Where in the world would you like to be fishing?
Here you’ll find links and maps to all kinds of fishing vacation sites. The world’s a big place, so we’ll continuously add new locations as we find them. So check back often.
Once there, what do you need?
Here you’ll find information about all sorts of fishing gear, from rods and reels to fish finders, etc. You’ll also find reviews, links to manufacturer sites and stores where you might make your purchase.
Where can you get more information?
Here we’ll be compiling all sorts of links related to fishing. These might be government sites where you can get information concerning permits and regulations and fishing seasons. Images and information about different species of fish and the aquatic fauna and where they might be found and the best ways of catching them.
Purpose
Thomas Rodney, Lord Harrington, has created The Royale Anglers Club as a virtual club to promote the sport of Fishing worldwide. This website will be the center-point for disseminating information. There are thousands of sites on the Internet devoted to every aspect of fishing. This site will be under continuous development, adding new information on a daily basis. We are providing the site during this set-up period to get information and links out as soon as we get them set up. We’ll initially work to put up a lot of pages covering as many areas as possible and then go back and continuously add new links and resources. So you’ll want to check back often to see what new information has been added.
We are also going to be adding some humor to the site so keep a watch out for the Tall Tails section where you’ll be able to pass on to us your stories about the one that got away or other funny fishing stores you’ve heard. - Lord Harrington
We are also going to be adding some humor to the site so keep a watch out for the Tall Tails section where you’ll be able to pass on to us your stories about the one that got away or other funny fishing stores you’ve heard. - Lord Harrington
A Brief History
Fishing is very ancient dating back at least 40,000 years ago. Analysis of skeletal remains from eastern Asia show that freshwater fish were consumed on a regular basis. In addition, archeological digs have uncovered discarded fish bones and cave paintings. This long ago, fishing was for subsistence in a hunter-gatherer society.
Modern fishing trawlers were developed in the 19th century, at the English fishing port of Brixham. The fishing trawlers depleted the nearby fishing areas causing them to need to expand further out. New ships were developed that were sleek of build with a tall gaff rig making the ships faster so as to reach the distant fishing grounds quicker. These ships were built to allow trawling in deep water. The large trawling fleet built at Brixham earned the village the title of “Mother of Deep-Sea Fisheries”.
This new ship design made large scale trawling in the ocean possible that resulted in a huge migration of fisherman from the ports in the South of England, to villages further north, such as Scarborough, Hull, Grimsby, Harwich and Yarmouth.
The village of Grimsby grew to become the largest fishing port in the world by the mid 1800’s. By the end of the 1800’s there were over 3,000 fishing trawlers in commission in Britain with almost 1000 at Grimsby. These trawlers were sold around Europe with twelve forming the core of the German fishing fleet.
Steam powered fishing boats appeared in the 1870’s. By 1890, there were an estimated 20,000 men fishing the North Sea.
The last sailing fishing trawler was built in Grimsby in 1925. The means of powering the trawlers adapted from sail to coal-fired steam and by WWI to diesel and then turbines by the end of WWII. The first trawlers fished over the side, instead of the stern. The first stern built trawler was the Fairtry built in 1953 at Aberdeen, Scotland. The Fairtry was much larger than other trawlers and brought in the era of the super trawlers. Hauling of the trawl over the stern allowed these super trawlers to pull in as much as 60 tons at a time.
It isn’t clear when recreational fishing began. There is anecdotal evidence for fly fishing in Japan, although this was probably subsistence fishing more than recreational. The earliest English essay on recreational fishing was published in 1496, by Dame Juliana Berners, the prioress of the Benedictine Sopwell Nunnery. The essay was titled Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle. It included information, in detail, on fishing waters, construction of rods and lines, and the use of natural baits and artificial flies.
After the English Civil War, recreational fishing took a great leap forward. A large number of publications concerning recreational fishing came about at this time. In 1653, Isaac Walton published Compleat Angler. He continued to add to the work for over 25 years and described fishing in the Derbyshire Wye.
In 1655, Charles Kirby designed an improved fishing hook. He went on to invent the Kirby bend, a distinctive hook with an offset point, still commonly used today.
During the 18th century, the design of the fishing rod continued to evolve with the consolidation of techniques developed in the previous century. These new designs included the appearance of running rings which gave anglers greater control over the cast line. The rods became more sophisticated and specialized for different purposes.
The industry became more commercialized with rod and tackle being sold in haberdashers stores. After the Great Fire of London in 1866, many manufacturers moved to Redditch which became the center of production for fishing related products. Onesimus Ustonson established a trading shop in 1761 and his shop remained the market leader for the next century. He received a Royal Warrant and became the official supplier of fishing tackle to three successive monarchs starting with King George IV. The commercialization of the industry came with expanded interest in fishing for recreation for the aristocracy.
Modern fishing trawlers were developed in the 19th century, at the English fishing port of Brixham. The fishing trawlers depleted the nearby fishing areas causing them to need to expand further out. New ships were developed that were sleek of build with a tall gaff rig making the ships faster so as to reach the distant fishing grounds quicker. These ships were built to allow trawling in deep water. The large trawling fleet built at Brixham earned the village the title of “Mother of Deep-Sea Fisheries”.
This new ship design made large scale trawling in the ocean possible that resulted in a huge migration of fisherman from the ports in the South of England, to villages further north, such as Scarborough, Hull, Grimsby, Harwich and Yarmouth.
The village of Grimsby grew to become the largest fishing port in the world by the mid 1800’s. By the end of the 1800’s there were over 3,000 fishing trawlers in commission in Britain with almost 1000 at Grimsby. These trawlers were sold around Europe with twelve forming the core of the German fishing fleet.
Steam powered fishing boats appeared in the 1870’s. By 1890, there were an estimated 20,000 men fishing the North Sea.
The last sailing fishing trawler was built in Grimsby in 1925. The means of powering the trawlers adapted from sail to coal-fired steam and by WWI to diesel and then turbines by the end of WWII. The first trawlers fished over the side, instead of the stern. The first stern built trawler was the Fairtry built in 1953 at Aberdeen, Scotland. The Fairtry was much larger than other trawlers and brought in the era of the super trawlers. Hauling of the trawl over the stern allowed these super trawlers to pull in as much as 60 tons at a time.
It isn’t clear when recreational fishing began. There is anecdotal evidence for fly fishing in Japan, although this was probably subsistence fishing more than recreational. The earliest English essay on recreational fishing was published in 1496, by Dame Juliana Berners, the prioress of the Benedictine Sopwell Nunnery. The essay was titled Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle. It included information, in detail, on fishing waters, construction of rods and lines, and the use of natural baits and artificial flies.
After the English Civil War, recreational fishing took a great leap forward. A large number of publications concerning recreational fishing came about at this time. In 1653, Isaac Walton published Compleat Angler. He continued to add to the work for over 25 years and described fishing in the Derbyshire Wye.
In 1655, Charles Kirby designed an improved fishing hook. He went on to invent the Kirby bend, a distinctive hook with an offset point, still commonly used today.
During the 18th century, the design of the fishing rod continued to evolve with the consolidation of techniques developed in the previous century. These new designs included the appearance of running rings which gave anglers greater control over the cast line. The rods became more sophisticated and specialized for different purposes.
The industry became more commercialized with rod and tackle being sold in haberdashers stores. After the Great Fire of London in 1866, many manufacturers moved to Redditch which became the center of production for fishing related products. Onesimus Ustonson established a trading shop in 1761 and his shop remained the market leader for the next century. He received a Royal Warrant and became the official supplier of fishing tackle to three successive monarchs starting with King George IV. The commercialization of the industry came with expanded interest in fishing for recreation for the aristocracy.