You will always catch more fish with a specific target species in mind when preparing your tackle. A general one-size-fits-all approach can work, but most fish respond with more enthusiasm towards specific baits, lures and rigs.

The reason for this is as simple as that which makes you prefer steak to chicken, or chocolate to vanilla-certain fish prefer certain foods. Good fishing starts with good knowledge of the bottom end of the food chain, so if you can figure out what tickles the taste buds of your favourite fish, you will catch more. Anglers spend a lot of time studying the behaviour of popular fish species when really we should be spending more time studying the lifestyles of baitfish, cephalopods and small crustaceans. Predatory fish are simple to work out: they eat, so if you find the food source, you'll find the predators.

A fish's favourite food can vary throughout the year depending on water temperature, migrations, breeding cycles and availability. So how do you figure out what the chef's special is when you're fishing?

Availability is the best clue. Be observant and take note of what is abundant in your local area at various times of the year. Watch out for schooling baitfish, investigate what local water birds are hunting, or catch some samples.

If you take your fishing more seriously and want to investigate further, then spend some time wading and/or snorkelling.

Once you figure out what the available foods are, use lures that best imitate the creature, or catch them to use as bait (when legal). And as always, fish them near the food source and focus your efforts around the turn of the tides.