Is Fishing Really A Sport Or Just A Hobby? Here’s Your Proof!
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
- Found In: Fishing Fun, Salt Strong
Is Fishing Really A Sport?
The question – “Is fishing really a sport or hobby?” – has stirred up a lot of debate and even raised some eyebrows of those people who believe that fishing is just a leisure activity that can never be a sport…
In fact, I had someone challenge me (probably a PETA member) on this recently by saying fishing is not a sport because anyone can do it…
Well isn’t that the point of sports… something competitive that required some skill but that can still be enjoyed by everyone regardless of size, strength, or even disability?
And as you can imagine, while researching this topic, I found some forums that said fishing was not a sport, while others saying it absolutely was.
The Bleacher Report had this to say about fishing being a real sport or not:
- Does it require physical exertion or ability? Sometimes
- Does it require physical skill? Sometimes
- Is it a competition? Sometimes
Fishing is all about the context in terms of whether it’s a sport or not. When I lived in Minnesota in the middle of winter, people would drive out their trucks onto the ice, pull out their tent and prop it up.
Next, they drill a hole in the ice and drop a line. Then they rev up the generator, plug in the TV and drink beer and ice fish. That is not a sport.
Grabbing a cooler, throwing it on your row boat and paddling out to the middle of the lake where you get drunk with a line in the water is not a sport.
Neither of those things require any skill or exertion and have no competition, ergo they are not sports.
Hauling in a 50-pound tuna in a fishing tournament is another matter. Fishing is only a sport when it’s a sport. Otherwise, it’s just an outdoor hobby.
The Bleacher Report Verdict: Fishing is a sport sometimes.
Well, I tend to disagree… I think that fishing is undeniably a sport all of the time, not sometimes…
And not just because I love fishing, but simply because fishing possesses the skill set and even the “requirements” needed for any sport.
With that in mind, I want to outline FIVE reasons why we are really confident that fishing is indeed a SPORT.
5 Reasons Fishing Is A Real Sport
Here are five (of many) reasons that fishing is a real sport.
If you know of other reasons why fishing is definitely (or definitely not) a sport, then please leave them in the comments after you read these five.
Just keep it classy.
Enjoy.
1. Anglers And Athletes Have Alot In Common
If you have ever fought a large fish for more than 15 minutes, then you know how much energy, strength, and stamina it takes to land a lunker fish.
It’s not like all fishing is pulling up bluegill with a cane pole for crying out loud!
I mean, haven’t any of you naysayers read “Old Man And The Sea?”
Have you never watched the show Wicked Tuna?
Anglers that go after big game fish are completely wiped out after a long fight with a monster fish. In fact, I will go out on a limb and say these anglers are more tired and sore than a table tennis player after a long table tennis match with Ding Ning from China…
Do you not think this guy got a workout landing this beast on a rod and reel?
Moreover, just like any athlete out there, we anglers also have those pillars in life that greatly affect our performance while fishing (i.e. sleep, diet, studying, and training).
Loss or lack of sleep (as well as sleep deprivation) actually affects our performance while on the water. When we don’t get enough sleep the night before we fish, we sometimes miss things due to slower reflexes, naps on the boat, etc.
Having a balanced diet is also a must. And this begins with our choice of healthy food and snacks like bacon, eggs, and coffee that can give us the right vitamins and minerals to keep us going. Basically, anything but bananas (find out why bananas are really bad luck on boats here)
What’s interesting is some anglers choose to carry granola bars and other healthy energy-giving snacks while others rely on sunflower seeds, peanuts, and beef jerky.
Either way, fishing requires lots of training and a focused mind in order to succeed. It’s science, and it’s tough to argue with science…
2. Fishing Actually Improves Physical Health!
This hobby-turned-sport that we all know as fishing not only keeps us physically fit by helping us burn unwanted calories, but it also allows us to take advantage of its holistic approach in helping us keep a healthy mind and body.
All kinds of sports enable everyone to have some cardiovascular and high-intensity workouts.
However, many people still think that fishing is just about sitting on a cooler with a bait in the water waiting on a bite while relaxing with your favorite fishing buddies. Well, it’s actually more than that. Check this out below.
Well, it’s actually more than that. Check this out below.
Just like any sport, all types of fishing involves physical activity.
Traversing through some coarse terrain and slippery rocks while wading against the current challenges our balance. Likewise, hiking up steep slopes or riverbanks looking for a new place to wet a line builds muscular strength particularly in our legs and feet, not to mention that casting and reeling repeatedly test our precision and accuracy through hand-eye coordination. It also strengthens muscles in the hands, wrists, forearms, biceps, triceps, and shoulders.
Through comprehensive research, science has already supported these findings about the physical benefits of fishing over the years. In fact, leisure fishing has been widely utilized as a rehabilitation therapy by psychologists, counselors, and physical therapists.
So take that haters!
And since this “sport” is considered as a calming, repetitive, low-impact activity that helps the patients suffering from trauma to regain strength and reinforce their normal functions, the U.S. Veterans Health Administration has taken upon the use of fly fishing and fly tying as a recreational therapy for injured military veterans.
Watch this video that reveals a study on the health benefits of recreational fishing:
How can anyone say fishing isn’t a sport after watching that?
But there’s more…
3. Fishing Promotes Mental, Emotional, & Social Well-Being (Just Like All Sports)
It’s a fact: Angling is therapeutic in nature.
Compared to other tedious sports that cause extreme stress, broken bones, and even death, fishing provides you the opportunity to relieve stress and escape from the usual hustle and bustle of the city life without stressing or pressuring you more.
Fishing rewards us with moments of solitude and serenity – ideal for our much-awaited, well-deserved break. Can you say that about running sprints for football in the hot sun until you vomit?
I don’t think so.
Similarly, fishing introduces protective factors that promote good mental health, resilience and coping skills, as well as a network of social support that all work their way to maintain positive mental health.
Don’t believe me?
Then check out some of its distinct features and overall health contributions that are outlined in the table below.
Note: This study titled, “Fishing for Answers: Final Report of the Social and Community Benefits of Angling Project,” and conducted by Dr. Adam Brown, et.al. in 2012 has been published HERE.
Incorporating fishing in our usual routines contributes in the promotion of our superior social relationships between and among our loved ones and friends as well as our overpowering sense of connection, belongingness, and contribution to the society.
4. Fishing Teaches Leadership, Perseverance, and Discipline.
Would you rather your son or daughter learn how to fish and conserve the outdoors or learn how to play Xbox and stay inside?
In most sports, we have to learn some skill that develops our strength, hand-eye coordination, flexibility, stamina, focus and much more. And as we practice the skill to perfection, such activity also gives anglers like us a room to acquire leadership and self-discipline, while improving self-confidence and enriching perseverance and patience.
And when we join into some fishing tournaments and competitions, we experience some of the biggest thrills, challenges, and know-hows of playing the sport – requiring us to step out of our comfort zone and learn how to strategize – adopting team dynamics and sportsmanship.
5. Fishing Gives Anglers A Sense Of Accomplishment & Joy (Like All Sports)
Anglers fish for different reasons (please see the infographics below for your reference).
And regardless of whether you fish to combat stress, spend quality time with our loved ones and friends, find our ultimate sanctuary, or even join in a competition, we all seek a certain sense of happiness, contentment, and feeling of accomplishment.
In fishing, we know we all belong and have a specific purpose.
As they often say, “fishing by all forms takes them back to the very essence of humanity – giving them a sense of place in the world.”
Well, I would encourage anyone to try fishing and experience the bliss and the fun that we all enjoy as anglers and fishing athletes. As you have seen above, it is no wonder so many anglers say that fishing is truly a one of a kind SPORT.
Not only is it entertaining, competitive, and fun, but it has lots of benefits, too. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do — you can always catch a fish too!
It really should be no mystery that fishing is a sport, perhaps one of the oldest sports in the world.
What do you think?
Is fishing a real sport? Are fishermen athletes?
Feel free to hit the comment section and let us know your thoughts. Pa-Pow!
Keep Calm and Fish Strong!
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Fishing is definetly a sport. Ask any Fisherman. Including me 😀 It requires skill, patience, and determination. And especially if the catch is big, it takes a LOT of physical effort.
Fishing is never going to be a sport there is no real movement or teamwork .
so helping somone catch a 200 pound lake sturgeon isn’t teamwork?? helping someone win a bass competition isn’t teamwork?? realing in and pulling is real movement. if fishing does not have real movement than tennis,soccer,football and hockey isn’t a sport. I mean soccer is just kicking a ball around right????? fishing can and does include skill. making a lure look like a real fish takes skill, casting far takes skill, landing a fish with/without a net takes skill, unhooking a fish takes skill and making your lure work properly takes skill as well. some fishing isn’t a sport but its waaaay more easy to score a hatrick then to catch a 400 pound sturgeon. some lures make you do certain actions or they don’t work at all. its not like we just throw a hook and some corn to catch every fish. it takes SKILL to catch fish. its not a coincidence that some teams win bass tournaments repeatedly. some fish will only bite some very very realist lures that have to be used in certain ways. you throw out a jerkbait for 3 hours and chances are you will NOT catch a musky. fishing takes skill,teamwork and lots of energy. if its not a sport then what is a sport? killing other humans?
Golf has no real movement or teamwork
fishing is a sport it includes strength knowledge and skill. there for it is a sport and definitely tournaments
As long as people fish to eat its not a sport. In no modern sport do you kill the competition or objective (though it would be funny to see the winning football team eat the pigskin) While bass tournaments usually do not kill the animals they are just glorification of the recreation that does. Competition fishing is just a vain attempt to make fishing something it isn’t
Most people (city people) think that fishing is you have a bobber a worm and a hook, and you sit down. That is absolutely not actual fishing. Fishing is different strategies. You must plan and have patience. Not many people just use worms. They will use lures that you have to work differently. That is just some of the points. There is a lot more to fishing than you may think. Fishing a sport 100%
Fishing is not a real sport, I like fishing and it is a nice hobby, but it is not a sport. You all say that it takes mental skill so that makes it a sport, but you could take something simple like a sudoku puzzle, it definitely takes mental skill, but do you think it’s a sport? That’s what I thought, I rest my case, no matter what you throw at me I will counter, and I’m 12 years old, so how’s your self esteem now, try me✌️
Well it really depends on how you look at it it but you make a good point though!
i’m 13 and i believe it is a sport because you just like other sports have to practice you get paid you have a plan and sometimes it doesn’t work so you have to improvise it is also just like gymnastics think or golf the fish is a tool to help you win and just like golf you need better tools to do better. how is that for a 13 year old. also my self esteem is quit high
Go deep sea. Use heavy gear (120lb main line & 200lb leader with size 2-3 hook) and use a reel that has atleast 80lb+ drag. Tie 1 live fish not less than 1/2lb size, then cast and wait for something to take it…. if taken by something… 😛
Reply next day🤭🤭 if u still think it’s not a sport 😉
not a sport XD roasted
recreational fishing is not a sport but sportive fishing is a sport
100% a sport no doubt in my mind.
I’m a professional fisherman and I know what it takes to be a one.
Hi, guys, I agree with nicolene that fishing Is a sport
i agree with you too
yes
yessir i agree