As per Google, the word “sport” is something that involves physical activity, requires skill, and on some level competitive. It involves an individual or a team as they compete against one another for entertainment purposes.
So does fishing fall into this category, is fishing a sport? That’s a big yes! It may not be as straightforward or recognized as a sport to many because of its nature but fishing has evolved and has become a full-blown sport.
But as with any sport, it can also be a hobby, or technically it was a hobby or means of living first. Fishing can get competitive and some communities organize competitions all over the world especially in North America. Statistics are recorded like the largest catch or from where and what species.
Let’s discuss this topic further!
Table of Contents
Fishing Requires Skill
It all boils down to someone’s commitment to it. Some fish for fun or to spend quality time with family but for some, it’s a serious competitive game. To be efficient at fishing you have to learn some required skills.
Which makes it just any sport, you start with the fundamentals like learning how to cast, buying the right gear, and familiarizing yourself with the different baits and lures. You study, you research, and most of all practice.
For some, fishing is like second nature and there are also rookies. One thing is for sure, when you catch a huge haul then it most likely is not because of luck but it’s because you did your homework, scouted the place, and got acquainted with your intended catch.
Again, through constant practice like in any sport, you can be really good at it. It’s got multiple categories too, like fly fishing, deep-sea fishing, angling, and many more which requires a different set of skills to be good at.
Fishing will get you Physically Active
Fish are monsters and they can put up a fight. What do you do to reel in a 200-pound monster? Once they bite it’s not an assurance that it’s a catch so you need a certain level of strength and fitness to be able to outlast them.
This is also where skill comes in as you can’t just use brute force when hooking or reeling a catch in. You need to also have finesse to land one. Anglers develop certain muscles once they practice fishing almost regularly.
And also, there’s the factor of going up and down a river just to find the right spot for fishing. It’s almost as if you are going on a hike. Sometimes, fishing can be time-bound. This means your chances of catching a lot of a certain species of fish depend on the time of the day or the temperature, so that can also prove challenging.
As with any sport, fishing requires you to be mentally and physically tough. It’s going to be a grind right from packing up your gear up until landing a haul.
Fishing can get Competitive
There are fishing competitions organized by different communities in the world. This is especially big in North America. Whether it is lake fishing, river fishing, or sea fishing it’s a load of fun for sure.
There are slightly varying rules and boy it can get competitive. Most of the time winners are those who caught the biggest fish for a specific amount of time. It would also depend on the species caught.
Bass, Salmon, Trout, Musky, and Northern Pike are some of the most common freshwater catches in these competitions. It can get wild, and at the same time, it’s super entertaining.
Benefits of Fishing
Needless to say, fishing has a lot of benefits and it’s well-rounded like any other sport. It’s going to keep you physically healthy, improve your mental health, and at the same time give you a chance to bond with friends, family, and meet new people.
Fishing can sometimes get rigorous and comes with that certain health benefits. Walking is especially beneficial to your heart. You develop dexterity which is applicable in everything we do, you get more sun exposure thus paving the way for more Vitamin D intake which our body badly needs. And most of all, we get to breath fresh air which is sometimes a luxury for city dwellers.
Fishing lets you unplug from the modern world. Thus, it’s pretty therapeutic. It helps reduce stress which affects almost everyone nowadays thus helping with depression. Ever heard of the term forest bathing? It’s when you spend a few hours in wooded areas. It’s said that you’ll have a generally lower pulse rate, blood pressure, and cortisol rates when you do so.
A few hours with nature can go a long way. Also, these fishing trips and occasions are perfect moments to share knowledge to the young ones. It’s a perfect time to gather the family, or be with friends and create memories together.
Different Fishing Injuries
Now on to the dark side of any sport, injuries are sometimes inevitable. The thing is fishing can get challenging or even dangerous at times. Mishaps can occur and so we must always be careful.
As mentioned, fish can put up a fight. They may impale or even bite you just to getaway. So sometimes you may incur a scratch or two. Also, fish hooks can get dangerous, it’s one common injury caused by anglers’ equipment. The eyes are especially vulnerable so do take extra precaution.
One can also develop muscle strains by overdoing it sometimes. Also, tripping and falling on slippery areas are quite common because you are dealing with water all the time.
Sport Fishing Video
This video is all about Sport Fishing and challenges of fishing
Final Thoughts
So is fishing a sport? You know the answer to that now. It can get competitive but it can be a relaxing activity with family and friends too. It’s something everyone enjoys so if that doesn’t make it a sport then I don’t know what will.
Right now, let us stop the debate and why don’t we just grab our fishing gears and lures and reel a big one in. Here’s to hoping that you catch a haul!
