Fishing is a popular hobby among families in northern New Jersey. With an abundance of creeks, lakes, rivers and beaches, it is typical to see families grabbing their fishing rods and going out on a nice summer day. However, as a little girl I never took to fishing because my mother and father did not teach me. Recently, I had the experience of going fishing in Grand Lake in Oklahoma. I was lucky enough to be fishing with some experts who had a lot of knowledge on the subject. Within the first few hours, like the fish, I was hooked. Here are a few tips to make your first fishing trip splashes of fun.

1. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty.

Whether you are out on a boat or sitting on a dock, you have to be willing to get a little bit dirty. Between grabbing slimy worms and touching the fish when you get your first catch, it is not a clean sport. However, it is always fun to get a little bit messy.

2. Do not get nervous.

When I caught my first tiny little perch, I almost lost it because I got nervous when the fishing pole jerked after he bit on. Stay calm and in control so that you do not lose the catch that you worked so hard to get.

3. Do some research.

Before you go out, look into what kind of fish are in the body of water that you are going to be fishing. Once you know what type of fish are in that body of water, look into what type of bait might be the best in order to catch them. For example, catfish love snacking on perch, so you might want to catch some perch first and then use them as bait.

4. Ensure that you have the proper permit.

In order to fish in almost every single body of water, you have to have a permit from the state. You can get permits ranging from one day if you are visiting somewhere to a permanent permit if you go fishing a lot. If you are a resident of New Jersey, you can visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fishneed.htm to register. While on the website, make sure there are no laws limiting the amount of fish you are allowed to keep.

5. Look into how to prepare the fish you are catching.

Once of the best parts about fishing is being able to eat what you catch. There are a bunch of different resources out there that will teach you how to clean and cook the fish. There are also many different websites that will give you recipes for them and tell you what the best side dishes would be. For some catfish receipes, click here.

6. Have patience and remember to have fun.

It may take you a couple minutes to catch some fish or it may take you several hours. Remember to just be calm and that the fish will come to you. Also remember to have fun with your friends and family who you are fishing with along the way.

Now what are you waiting for? You have all the tips to go out there and hook, line and sink them.