Proven health benefits of angling you should know about

Proven health benefits of angling you should know about


For many of us, we don’t need much of a reason to head out on a fishing trip. We simply love it for the sport. The preparation process, planning and everything else that comes along with a typical angling journey is what we simply love to do.


However, angling has many additional benefits, namely those that are related to our mental and physical health. Some of these you might already know, while others could be quite the surprise.


In this article we will dive deeper into proven health benefits of fishing that are scientific fact.


So, without further adieu, let’s get into it.

Fishing benefits for physical health

Get some exercise

Maintaining a fit body is never easy and our daily lives often overwhelm us enough to forget about working on our overall health. Since fishing involves active movement, it acts as an additional means of getting more physical exercise.


While it may not seem as much, it’s still rather effective since it acts as cardio exercise that you can do at your own tempo.

Great for your lungs

Cities are the biggest polluters when it comes to toxins and that can have some very bad effects on your health. The most common of them are heart disease or lung problems. 


You may be wondering what this has to do with angling. Well, if you’re going on a fishing trip, it’s likely that you’ll be going out of town towards nature. Spending more time in nature will let you enjoy much cleaner and fresher air.


Consider that along with physical exercise and you see the benefits.

Get more sun

Getting enough sunlight is vital for the human body, however, it might not be that obvious from the first glance. Vitamin D that we absorb from the sun has a direct impact on our immune and digestive systems and boosts overall mood.


This is especially crucial for us in the UK since we get less direct sunlight overall, we need to enjoy every minute of it while we can.

Fishing benefits for mental health

Less anxiety

Stress and anxiety are one of the worst culprits when it comes to our overall health. Angling can be the perfect way to escape the stresses of everyday life, spend more time in nature and just simply clear your head.


Moreover, there’s the meditative effect of nature as well. Hearing leaves blowing in the wind or water running can be another means of relaxing.

You become more patient

Angling is a practice which requires patience and concentration in order to successfully catch something. It’s no secret that social media and other activities have trained our brains to become impatient and constantly looking for some stimulation.


Scientists say that tendencies aren’t looking good and our attention spans will become even shorter later on. Activities like angling, however, can act as a brain training mechanism and thus provide psychological benefits.

More self-esteem

Self-belief is arguably the strongest feeling one can experience in life. Not only does it help us achieve better things, but constantly improve ourselves and so on. However, life is full of challenges and difficulties which can distract us or put us down.


Angling is an activity which requires a calculated methodology in order to be successfully pulled off. Being careful, patient and then successfully catching something can be a wonderful way to boost self-confidence and prove to yourself that you can achieve great things.


All in all


Angling can seem as a totally simple hobby which enthusiasts engage in. However, it turns out that it has some vital mental and physical health benefits for us, which means it's an activity that’s also very useful to us.