Want to try your hand at fishing? Here's a beginner's guide to fishing in Rhode Island

So you've been thinking about fishing.

You might be interested to know that the top reasons why anglers fish include the excitement and adventure of fishing as well as for food. Others fish to be outdoors, or for the challenge of catching and hunting.

But the biggest reason we fish is to enjoy the time with family and friends and the solace we get from bonding with nature.

So, whatever your reason might be to fish, here are some tips on how to get started.

Where to fish in Rhode Island?

Where to fish is the first question to be answered by both first-time and longtime anglers. Sounds simple, but we want to fish where we are going to catch fish. But we first must be comfortable with the location, as we will be spending a lot of time there, so it needs some thought. Factors to consider: freshwater or saltwater; nearby parking; availability of a bathroom, etc.

Peter Jenkins, owner of The Saltwater Edge, a tackle shop in Middletown and online fishing store (saltwateredge.com), said: “I cannot tell you the number of customers that have come in with gear that they want to use for fishing and they bought the wrong setup. That is why it is extremely important to first know where you want to fish. Whether you are thinking of fresh or saltwater, anglers should select a location to fish and get to know it. How to access the fishing spot, where to park, how to safely walk the shoreline, etc. And most important, what fish do I want to target at this location.”

Deciding where to fish and getting to know your first fishing location are critical. After 50 years of fishing, I have gotten to know hundreds of fishing spots. I know where the hazards are, the rocks, how the current or tide runs, the type of fish I can expect to catch there, and where and when to fish the spot. I try to know each spot. But to start fishing you only need to learn about one spot.

Visit the location a couple of times. Talk to other anglers, friends, or bait and tackle shop owners about good places to fish, what you can expect to catch, what gear, tackle and bait you need to catch fish there, etc. Once you have selected a location to fish, you can purchase the correct gear and tackle to catch fish there.

Remember that bait and tackle shops are in business to help you, so ask a million questions, as I do. It is in their best interest to help make you successful so that you become a faithful customer.

What do you need to fish?

Where you are fishing, fresh or saltwater, from shore, a dock or a boat and the species you are targeting will dictate the type of gear you will need to be successful.

First, you should know that to fish in Rhode Island and Massachusetts you need a fishing license. In Rhode Island freshwater is $21 for an adult and a saltwater license is $7. In Massachusetts a freshwater license is $33, saltwater resident license is $10. License rates vary by age, and there may be a need to obtain a trout stamp if you're targeting trout.

For information on regulations, licenses, where to fish, how to prepare for fishing, etc., visit DEM in Rhode Island at rio.ri.gov and in Massachusetts, mass.gov/topics/fishing-hunting.

For freshwater or dock/shore saltwater fishing, use a light- to medium-action rod and reel combination such as an Ugly Stick, Berkley, Penn or other rod/reel combination. They can run from $39 to $149. For freshwater, you may need some hooks and bobbers that float bait in the water column and move to signal that you have a bite. If recently stocked, trout can be fished with PowerBait ($4 to $6), and I have also found a flashy Kastmaster lure to work well for trout.

To fish saltwater from a dock or shore, I suggest getting started with bottom fish such as scup, black sea bass, tautog or sea robins. Clam worms or squid work perfectly for these species and are easy to target for beginners and children. The important thing about children fishing is to have them catch fish right away. It does not have to be a large fish, just as long as they are getting bites and catching fish.

Where to catch fish?

There are thousands of places to fish in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. States stock hundreds of freshwater waterways with trout and salmon. Some popular areas include Baber Pond, South Kingstown; Beach Pond, Exeter; Carbuncle Pond, Coventry; Hunt River, East Greenwich; Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown; Spring Gove Pond, Glocester; and Olney Pond, Lincoln.

Saltwater fish from a dock or shore at Rocky Point Park in Warwick and Colt State Park in Bristol; or Haines Park in Bristol County. The jetties at beaches from Watch Hill to Narragansett off Jamestown and Newport provide great fishing areas, too.

Do not hesitate to visit a local tackle shop for information on where to fish or feel free to email me at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: A beginner's guide to fishing in Rhode Island