Is Fishing a Sport?

Is fishing a sport, or merely a hobby or leisure activity? This is certainly a very good question and I think the answer could depend largely on the prior experience of the person reading this. If you grew up playing football, baseball and other organized sports, you may not think that something could be defined as a sport with out some sort of ball being used. Your "outdoor experience" may have always involved manicured grass or lines giving shape to where your sport takes place.  Just because something is not spectator friendly does not mean that it can't be a sport.  There are many people that have different interests than the normal spectator sports.

 There is nothing wrong with those kinds of sports, they are great exercise, great ways to spend time with friends and family and they can be a great way to satisfy the competitive nature that so many of us have. On the other hand, there are many people that are content to spend their time and effort pursuing activities that involve fewer rules and often fewer people. Though I played football, basketball, wrestled and was on the track team when I was in school, I always enjoyed my other activities more. Hiking, fishing, hunting and backpacking were more enjoyable to me and ultimately those are the activities that I have continued into adulthood.

What is a sport? I searched for dictionary definitions of sport and came up with answers varying from, an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, to diversion and recreation. So while fishing can arguably fit the definition of sport, what makes it a sport to you?

Do you like fishing because it is relaxing and a way to get away from daily troubles and concerns to do something else? Or maybe you go out fishing to have to time to think about what is actually on your mind? Or you could just as well go fishing to be competitive and try to catch the biggest fish or most fish. Maybe you compete against your buddies, or maybe on a national bass fishing tournament, like those becoming more and more popular in the U.S.

To me, fishing is a sport. But more often than not it is a sport of relaxation and enjoyment. Sure I do get a little competitive sometimes trying to catch the bigger fish, or more fish. That is the great thing about fishing though, it is what you make of it. After all, you can enjoy fishing from the shore, with the most basic equipment, or you could troll the lake with the most expensive boat and tackle your money can buy. Either way you can compete or you can relax. So I wouldn't worry too much whether fishing is really a sport or not, why don't you just get out there and wet your lines?