5 BEST FISHING SPOTS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD

Over the years I've written a bunch of “Top 10” stories. Editors love them because they catch a reader's eye. At Marlin we did a ton of these stories. We ran a Top 10 Lures of All Time article. That one was cool. I wrote a Top 10 Tournament Towns article and our PR guys loved it. They called each and every town I wrote about and got the article mentioned in local newspapers and what not. This isn't one of those articles.

I've been spoiled and fortunate enough to fish in some pretty amazing places, but I'm not here to brag about where I've been because truthfully, I haven't gone on some far-flung trip in quite a while. I have, however, enjoyed some great days fishing right here at home. It made me want to write a different sort of article about the “best” fishing spots. Here's my top five:

5. Anywhere You Can Catch — Some of the best times I've had fishing were spent catching small fish like snapper blues, pompano and flounder. If you're one of those people who get all pouty because you're not catching “big ones,” then you don't even deserve to pull on a fish. Real anglers have fun no matter what fish they're catching, at least that's how I feel. And the more fun and positive you are, the bigger fish you are bound to catch.

4. Fishing With A Kid — If you can introduce a kid to the sport of fishing and help them catch their first fish, well, it doesn't get much better than that. If you've never experienced it, volunteer some time and go out on a trip with a group such as Friends of Rollo (www.rollokids.com). These groups specialize in introducing youngsters to the sport. You'd be amazed how much joy a 1-pound bass can bring to a little kid — and you! Their excitement is infectious.

3. A Day With No Boat Issues — The boat started up on the first crank, you got out of the harbor with no issues, no alarms went off, the electronics did their job flawlessly, all the switches and pumps worked, and you made it back to the dock with no issues whatsoever. Now that's a great day!

2. Fishing With Family — When I was a teenager and had absolutely nothing in common with my father, the one thing we could still talk about was fishing. And the time we spent on the water was probably the best time we ever spent together. Sure, there were times he was a bit too hard on me, or I got scolded for accidentally breaking something, but the range of fish we landed, the places we explored together and the sense of accomplishment I got every time he said he was proud of me far outweighed the berating. Dad's favorite trick was to hook into a fish and say to me, “I think I'm hung up,” as he handed me the rod and let me catch the fish.

1. Wherever You Are Right Now — Whether you're fishing for bluegill on a small pond or trolling in the deep blue for billfish, the spot you're at right now is the very best spot in the world. I know it sounds hokey, but it's true. Don't think about the guy in the bigger boat next to you, or the dude with the hot bikini model on the bow (well, you can still think about her), just be thankful to be out on the water.

“Life is a struggle, and if you should feel really happy, be patient — this will pass.” — Garrison Keillor