A Brief History Of Fishing

Fishing is a very ancient art of hunting, going all the way back in time to the earliest humans in many cultures (the earliest known evidence dates back over 40,000 years!). For thousands of years, people living near the waterways have used this resource to feed themselves, their families, and their villages.

The earliest forms of fishing usually would involve spears and a great deal of patience, or sometimes crude nets would be weaved to make the job of catching fish for dinner much easier.

The earliest known records of humans using fishing rods, lines and hooks dates back to 2,000 BC, with the Chinese and Egyptians being amongst the first people to experiment with different hunting weapons.

Early Fishing Equipment

Most of the early fisherman just used handlines, with hooks made out of bronze which was strong, but still very thin and less visible to fish. The Chinese were the first people to use fishing lines, which were spun from fine silk.

In the early 1900’s fishing lures were first created commercially in the United States, but before this time they were all made individually by craftsmen. Modern lures that were made commercially were based on the ideas of the individual craftsmen, just made in much larger quantities.

Why Go Fishing?

There are many reasons why people fish, and in the early days it was largely a necessity, as a way gather food for yourself and your community. These days many people fish for recreational purposes, and there is even evidence that this practice goes all the way back to the Egyptians doing it as a recreational past-time in the River Nile.

Fishing for food has become a large commercial business all over the world, and it is estimated that fisheries and aquaculture directly and indirectly employ over 500 million people worldwide.

On top of commercial and recreational purposes, fishing as a sport has taken off in a big way in recent times, with many people competing with one another to catch the biggest fish.

Fishing equipment has come a very long way since the early days, and whether you’re a professional fisherman looking to hone and perfect your craft, or just a ‘weekend warrior’ out for a bit of fun, there is a great deal of choice and range available to you in order to have the greatest chance of success.

So next time you’re out on the water or looking for that perfect fishing spot, just think about how much easier you have it these days than your ancestors had it in days long gone… and remember that it should be all about fun and relaxation!