Why are fisherman so competitive?

[Saltheart]

Fishing is a recreational activity for most. Go out and have some fun. Why is there so much jealousy and competitiveness about fishing? I see it in fishing at beginner , intermediate and expert levels.

the beginners are fairly innocent. They just want to catch a fish. If everyone catches one and you don't you look like a dummy. Also , if you are going to catch one , why not hope its a big one. So I understand the basic desire to catch as much or more than the next guy when everyone is just getting started.

The intermediate guys are amongst the worst in terms of competitiveness. They seem to need to pass through the intermediate stage quickly and be recognized as an expert. The catch one big fish and tell the whole world about it. Does a big fish make you an expert? The intermediate guys also tend to be the most vicious about criticizing beginners and want to make sure that its hard to get away from the beginner label because that makes the intermediate level guy a more select group among the fishing population. For the intermediate guy who feels a big fish makes him special , I like to tell the story about a friend of mine's brother. He was somewhat learning disabled. What is now called a resource kid. Not retarded but not a rocket scientist. he was taken fishing by his brothers. the only fish he ever caught was a 63 pound striper amd he won the governers award.

I find that most real experts lose a lot of the competitiveness. There are some who are truly experts who get more competitive because they need to be called the best but most guys who get good at the sport just start to enjoy it. They keep their noses clean but do give help if asked nicely. They catch lots of fish that an intermediate guy would brag about and just let them go with nobody even knowing they had a good one on the line. They know that sometimes you have a big night and sometimes you get skunked and often it has nothing to do with your own ability. They know how to fish and they know it and don't care what other people thing or do or say.

Yes there are commercial fisherman who's competitiveness is expressed in terms of dollars they earn and who have the slips to back up their bravado but how often do you hear a commercial guy bragging about what he caught and where and when and how. So for the purpose of this discussion i am thinking only about recreationaal fisherman.

So for a start ,I would say that I know about the competitiveness because I was very competitive about it 20 years ago. It seemed important to catch a lot and make sure people knew I did it. I would argue about techniques and tide and time etc and it seemed really important to be right and know a little more than the next guy.

Now I just worry about the next fish and hope that I can continue doing it for a long time. Who cares who else caught what. I know lots of good fisherman who feel the same. I have seen many transition from beginner asking how to tie a knot to top guns who catch many and big fish year after year.

So anyway , why do you think fishing brings out so much competitiveness in people Do you think its important to be an expert to enjoy the sport? Do you think that a big part of why people fish is for recognition by others or do they do it for themselves and their own enjoyment and/or peace of mind?

[CaptMike]

I think sports in general bring out different sides of people. That said, In my opinion fishing is different, at least to me, because I can really enjoy it without ever beating anyone at it. I was never really competitive at it except that I always want to get better at it. My goal is really to have as much fun as possible in my limited time. I know some people get really competitive and into but I have no idea why. Unless you're fishing the FLW or something I don't know why you'd want to do something to take away from the fun of it. I have enough competition and stress at work, fishing's for fun. I fish the Striper Cup but I don't really take it seriously, it's just a fun thing for me. I dunno I feel like I win at fishing when I'm doing it more. But maybe that's just me.

[BigFish]

I just fish for fun! I compete only against myself! Could care less about what anyone else does or tournaments of any kind!

[RIJIMMY]

I dont really see it Saltheart. I've always fished for the love it. I am very happy catching 5-10lb stripers on light tackle and can care less about others. Most of the guys I've fished with are the same, we're serious about what we do but there is no jealousy or competitiveness. The guys I see that catch consistent big fish deserve it. I dont want to beat them, I only want to beat my best.

[wheresmy50]

Any time you have a situation where someone wants to be good at something, competitive types will be competitive. Then there are those who are competitive about everything.

It pays to be a winner.

On the other hand, you make a good point about the old pro who has nothing left to prove. I would assert, however, that this is more a case of basking in the glory of their reputation, and would only last until thier skills came into question and/or someone else was thought to be better. Some of these old farts get some protection from this by having done something either first or something that can't be repeated. My experience is that most people who are really good at something have worked hard to get there, and care about being good or perceived as being good. No one wants to be a has-been.

Of course a big fish doesn't make you an expert, it makes you lucky. Consistently catching more big fish than others makes you some sort of an expert - given the same time and opportunity of course. If you had a cottage on XuttyXunk and caught 40 pounders all year, I don't think that necessarily makes you more of an expert than the guy in Delaware who catches 15s.

I read a story once about Michael Jordan flipping over a pool table during a casual game with Scotty Pippen.

[MAKAI]

Man . . . if you fish for the competition, I don't get it. Don't you get enough of that in the real world. Fishing is my chillax time.

[american spirit]

i compare fishing to track. you're always trying to beat your personal best not the other guy's personal best. i guess it depends on your personality as to how competetive/ jealous you are when you hear of people going large in the same areas you fish.

i like having someone else to share experiences with and to compare ideas/ techniques. it's more fun and makes you better. and you won't get stuck in a jetti, jack knife style, like that guy who posted a while ago.

[Rockport24]

yeah it's just human nature, it's always super competitive and there is a lot of oneupmanship. it's true in all aspects of life, god knows why. I mean, just look at how crazy people go over March Madness pools or even fantasy sports! those are supposed to be fun things, but for a lot of poeple, competition is fun.

sounds like most that have posted are not all that super competitive in general. Sure, we will be competitive when we need to be, but fishing doesn't fall into that category.

[fishbones]

Like most of you, I fish for fun and to relax. I enjoy fishing with others and am just as happy seeing them take a nice fish as I am when I get one. In fact, when I take someone with me, I'd rather they do well so they can get hooked like I am. I've had enough good fish and good fishing trips to last me a lifetime.

At this stage of my life, I'm only competing against the fish.

[BassDawg]

saltheart,

for me, it's like THIS! i LOVE to compete, at ANYTHING!!!
just part of me DNA i guess,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,both parents were successful
atheletes (Mom AAU swimmer, Dad semi-pro linebacker) and my whole family is like that.
it doan matter if it's SCRABBLE, the alphabet game on a car trip across country, or
pick-a-number-between-1&10! if there's a prize or a title to be had, I'M IN!!

that being said, i've toned it DOWN quite a bit from my youth and am endeavoring to be
more humble in victory and most gracious in defeat.

with regard to our vaunted prey, while i realize that there are numbers of stripermen out there that HAVE landed multiple large and must laugh at us Hungries; how many of you remember what YOU were like BEFORE you crested that mountain?

i do believe that a certain degree of competitiveness is required of one to become a bona fide Sharpie and to "walk away" from rats, 15#-25#'ers, in order to hunt trophies. and i totally agree with you that ONE big fish does not a sharpie make. while many have said that they fish to relax,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i find it the MOST relaxing to fish AND compete. since i LOVE the added ADRENALIN!!!!

i am most focused on competing with others when that competition is framed by the confines of a tournament. my biggest competitor is ME vs Sir Stripey. for each time i enter a competition, while it is TRUE that we are competing against other entrants/teams; at the end of the day(s) of said tourney i measure yours truly against me, myself, and aye-aye! just sum thoughts, gents

[MAKAI]

Originally Posted by BassDawg

saltheart,

for me, it's like THIS! i LOVE to compete, at ANYTHING!!!
just part of me DNA i guess,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,both parents were successful
atheletes (Mom AAU swimmer, Dad semi-pro linebacker) and my whole family is like that.
it doan matter if it's SCRABBLE, the alphabet game on a car trip across country, or
pick-a-number-between-1&10! if there's a prize or a title to be had, I'M IN!!

that being said, i've toned it DOWN quite a bit from my youth and am endeavoring to be
more humble in victory and most gracious in defeat.

with regard to our vaunted prey, while i realize that there are numbers of stripermen out there that HAVE landed multiple large and must laugh at us Hungries; how many of you remember what YOU were like BEFORE you crested that mountain?

i do believe that a certain degree of competitiveness is required of one to become a bona fide Sharpie and to "walk away" from rats, 15#-25#'ers, in order to hunt trophies. and i totally agree with you that ONE big fish does not a sharpie make. while many have said that they fish to relax,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i find it the MOST relaxing to fish AND compete. since i LOVE the added ADRENALIN!!!!

i am most focused on competing with others when that competition is framed by the confines of a tournament. my biggest competitor is ME vs Sir Stripey. for each time i enter a competition, while it is TRUE that we are competing against other entrants/teams; at the end of the day(s) of said tourney i measure yours truly against me, myself, and aye-aye! just sum thoughts, gents

you will change in time

[jimmy z]

Years ago, I was more competative, than I am today. I get a good felling, with a strong pull, and a decent bass today. And I'm happy for the ones who do well.
I get great joy, in just getting out there at times.

[afterhours]

i guess i compete with the fish, sometimes i win, more times i lose... most of the guys i fish with are low keyed non- competitive types - but bust gonads very well. i feel that being out there where we fish puts me closest to my maker.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Saltheart

Why is there so much jealousy and competitiveness about fishing? ?

It was just a small error God made at the beginning. You see, when God created man he forgot to apply breasts. As a result, a man's worth is difficult assess. True, of course, for many millennia this was not an issue, since penis size became an acceptable surrogate (except in Ireland where liver volume became more valuable). Unfortunately, with the invention of waders this system broke down and even guys from Franklin could pass themselves off as virile fellows. Initially God compensated for this by allowing the use of spinning reels to designate those best suited to be eunuchs. For a long while this worked until a few Irish engineers, prodded on by greedy Chinese tackle merchants, ruined things with the development of braided line and exorbitantly priced reels.

Well obviously such a situation, where social status, self-esteem, and the ability to get laid by someone other than thine own hand or Sauerkraut's first girlfriend, could be determined by a few pieces of silver, was deemed unacceptable (although in Brockton they may have missed this news). Accordingly, it soon became acknowledged that the size of a fish one could catch (confirmed of course) would be the best way, short of asking Flap, to estimate any man's gonadal weight.

Probably, if Stan Gibbs were still alive, this would have worked. But it was not to be, for even God in his infinite wisdom underestimated how low a guy in RI would stoop to get laid. And stoop they did, for quickly they found a loophole.........using the Devil's own spawn, eels, for bait. Quickly it all went bad. Why soon even horridly untouchable castes, like boat guys, found themselves swaggering in our midsts, claiming our praises, and stealing our women.

And so I say, "woe, woe is me". For all seems lost when all it takes is an eel to be thought a man, and all the large breasted women seem to be taken, and there is nothing left for us honest plug fishermen, other than a few desultory schoolies, a 1974 SI swimsuit issue, and an internet chat site to feel a man.

[Pete F.]

And before I read this I thought that some men used eels because they felt inadequate, and when they felt the weight of the mighty eel in their hands said: This is what she wants.

Originally Posted by numbskull

It was just a small error God made at the beginning. You see, when God created man he forgot to apply breasts. As a result, a man's worth is difficult assess. True, of course, for many millennia this was not an issue, since penis size became an acceptable surrogate (except in Ireland where liver volume became more valuable). Unfortunately, with the invention of waders this system broke down and even guys from Franklin could pass themselves off as virile fellows. Initially God compensated for this by allowing the use of spinning reels to designate those best suited to be eunuchs. For a long while this worked until a few Irish engineers, prodded on by greedy Chinese tackle merchants, ruined things with the development of braided line and exorbitantly priced reels.

Well obviously such a situation, where social status, self-esteem, and the ability to get laid by someone other than thine own hand or Sauerkraut's first girlfriend, could be determined by a few pieces of silver, was deemed unacceptable (although in Brockton they may have missed this news). Accordingly, it soon became acknowledged that the size of a fish one could catch (confirmed of course) would be the best way, short of asking Flap, to estimate any man's gonadal weight.

Probably, if Stan Gibbs were still alive, this would have worked. But it was not to be, for even God in his infinite wisdom underestimated how low a guy in RI would stoop to get laid. And stoop they did, for quickly they found a loophole.........using the Devil's own spawn, eels, for bait. Quickly it all went bad. Why soon even horridly untouchable castes, like boat guys, found themselves swaggering in our midsts, claiming our praises, and stealing our women.

And so I say, "woe, woe is me". For all seems lost when all it takes is an eel to be thought a man, and all the large breasted women seem to be taken, and there is nothing left for us honest plug fishermen, other than a few desultory schoolies, a 1974 SI swimsuit issue, and an internet chat site to feel a man.

[Thumper]

All I can say is that I am in it for fun. With that being said, if I enter a tourney or go fish for fish with a buddy it is a different story. I always enjoy a little competition, but for the most part I just like to get out and enjoy myself with friends. I grew up on the beach and it is just my way of enjoying life. There is nothing like standing out on a rock under a black sky full of stars and hearing the drag screaming!!