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Land-based game fishing is a form ofbig-gamesport fishing in whichanglers attempt to catch oceanicgame fish from shore rather than from ocean-going boats. Some areas anglers can game fish from the land include public water-access points such as boat ramps, kayak launches, piers, jetties, and any other public water access.[1] Numerous game fish can be targeted and caught from the shore using a variety ofFishing tackle andFishing techniques. Land-based game fishing is similar toSurf fishing, however it is not restricted to just fishing the surf from beaches.Tackle used is usually comparable to that used on boats, but some differences are necessary, such as changes inrod length. Different tackle is used according to location and species targeted.
Numerous species can be targeted and caught using a variety of methods and tactics. These game fish vary depending on location andBody of water being fished. Some of the most popular global game fish are:
A controversial aspect of land-based game fishing is the shark fishing side of the activity. When land-based shark fishing, anglers target an array of shark species from the shoreline, piers, jetties, etc. Sizable numbers of participants exist inAustralia,South Africa and the Gulf and East Coast states of theUnited States, especially popular inTexas,Florida andNorth Carolina. The controversial side regards the amount of endangered species one could encounter when fishing for shark from the shore. Roughly 14% of shark species in the Atlantic Ocean were overfished in 2024,[3] and concerns regarding the wellbeing of numerous shark species have become clear. However, there are some species of shark considered to be "game fish," and can potentially be legally targeted and some can even be harvested by land-based anglers. Some species of sharks recognized as "game fish" areBlacktip shark,Bonnethead, andTiger shark.[4] It is important to research specific location's shark fishing rules and regulations before fishing, as differing rules apply in different U.S. States, and other parts of the world. Additionally, concerns surrounding "chumming" have been raised. Chumming is a fishing method, intending to attract sharks to a specific area being fished utilizingchum.
The best land-based game fishing is at present[when?] restricted to very few areas around the world. The best-known spots are in South Africa,New Zealand,Australia and theAndaman Islands, of whichBarren andNarcondam Island have allowed catching marlin from the rocks.[citation needed]
Along theeast coast of Australia, land-based game fishing can be divided into two fairly distinct geographic regions. On the north coast ofNew South Wales, from approximately Sydney northwards, light tackle is generally used, with smaller target species such as longtail tuna, Spanish mackerel andcobia. Particularly noted are the rock platforms ofJervis Bay, whereblack marlin of up to 91 kg (200 lb) have been caught usingbait floated out on balloons.[citation needed] South of Sydney, heavier tackle is used as the target species are generally much larger (due toBergmann's rule), with the main targets being black marlin, yellowfin tuna,yellowtail kingfish and sharks.[citation needed]
