There has always been a debate about whether if fishing is a sport. So what is a sport? If you ask someone this question, they will probably say that football, Basketball and Rugby are sports and no one will ever categorize fishing in the same group as these “sports”. Well, the dictionary says that a sport is an activity that needs physical exertion, something that requires certain skills and that is competed by an individual or a team against another for entertainment.
Now, is fishing a sport? Some of you may already have an answer. There are different types of fishing. Leisure fishing involves you bringing a rod out to the shore, casting the line into the water while you spend some time with your family or friends. It can also be chartering a boat, going out to the sea and basking in the sun with a few friends, enjoying the ocean breeze. There are tons of charters available and I’ve went for a few. One of which that I enjoyed the most was to go on fishing charters in Auckland.
On the other hand, sport fishing or competitive fishing, unlike leisure fishing, exerts a lot of strength and it requires certain level of skills in order to do it. Can you imagine reeling in a fish that is over a hundred pounds? You can never do it if you don’t possess certain level of skill! It is indeed a dangerous sport. Does this change your impression of fishing? It sure did to me.
Fishing as a sport
Fishing may not be as interesting to watch compared to games Football and Basketball but those that are out there fishing will enjoy every bit of it. I’ve been to quite a few leisure fishing trip and boy am I excited when a fish is at the other end of the line. Multiply my excitement by 10 times and that should be how those people fishing competitively feel.
Like any other sports, fishing does requires exerting a great amount of force. Accidents can happen, especially when you are pulling a huge fish out of the water, into your boat. It bears the same amount of risk just like any other sports out there. Like any other sportsmen, fishing requires consistent practicing and ensure that their skills and techniques never go rusty.
I’ve once spoken to a professional fisherman and he said “The more you fish, the more you will learn. Make a few mistakes and these mistakes will be your mentor.” Some may say fishing is about luck, but have you ever heard of a professional fisherman not bringing back any loots? You have to know when, where and how to look for the location to fish and also know the technique to hold and pull the reel. Exerting too much force will cause the line or even the rod to break and exerting too little will cause the fish to swim away.
So, now that you have a little preview as to both leisure and competitive fishing, I will ask you again, is fishing considered a sport? Ask the guys from Anglers Choice Fishing Safaris over in Northern Territory, Australia – I’m sure they’ll be happy to give you their two cents.
