15 Reasons We Need More Fishing Guides and Fewer Lawyers

Imagine America with fewer people suing each other, with less litigious worry in our daily lives… less fear… and less money wasted on the obnoxious plethora of lawsuits in America…

While at the same time I want you to imagine an America with more kids and parents outside…

An America with:

• More love
• More memories being created…
• More undivided attention
• More legacies…
• And more bonds and experiences being created than ever before…

Sounds pretty darn nice right?

Well do you remember the saying, “We need fewer lawyers in America, and more engineers and scientists”?

As you can probably guess from my intro above, I couldn’t agree more with this statement…

However, I would like to insert my own spin on the saying to improve it a bit…

Picture this…

“We need fewer lawyers in America, and more Fishing Guides!”

And no, that is not a typo.

I truly believe that we desperately need more great fishing guides in America.

Why?

Well before I go into why I admire fishing guides, let me preface this article with one quick statement about lawyers and attorneys across America.

I don’t despise all lawyers by any sense of the imagination.

I have some close friends that are lawyers, and I relied heavily on amazing lawyers to sell and protect my last company.

In fact, I could not have done it without two lawyers in particular.

And almost all of my lawyer friends that I have a relationship with are incredibly passionate, honest lawyers.

Not to mention, they do in fact add value to society.

In fact, some of them add tremendous value to society, have inspiring missions, and are making America a better place to live in.

Unfortunately, it is the growing percentage of dirt-bag lawyers that will do anything for a buck that are giving lawyers a black eye…

Sadly, these shady attorneys have not only tarnished the image of lawyers in general… but even worse, our society as a whole.

It is these “slimy” lawyers that have encouraged America to believe that “Nothing is your fault… and that anytime something bad happens in someone’s life, there must be someone else to blame… and that party must pay…”

It’s the reason that I have even heard young kids nonchalantly say to their friends when one of them falls down (completely due to their own carelessness), “I bet you could sue someone for that…”

This is a serious issue people.

That should not be the first thing to come out of an 11 year old’s mouth when his or her friend falls down or gets hurt.

And this isn’t just a serious issue, this is a sad issue.

One that is ruining the core of America…

One that is having us living in FEAR…

An issue that is forcing us to make decisions based on the fear of not being sued instead of what is really the best decision for our family, friends, spouse, or kids.

The Victims

This obsession with suing people for just about anything (urged on by the same money-hungry lawyers that I mentioned earlier that will convince anyone that they have a case) doesn’t just impact us in the form of higher insurance premiums, higher doctor bills, and higher costs of pretty much anything we buy (as all major companies have to charge a little more to set aside money to pay their legal fees every year)…

• This is hurting our kids, as we are forced to keep them overly protected to avoid anything that could possibly result in a lawsuit.
• It is hurting our relationships, as friends, co-workers, and even family members are suing each other at all time-highs.
• And it is hurting our Freedom, as it is tough to live a free and happy life when you constantly have worry about being the victim of a frivolous lawsuit… in many cases a suit in which you weren’t even present, like when someone gets hurt on your property (even an uninvited burglar), and you are now somehow responsible.

I have heard of popular summer camps for kids having to be shut down because of a single lawsuit incident (where a child was being careless and the parents saw a chance to make a quick buck on the camp), and now the camp owners can’t afford to keep the camp open any longer (with a combination of living in fear of being sued again).

So countless kids lose out on an amazing summer experience all because a lawyer convinced one set of parents that they could get money from their child’s carelessness since it happened on someone else’s property…

I have even heard of best friends’ parents suing each other because one of their kids was hurt while at the other parent’s house (completely the kid’s fault).

And in most major suburbs, you couldn’t even fathom having your kids build a tree fort anymore as you might as well hang a sign that says, “Here I am lawyers, come hide a camera across the street to see if you can capture any kids getting hurt so you can sue me…”

Sadly, no one seems to want to take blame for their own mistakes anymore.

Well this lawsuit mentality didn’t happen by itself.

This mindset was caused mostly due to lawyers.

America, it’s time we took some of our Freedom back… it’s time we don’t make decisions about our lives and our children’s lives based on the fear of being sued…

And although having more fishing guides certainly won’t fix everything that is wrong with our litigious society, it will certainly get us moving in a better direction…

The 15 reasons we need more fishing guides and fewer lawyers here in America

1. Fishing guides create memories

At the end of the day, a fishing guide creates memories that matter.

Memories between parents, grandparents, and kids that won’t ever be forgotten. Memories between friends, business partners, and spouses that will never be replaced.

2. Fishing guides get people outside in a world where everyone seems to be inside connected to the Internet, Xbox, and TV.

Fishing guides have the power to impress kids more than any Xbox game.

Having a rod bend over, the line sizzling out of your reel, and feeling the raw power of a fish at the end of your line is something that no video game can ever compete with.

But even if no fish are caught on a given day, just getting people outside to breath in and enjoy nature is much more fulfilling and beneficial to your spirit than being connected to a tablet, tv, or controller…

3. Fishing guides bond families and friendships

Have you ever seen families, friends, or couples step off of a fishing guide’s boat fighting?

I am willing to bet that you haven’t.

Why?

Because the act of being out on a boat, and working together to find and catch fish truly bonds people.

I can still recall a trip I took in Hawaii where I was put on a boat with other people that I had never met before. After 6 hours of being on a boat together, telling stories (with no distractions from iPhones, etc), and catching fish together, we left that boat as friends.

In fact one of the couples on the boat I still keep in touch with even though almost 7 years has passed since we met on the boat.

4. Fishing guides create legacies

When you are on your death bed living out your last day on this Earth, what do you want your family around you to remember as your legacy?

Do you want them to remember the days you let them play video games while you put in extra hours of work, or do you want them to remember the times you took them outdoors, catching fish, laughing, and accomplishing something special together?

Fishing guides can help you create those kinds of legacies…

In fact, had it not been for my grandfather passing fishing on to my father, and then my father passing it on to my brother Luke and I, you would never be reading this blog or seeing this site.

Everything Salt Strong represents is based on our family’s legacy.

5. Fishing guides help people fulfill their dreams of catching certain fish (like me with my elusive marlin that a guide finally helped me land)

Ever since I went fishing with my dad in the Bahamas and got to witness him land a blue marlin first hand, I had a goal to be just like my dad and catch my own marlin.

Over 25 years later, I finally landed my own beautiful marlin with the help of an amazing fishing guide in Mexico.

And trust me, it was an experience I will never forget.

6. Fishing guides teach people about the ocean

Fishing guides are teachers. Plain and simple.

But not only do they teach clients about how to catch fish, they also teach them about all of the different animals in the ocean. From why certain animals feed in certain times, to why tides occur, to teaching about why certain sea animals are fearful of others.

Fishing with a fishing guide is like having a marine biologist that can explain cool scientific information into laymen’s terms.

7. Fishing guides help us understand and appreciate conservation

Not only do fishing guides teach people about sea life and sea creatures, but they also teach their clients about conservation.

Everything from proper catch and release (to ensure the next generation will have fish to catch), to picking up litter they come across in the water, to teaching clients about using proper hooks, and educating clients on the reasoning behind size limits and bag limits.

8. Fishing guides have the power to slow down time, to help us forget about our ringing and beeping cell phones, to forget about the fast paced life most of us live, to appreciate what God has blessed us with in nature

When you are out on the water, time slows down.

It is one of the few places where you aren’t being hit with thousands of ads in your face, no billboards, and no distractions.

The water is a place where you can unwind, can turn off your phone, watch nature in action, and see the beauty that is around you.

If you can’t relate, then it is time to get you outside and on or near some water today!

9. Fishing Guides Build Family Foundations

If you know any fishing guides, ask them to tell you a story about how they brought a family closer together, as they all have at least one emotional family story to share.

Because what happens while out fishing is that people unite.

No matter what kind of fishing you are doing (offshore, inshore, spearfishing, etc) you get excited when you see someone else you know and love fighting a fish.

There is just nothing like it.

You are rooting for them, you help out any way you can to land the fish, and you celebrate when the fish is landed.

It is similar to being part of a sport’s team where the memories are created on the field together… regardless of who scores that day.

10. Fishing Guides are Givers

From the days of the Bible to present day, fishermen (and fisherwomen) are givers.

They give their time, they give their best tips, they give their fish, and they give everything they have to create an amazing experience for you.

If you ask most fishing guides what keeps them up at night, it usually isn’t about the money… it’s making sure they give their clients an amazing experience they won’t forget.

Sometimes that involves catching huge fish, and sometimes it doesn’t.

Early in my prior career in the financial services industry, I took some clients on a private fishing charter in the Bahamas.

It was an incredibly HOT summer day, but unfortunately the fish we were going after just weren’t biting.

After missing a fish or two, the captain told us we were going to try a new spot.

But when we pulled up, we were way back in this little hidden cove with majestic cliffs and crystal clear water… no where close to where we should be fishing.

The captain pulled out masks, fins, and snorkels, and said, “The fishing has cooled off, so we need to cool off while we wait.”

For the next hour, we snorkeled and dove down on one of the most amazing coral reefs I had ever seen.

And clearly, years later I am still remembering it and talking about the beautiful hidden cove he shared with us, even though we didn’t catch a single fish that day.

11. Fishing guides bring your stress levels down

The mere fact of getting you out of an office, out of your home, and outside on the water results in bringing your stress levels down.

And when you combine it with not worrying about your phone, or your email, or the stock market, or anything else except having a good time, it is no wonder almost everyone comes off of a boat relaxed and less stressed than when they arrived.

12. Fishing guides put smiles on their client’s faces

Similar to bringing down stress levels, fishing guides put smiles on people’s faces.

Smiles when catching fish…

Smiles when watching your friends or family catch a fish…

And even smiles just enjoying a beautiful day not in the office, school, or home…

13. Fishing Guides are teaching a skill that goes back many thousands of years

Fishing has been around countless centuries longer than America has.

As far back as history goes, there is proof of how fishing has brought people together, how fishing has fed entire villages and cities, and how fishing is a skill that has always been prized in almost every civilization.

And today, we all rely on fishing guides to share their skills, to teach more people how to fish, and to ensure that the next generation can pass keep passing the skill of fishing to their kids and grandkids.

14. Fishing Guides Save Money

Yep, that is not a typo.

Fishing guides actually save you significant amounts of money (and time) to get you on fish with some of the best gear, best tackle, and top of the line boats out there.

To attempt to buy (or even rent) the same boat and gear for the day would cost you much more than you pay for the guided experience.

Not to mention, if you rented it all, you wouldn’t have a guide!

You would be on your own to figure out where to fish, how to get bait, the tides, etc.

So believe me, hiring a fishing guide is worth every penny.

In my opinion, most of them should be charging a whole lot more for their services and the experience that they provide.

15. Fishing Guides Build Family Foundations

Last, but perhaps the most important is that fishing guides contribute to building family foundations.

Quite the opposite of most (but not all) lawyers, fishing guides build families up, they bring families together, they build camaraderie, and they unite people as one.

If I were a pre-divorce counselor, one of my “must follow recommendations” would be to have the troubled couple spend a day on the water learning to fish together with a fishing guide.

I can’t assure that they would all come back in love, but they would come back happier, less stressed, and more united than when they left.

Fishing has a funny way of changing your attitude for the best.

Need proof?

Get out there and try it yourself with a fishing guide.

My bet is that you will discover all of the 15 reasons I provided above are true…

Conclusion

With a society that has more lawyers than engineers, we shouldn’t get so surprised and irritated that our society has turned into on embarrassingly litigious place where it is easier to lay blame on someone else and sue them than it is to take responsibility for your own actions and mishaps.

Let’s wake up America.

The next time you slip and fall, hurt yourself, or get your feelings hurt, take a step back to see who was really at fault before you go pointing fingers, blame, and suits on other people or businesses…

And if you need your spirits lifted up from an embarrassing moment, go hire a fishing guide… they won’t judge.

Attention Lawyers

Lawyers, it is evident that you carry significant weight and influence in today’s society, whether we like it or not.

You have clearly shaped our society and our day to day lives.

You influence every decision any Fortune 500 company makes, not to mention, practically run our country in terms of the lopsided amount of lawyers that are politicians.

And going forward, your actions and decisions will have HUGE implications on how our society looks, acts, and behaves in the future.

Your decisions today will shape how America looks in 5 and 10 years from now.

So I will leave you with these parting thoughts:

Which one of these lawyers do you want to be remembered by your kids, grandkids, and society?

1. Will you be the lawyer that adds tremendous value to society, a lawyer that only represents honest people that truly have a reason to sue, a lawyer that acts with integrity, and a lawyer that encourages more people to work things out instead of suing, rather than the other way around… regardless of what it does to your next paycheck.
2. Or will you be the lawyer that does anything for a buck, that will represent and fight for anyone (even when you know they are 100% guilty), a lawyer that encourages people to sue for anything, and a lawyer that stirs up controversy and chases ambulances…

America is hoping and praying that you make the right choice.

P.S. – If you feel the same, then I ask that you please share this. Thank you for reading. And thank you to all of the great fishing guides and the great lawyers out there that do bust their butt day in and day out to make our country a better place to live.