How To Become A Professional Fisherman And Give Up Your Day Job
You may think that becoming a professional fisherman would be fun, but it takes a lot of skills, effort, and determination to succeed in this venture.
This, on top of the practicalities of life such as paying the bills, mortgage, and other expenses, usually obstruct a passionate angler from becoming a pro.
The fact that not everyone leaves their day jobs behind in pursuit of the fish is proof that it is not for everyone.
So, you may wonder how to become a professional fisherman despite these challenges? What does it take to leave your day job in pursuit of a career in fishing? The good news is, there are people who do it and succeed, so can you.
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Path To Becoming A Professional Fisherman
Most professional fishermen rely on two ways to make a living - catch fish in tournaments and get the cash prize, or get sponsorships and represent the company. To get to this point, there are a couple of things to consider first.
• Check your finances
Becoming a pro fisherman is not cheap. You have entry fees in tournaments to worry about, plus the logistics, and the cost of having a decent rig.
While we are on this subject, it will help to consider as early as now if working other jobs is needed to fund your dreams until you feel financially secure enough to take the leap.
Planning how to manage your finances until such time you can get income from fishing is the best way to start your new career.
• Right attitude
Starting out in this career can be a bit of a catch-22. To get sponsors, you need to be a pro, but you need sponsors to launch your career in the first place.
Winning a couple of local fishing competitions in your hometown may not be enough to get a sponsorship either.
Therefore, it's the wrong attitude to expect big things on the get-go. The right attitude is to know you need to build up your resume to get to where you want.
• Building your resume
Don't get me wrong, winning tournaments is still a big deal. However, it is also equally important to prove that you can represent your sponsors well by being a good role model, spokesperson, and salesman.
The best way to do this is to first narrow down the companies you wish to work with in the future. If needed, taking business classes or public speaking lessons will work to your advantage as well.
Getting familiar and gaining connections in different mediums like radio, internet, and TV will also work to your advantage in the long run.
• Setting expectations
When you venture into professional fishing with a sponsor, it is best to keep in mind that they are not rewarding you, but they are looking for ways to promote their product and drive sales.
This means you have to consider if you feel comfortable about endorsing products or appearing in commercials. At the same time, it will serve you best to start thinking of yourself as a public figure and act like a professional. Class will take you a long way in this business.
Step By Step Guide To Your Fishing Career
Start Local
Whether this means joining local tournaments or simply honing your fishing skills, finding a local stream, river, or lake is a good way to start learning special techniques in hooking a good catch. The more practice you do, the better you will become.
Join a community of fishing enthusiasts
No matter how competitive professional fishing gets, being part of a community is always a plus. This will help you learn and share tips and techniques to make the job easier and more fun. Being part of a community also allows you to get the connections you need to build your resume.
Decide on your favorite species to catch and master the art of hooking it
There are hundreds of fish species that you can choose from. Each of these species have similar, but varied behavior patterns that affect the styles and techniques needed to catch them. You can specialize in a specific species then expand your expertise as you go along.
Join small tournaments first then expand as you develop your skills
There are always tournaments for fishing anywhere and the prizes range depending on how prestigious the competition is. However, do not skip small tournaments as well since it is a chance to interact with other fishermen, develop your skills, and build a reputation in your local fishing community.
Final Thoughts
You can make your passion your profession, but be ready to do the hard work. This tutorial aims to build your enthusiasm and set your expectations straight at the same time. If you are on your way to building your fishing career, leave us a message in the comment section below and share your story with us.
We would love to hear your successes and struggles. As mentioned earlier, joining a fishing community will help you succeed.
