. After a recent trip chasing Eastern freshwater cod on the Orara River, I started to make the connection between my reduced stress and fishing. For the first time in months, I wasn’t thinking about the craziness of the world around me. I was calm, at peace even.

Turns out I’m not alone. Not only is recreational fishing a huge part of our culture and lifestyle, but it may also have more added benefits for your health than you realise (as if we needed another excuse to cast a line). These benefits were particularly relevant last year, when we were arguably more stressed and isolated than ever.

Cognitive Benefits

For one, fishing allows us to unplug from the world and immerse ourselves in a rewarding task. Due to the level of concentration and awareness required during a session, fishing clears our minds and improves mental clarity. As a beginner fisher myself, I’ve seen the benefits of giving the task my full attention first-hand. After snagging my line on quite a few trees and managing to catch loads of things without gills, fins, or a heartbeat, I understand why it’s important to focus. As it turns out, the meditative-like focus we use lowers cortisol levels (our stress hormone) and in turn, helps to reduce anxiety and depression. How good is that!

Emotional Benefits

But wait, there’s more. Simply being out in nature has positive effects on your physical and emotional wellbeing. Exposure to the great outdoors improves our mood and promotes a more calm, balanced state of mind. I’m sure most of you would agree that even on those no-nibble-days, being out on a beautiful river or ocean is a fantastic way to get away from it all.

Physical Benefits

Fishing gives us a good dose of vitamin D, something we were all in need of after lockdown. And get this, it might actually be more of a workout than you think! Just consider the cardio exercise you get from walking to a spot, casting a line, reeling in a fish, wading through water to a new spot, and so on. This all adds up and can help to reduce blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension (makes sense when you think about all those big ones you’ve been catching).

Social Benefits

It’s also safe to say that the sense of community you feel when fishing with mates is second to none. Joining an angling club (or becoming a member of OzFish *wink wink*) is incredibly social and encourages new friendships to develop. Being around like-minded people (from a covid safe distance of 1.5m of course) who share a common interest helps us to unwind, particularly during times of internal turmoil.

So there you go, fishing is bloody good for you! Whilst we may be out to seek fish, we often find so much more. So go on, get out there for a day on the water or a last-cast sunset.

Tight lines!