When to use pointers in this kind of situation?

[Tiger58]

Our teacher said that from now on we should only be using pointers, but how far does that actually go? Do you use a pointer for every single variable you are going to use? Like in the following example:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include "Fish.h"
using namespace std;

int menu();
void inputData(int *const, Fishing*);
void displayData();
void exit();

int main()
{
	Fishing *fishData;
	int fishnum,
             //Pointer initialized to fishnum
	    *pnum=&fishnum,
	    option;

	cout<<"Enter the number of fish caught: ";
	cin>>*pnum;
	while(*pnum<0)
	{
		cout<<"ERROR. Please enter a positive value: ";
		cin>>*pnum;
	}

        //Here, should I send the pointer instead?
	fishData=new Fishing[fishnum];

        //Here, should I equate the same pointer to option then replace "option" with the pointer?
        //Ex: pnum=&option;
        //Ex: *pnum=menu();
	option=menu();

	switch(option)
	{
		//etc etc
	}
}

Think what I am asking is basic programming practice. Does he literally mean that we should use a pointer for every single variable including constants, or is it suitable to only use them when getting user-input data?

[Anmol444]

You should only use pointers when you need to. Normal variables are perfectly fine until then.