Fishing has changed a lot over the years and it is no longer simply a means of relaxation that many people seem to love so much. Many people look forward to spending hours upon hours out on a lake in a fishing boat just passing the time away without a care in the world for that time that they are out on the lake. Many times it does not matter to the amateur fisherman if they ever catch a fish or if they ever get a bite or even a nibble on their line. So to these people the definition of great fishing is not so much about catching fish but it is more about getting away from the rest of the world to a spot that they find relaxing and doing nothing but watching the clouds go by. If you have a lot of stress in your life then it is easy to see why this is considered great fishing.
To some people great fishing is all about catching the biggest fish they can catch at their favorite fishing spot that they manage to keep a secret from everyone else. To these people great fishing can involve relaxation but they are equally as interested in catching some fish as they are in just watching the clouds go by. They are the people that invest hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of dollars in the top of the line gear and the most expensive new fishing toys that will help them to catch the big one that they can have mounted on a plaque on their wall so they can tell everyone of their accomplishment.
To the people that fish for a living great fishing is hard and dangerous work. These people risk their lives to catch the fish that the rest of the world eats. They brave dangerous seas, inclement weather, and the beasts of the seas themselves as they search out their living by catching fish and other sea food. A great fishing trip to these people is a trip that they are able to walk away from with a wallet full of money. These are the true fishing professionals and the people that deserve the thanks of the rest of the world for braving those conditions to bring sea food to our tables.
Then there are the other professional fishermen and women that engage in competitive fishing for a living. There are some things in life that make a lot of sense and then there is competitive fishing done for money an prizes. Competitive fishing is akin to if professional bingo existed. Fishing itself requires a lot of technique and know how to do it right but the notion that the fisherman can choose the fish he catches and that the ability to fish is somehow worthy of competition seems a little odd. But competitive fishing is growing in popularity and there are millions of dollars being exchanged each week in professional fishing competitions.